Municipal Government

District of Coldstream municipal offices. (Morning Star file photo)

Coldstream staff recommend cutting outdated, conflicting policies

Staff report also calls for Kal Lake access protections in the next Official Community Plan

 

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request from a national non-profit group committed to animal protection revealed little on the decision-making process at Vernon city hall that led to council’s decision to approve a geese cull. (File)

National animal group snaps back on Vernon goose cull

Toronto-based Animal Alliance of Canada made Freedom of Information request

 

A Falkland man will present a 600+ signature petition to the Columbia Shuswap Regional District board Thursday, May 20, opposing dog control in Electoral Area D, which includes Falkland, Silver Creek, Salmon Valley and Ranchero/Deep Creek. (File photo)

600-plus sign Falkland man’s petition against dog control

Similar bylaw rejected by 200 public hearing attendees when topic came up 9 years ago

 

The Township of Spallumcheen collected an honourable mention in the 2020 UBCM Community Excellence Awards for its sustainable service delivery and water improvment district conversion plan. (Photo submitted)

Spallumcheen water district conversion plan gets recognition

Township collects UBCM Community Excellence Award honourable mention

The Township of Spallumcheen collected an honourable mention in the 2020 UBCM Community Excellence Awards for its sustainable service delivery and water improvment district conversion plan. (Photo submitted)
Spallumcheen councillors (from left) Todd York, Gerry Popoff, Christine LeMaire, John Bakker, Joe Van Tienhoven and Andrew Casson join Mayor Christine Fraser (fourth from left) in helping to proclaim the township open for business with new signage off Highway 97A. (Township of Spallumcheen photo)

Being open for business paying dividends for Spallumcheen

Township wins provincial award, new business and building starts increase

Spallumcheen councillors (from left) Todd York, Gerry Popoff, Christine LeMaire, John Bakker, Joe Van Tienhoven and Andrew Casson join Mayor Christine Fraser (fourth from left) in helping to proclaim the township open for business with new signage off Highway 97A. (Township of Spallumcheen photo)
Construction is well underway for the new Multigenerational Activity Centre and the Nexus Complex upgrade in Lake Country. (District of Lake Country photo)

Lake Country activity centre costs escalate

Project benefitting babies to seniors expected to be completed in August

Construction is well underway for the new Multigenerational Activity Centre and the Nexus Complex upgrade in Lake Country. (District of Lake Country photo)
Summerland mayor Toni Boot is suggesting a code of ethics for elected municipal officials. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

Summerland mayor considers code of ethics for elected officials

Union of B.C. Municipalities has identified problem throughout province

Summerland mayor Toni Boot is suggesting a code of ethics for elected municipal officials. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)
The property tax bill for a typical home in Summerland will increase by $23.37 in 2021. At the April 26 Summerland council meeting, the new tax rate was adopted. The increase is 1.65 per cent. (File photo)

Summerland residents can expect a $23 property tax hike for 2021

Council approved increasing property taxes by 1.65 per cent for 2021

The property tax bill for a typical home in Summerland will increase by $23.37 in 2021. At the April 26 Summerland council meeting, the new tax rate was adopted. The increase is 1.65 per cent. (File photo)
Summerland municipal staff will send a letter to the province, asking that land decisions made by local governments be respected. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

Summerland council offers Penticton support in dispute with provincial government

4-3 resolution comes after province overturns Penticton council decision

Summerland municipal staff will send a letter to the province, asking that land decisions made by local governments be respected. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)
District of Lake Country municipal hall. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Yelling over phone won’t speed up service: District of Lake Country

District reminds residents to be kind when requesting services during a busy period for staff

District of Lake Country municipal hall. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
The City of Vernon’s financial team has won its 11th consecutive award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. This is also the ninth consecutive year for the District of Coldstream’s award-winning report. (City of Vernon)

North Okanagan communities rock at financial reporting

City of Vernon and District of Coldstream, combined, have won Canadian financial reporting awards for 20 straight years

