Skip to content

Regional district board briefs

items before the regional district board at the October 17 regular board meeting of the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen

Inspector Kevin Hewco, Officer in Charge of the South Okanagan Similkameen Regional Detachment, introduced himself to the regional district board on October 17.

The new inspector, who takes over from Brad Haugli, promised to put an emphasis on “service delivery” with respect to the detachments under his command.

 

The policeman, who has 27 years of experience under his belt, told the board that he was also aware of the cost of local policing.

“It’s a big ticket item,” he said, “and I’m sensitive to that.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The board was briefed on third quarter budget variances by RDOS Finance Manager Sandy Croteau.

She told the board that the regional district was on track to have an overall surplus of $965,000 this year, but a large deficit is anticipated for Campbell Mountain landfill, which could be in the order of $450,000. The board was advised that it may have to consider a tax increase if deficits at Campbell Mountain continue.

Unanticipated legal fees of $15,000 were incurred by the Keremeos and District Volunteer Fire Department this year, and capital expenditures over budget have also resulted in a deficit of $25,000 at the Keremeos landfill. Kermeos Director Manfred Bauer requested clarification on the landfill deficit.

 

 

 

The board agreed to set a deadline for elector response forms for the Alternate Approval Process regarding funding for the Similkameen Country Visitor Information Centre.

A total of 4,088 eligible electors are in the Infocentre service area, thereby requiring 409 elector responses to prevent the bylaw from proceeding.

 

 

 

The board agreed to create a reserve fund for $25,000 worth of unused funds earmarked for economic development. Fifty thousand dollars had originally been set aside for this year’s economic development spending, but only $25,000 was spent.