Municipal Government

Starting Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, the District of Lake Country will require visitors at all indoor public facilities to wear masks, as part of enhanced COVID-19 safety protocols. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Lake Country looks at big-ticket projects

Bottom Wood Lake Road construction projects are the biggest investments

 

Keremeos Village town hall. (File photo)

Second electronic public meeting for Official Community Plan update Feb. 1

The first virtual public meeting was scheduled for Nov. 18

 

The municipality of Summerland is considering a 1.65 per cent property tax increase for 2021. The increase is lower than tax increases in previous years. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

Summerland taxes expected to rise by 1.65%

Increases also forecast for Summerland utility rates

 

Several road closures were in effect Jan. 13 due to downed trees, but meanwhile many residents are hoping Lake Country will invest in fixing damaged roads in 2021. (District of Lake Country photo)

Lake Country trims tax increase back to 3.25 per cent

Proposed hike now down slightly from 3.49, discussions continue

Several road closures were in effect Jan. 13 due to downed trees, but meanwhile many residents are hoping Lake Country will invest in fixing damaged roads in 2021. (District of Lake Country photo)
Two of the buildings on a Summerland property were constructed more than 25 years ago, without building permits. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

Zoning amendment approved for Summerland property

Buildings on property had been constructed in the past without permits

Two of the buildings on a Summerland property were constructed more than 25 years ago, without building permits. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)
Lake Country taxpayers could be on the hook for a 3.49 per cent tax increase in 2021. (Brendan Shykora - Calendar staff)

Lake Country considers 3.49 per cent tax increase

Parks, police and CPI make up majority of hike

Lake Country taxpayers could be on the hook for a 3.49 per cent tax increase in 2021. (Brendan Shykora - Calendar staff)
An apartment is proposed for the corner of Alexis Park Drive and Turtle Mountain Boulevard. (City map)

Apartment proposed for North Okanagan lots

Alexis Park Drive and Turtle Mountain Boulevard could also see a roundabout in the future

An apartment is proposed for the corner of Alexis Park Drive and Turtle Mountain Boulevard. (City map)
Summerland mayor Toni Boot. (Summerland Review file photo)

COLUMN: A year of challenges and accomplishments

Summerland mayor Toni Boot reflects on council’s work in 2020

  • Dec 31, 2020
Summerland mayor Toni Boot. (Summerland Review file photo)
The Lavington Life Society is receiving $8,600 from the Wood Stove Exchange Program as an incentive to help people replace old, smoky wood stoves with cleaner options. (Black Press - file photo)

North Okanagan residents encouraged to replace wood stoves

Lavington Life Society receives $8,600 from exchange program for Coldstream, Lumby, Cherryville

The Lavington Life Society is receiving $8,600 from the Wood Stove Exchange Program as an incentive to help people replace old, smoky wood stoves with cleaner options. (Black Press - file photo)
The agreement between the municipality of Summerland and the Summerland Chamber of Commerce is changing, and business licenses will no longer include a chamber membership. (Summerland Review file photo)

Businesses no longer automatic chamber members in Summerland

Business license fees no longer include automatic membership in chamber

The agreement between the municipality of Summerland and the Summerland Chamber of Commerce is changing, and business licenses will no longer include a chamber membership. (Summerland Review file photo)
Public trail access at Adventure Bay is restricted causing conflict and unkind behaviours towards property owner and authorized users. (Laura Kershaw photo)

Clarity trails on North Okanagan’s Adventure Bay access

Public access restricted, causing conflict and unkind behaviours

Public trail access at Adventure Bay is restricted causing conflict and unkind behaviours towards property owner and authorized users. (Laura Kershaw photo)
Koyo Yoshida, 18 (left), Erick Montiel, 18, and staff person Chelsea Shepherd roast marshmallows and eat s'mores next to the fire pit in the courtyard of Cedar Hall, a new student apartment complex at EvCC. (Dan Bates / The Herald)

Vernon sparks idea of fire pits in Polson Park

With COVID-19 restrictions keeping people cooped up, propane fire use proposed

Koyo Yoshida, 18 (left), Erick Montiel, 18, and staff person Chelsea Shepherd roast marshmallows and eat s'mores next to the fire pit in the courtyard of Cedar Hall, a new student apartment complex at EvCC. (Dan Bates / The Herald)
Coun. Kari Gares would like to see a limit to how long a politician can serve on an individual board, in order to eliminate the appearance of bias. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

Time limit on committee terms sought in Vernon

Council considers limiting tenure of board appointments for elected officials

Coun. Kari Gares would like to see a limit to how long a politician can serve on an individual board, in order to eliminate the appearance of bias. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
The Village of Keremeos has begun preparing 2021’s budget. (Brennan Phillips - Keremeos Review)

Keremeos looking at status quo budget for 2021

Residents can expect to see a 0.4 per cent increase to their taxes

The Village of Keremeos has begun preparing 2021’s budget. (Brennan Phillips - Keremeos Review)
Lake Country Municipal Hall (Photo courtesy District of Lake Country)

Okanagan residents urged to follow the rules

COVID-19 restrictions in place “inconvenient, but necessary”

Lake Country Municipal Hall (Photo courtesy District of Lake Country)
Design for the Woodsdale Waterfront Park is among the items budgeted for in 2021 in Lake Country, at an estimated $400,000. (District of Lake Country image)

Park priority pushes up Lake Country taxes

Proposed 1.25 per cent tax increase over four years to cover park plans

Design for the Woodsdale Waterfront Park is among the items budgeted for in 2021 in Lake Country, at an estimated $400,000. (District of Lake Country image)
Vernon council meetings have now gone strictly virtual following the latest provincial health orders aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

COVID-19 closes Vernon council meetings to public

Like everything else in the world, municipal government is only accessible online

Vernon council meetings have now gone strictly virtual following the latest provincial health orders aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
The Village of Keremeos village offices. (Brennan Phillips - Keremeos Review) The Village of Keremeos council agrees to restrict election sign size and coverage. (Brennan Phillips - Keremeos Review)

Keremeos council approves restrictions on election signage

Council also approved a grant application for flood-proofing the wastewater treatment plant

The Village of Keremeos village offices. (Brennan Phillips - Keremeos Review) The Village of Keremeos council agrees to restrict election sign size and coverage. (Brennan Phillips - Keremeos Review)
A new administrator has been hired for the municipality of Summerland. (Summerland Review file photo)

Administrator hired for Summerland

Graham Statt has experience with Alberta’s provincial government

A new administrator has been hired for the municipality of Summerland. (Summerland Review file photo)
A couple enjoy the sunset with a bottle of wine in September on Okanagan Lake by the Sicamous. Penticton city council is extending its acohol on public beaches program to summer 2021. (Monique Tamminga Western News)

Penticton gives alcohol on public beaches another summer

Broken glass and litter were the main complaints from last summer

A couple enjoy the sunset with a bottle of wine in September on Okanagan Lake by the Sicamous. Penticton city council is extending its acohol on public beaches program to summer 2021. (Monique Tamminga Western News)