Area “B” Director George Hanson recently told members of the regional district board that proponents of the high dam option at Shankers Bend were taking that version off the table as far as possible configurations of the dam go.
The Shanker’s Bend Project, currently being undertaken by the Okanogan County Public Utility District, was studying various dam alternatives including dam heights ranging from 90 to 260 feet. At 260 feet the dam would have been approximately 1,200 feet long and impounded an 18,000 acre reservoir with a storage capacity of 1.7 million acre-feet.
The 260 foot high version was considered to be the high dam option, and was being heavily contested in Canada because the reservoir would have backed up into Canada, inundating part of the Similkameen valley to a point just south of Cawston.
Swimming pool referendum ends in defeat
The advance poll for the Princeton swimming pool referendum was well attended, with 594 votes cast in the town and in Area “H.”
The final results of the September 24 referendum were:Area “H” - 269 Yes, 968 No
Princeton - 474 Yes, 507 No
RCMP contract to be discussed
Discussion of the province’s RCMP contract will be undertaken at the upcoming SILGA (Southern Interior Local Government Association) advised Penticton Director Gary Litke. Municipalities are concerned about lack of consultation, cost, and level of service with respect to policing, and they hope to lobby at the convention for more negotiation with RCMP during contract talks. The SILGA convention takes place in Revelstoke, April 26-28, 2012.
Meteorological towers legislation turned down
The regional district board turned down a staff recommendation to establish a definition of meteorological towers in the Resource Area zone of areas “D” and “G.”
Two years ago, directors asked staff to develop a bylaw that would allow meteorological towers in the resource area zones of the regional district. The bylaw was discussed as recently as a few weeks ago, when concerns about the finish of the towers were raised as a result of the controversy surrounding the new Fortis power line on the east side of Skaha Lake.
The bylaw had reached second reading at the time of last week’s meeting, where further discussion ensued.
The board reconsidered its position and ultimately decided that they would have more control over the process if they left permitting of the towers under the legislation of Temporary Use Permits.
Only two permits for Met towers have been issued to date.