The City of Vernon’s financial team has won its 11th consecutive award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada. This is also the ninth consecutive year for the District of Coldstream’s award-winning report. (City of Vernon)
Gavel (Courtesy photo)

EDITORIAL: High marks for Canada’s democratic process

Accusations of widespread corruption do not hold up

  • Apr 22, 2021
Gavel (Courtesy photo)
The changing course of BX Creek in recent years has caused the Regional District of North Okanagan to close the original BX Creek Trail from the BX Dog Park to Haynes Road. (Photo courtesy of David Thomas)

Change of creek course closes popular Vernon trail

The original BX Creek Trail from the dog park to Haynes Road is no longer passable says RDNO

The changing course of BX Creek in recent years has caused the Regional District of North Okanagan to close the original BX Creek Trail from the BX Dog Park to Haynes Road. (Photo courtesy of David Thomas)
Virtual meetings are taking a toll on local governance, according to multiple mayors in the North Okanagan. (Headway photo)

Virtual meetings leave North Okanagan politicians out of touch

More than a year of Zoom has led to a disconnect between officials, according to local mayors

Virtual meetings are taking a toll on local governance, according to multiple mayors in the North Okanagan. (Headway photo)
The City of Penticton is looking into the possibility of licensing certain public spaces to permit alcohol consumption during set hours. The city could see legal public drinking as early as June 5, 2020. (Monique Tamminga - Western News)

Booze on the beach set to make a comeback in Penticton for summer 2021

Penticton council gave the first three readings to bring back limited public drinking

The City of Penticton is looking into the possibility of licensing certain public spaces to permit alcohol consumption during set hours. The city could see legal public drinking as early as June 5, 2020. (Monique Tamminga - Western News)
(Photo of an RV posted to Flickr by user Greg Gjerdingen)

Vernon dumps sani-station temporarily

City councillors voted to close sani-station instead of relocating it temporarily

(Photo of an RV posted to Flickr by user Greg Gjerdingen)
Highway 97A in Armstrong is closed in both directions Monday afternoon, just after 4 p.m., due to a serious accident at Rosedale Avenue. Detours are in effect in both directions. (Bob Dunbar photo)

‘We shouldn’t have to wait for a fatal accident,’ Armstrong mayor says

Transportation Ministry staffer tells city statistics don’t justify adding merge lanes at three locations on Hwy. 97A

Highway 97A in Armstrong is closed in both directions Monday afternoon, just after 4 p.m., due to a serious accident at Rosedale Avenue. Detours are in effect in both directions. (Bob Dunbar photo)
This is what a new city hall in Armstrong will look like if tender bids come in under $4 million. Council unanimously approved the design and the borrowing of up to $4 million for the project. (MQN Architects)

Armstrong approves designs for new city hall

Council approves borrowing bylaw up to $4M; selects wood-first design to fit scheme with arena, swimming pool

This is what a new city hall in Armstrong will look like if tender bids come in under $4 million. Council unanimously approved the design and the borrowing of up to $4 million for the project. (MQN Architects)
The City of Vernon is still taking applications for council discretionary grants until April 30. (File photo)

Funding available to Vernon non-profits, societies

Grants awarded to organizations that ‘contribute to the general interest and advantage of the city;’ deadline is April 30

The City of Vernon is still taking applications for council discretionary grants until April 30. (File photo)
On the first day of his retirement, April 12, 2021, Marcel Bedard, former Salmon Arm bylaw enforcement officer, looks over a scrapbook he created of his 24 years on the job. (Lachlan Labere - Salmon Arm Observer)

Salmon Arm bylaw officer parks his parking tickets after 24 years

Despite the insults that go with the job, Marcel Bedard enjoyed his work for the city

On the first day of his retirement, April 12, 2021, Marcel Bedard, former Salmon Arm bylaw enforcement officer, looks over a scrapbook he created of his 24 years on the job. (Lachlan Labere - Salmon Arm Observer)