During question period, following the July 7 regular meeting of council, residents asked several questions pertaining to transient issues in the community. Council was questioned about the inclusion of porta-potties along with a dumpster at the end of Veterans Avenue. Mayor Bauer replied it would be discussed along with other requests to the regional district.
A resident noted that the community was “where we were three years ago” with respect to the issue.
Another resident wanted to know why parking couldn’t be enforced at the end of Veterans Avenue.. In a written response to the question, Mayor Bauer said that “Any parking or bylaw enforcement on the old Burlington Northern rail bed needs to be implemented by the RDOS with the permission of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Conspicuously absent from the council meeting on July 7, and discussion over the transient issue itself was Area “G” Director Angelique Wood. Bauer said Wood was responsible for the river flats currently being used as a campground, adding the site is Crown land with multiple jurisdictions including the RDOS the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations. Bauer further clarified the RDOS holds the lease for the trail from the Finance Authority under the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.
Area “G” Director Angelique Wood can be reached at:
250-292-8082, cell 250-499-0503, or email at:awood@rdos.bc.ca
Edtor’s note: In last week’s story “Itinerant campers have their say” a camper was quoted as saying that he wished to speak to Ted Douglas about the petition but Douglas refused to speak to him.
“At no time did one of the campers approach me to speak about the issue,” Douglas said this week, “ I would welcome the opportunity to talk to any one of them about it.”