SUMMERLAND REVIEW THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1908
VOLUME
65
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ISSUE
WHAT’S INSIDE:
Sweet history Summerland Sweets has turned 50 years old.
Page 12 Maple message Write a message on a leaf and send a contribution to Tanzania.
NO.
25
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S U M M E R L A N D,
B.C.
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WWW.SUMMERLANDREVIEW.COM
T H U R S D AY,
JUNE
21,
2012
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24
PA G E S
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$1.15
INCLUDING
HST
Petition calls for sani-dump More than 200 signatures have been collected on a petition urging the municipality to set up a sani-dump facility for recreational vehicle operators to dump their sewage. In the past, a facility was in place at Peach Orchard Beach and more recently on Highway 97 just north of Trout Creek. That facility was closed last summer and council has said it will not reopen. The closure came because heavy use of the facility and illegal dump-
ing caused problems at Summerland’s sewage treatment facility. Keith Dunn, who circulated the petition, said Summerland needs a sani-dump facility in the community. The closest facility is at the Canadian Tire store in Penticton. There is also a sanidump site in West Kelowna. Dunn said there is a need in Summerland, for residents and visitors alike. He said the Highway 97 site should not be used
in the future. “I don’t think it should be on the highway at all,” he said. “That was the worst possible place for it.” Instead, he said a spot across from Peach Orchard Campground or across from the Summerland Arena would be preferred. Since those locations are farther from the sewage treatment plant than the Highway 97 location, wastes would be diluted before they reached the treatment plant. He added that students
should be hired throughout the summer to monitor the use of the facility. Mayor Janice Perrino said the municipality looked at nine sites for a possible sani-dump facility after the Trout Creek location was closed. All nine were not suitable. In the future, when the Bentley Road area is developed, she said it could be a possible site for a sani-dump facility. The area across from Peach Orchard Campground is not suitable since it is the site of the Adams Bird Sanctuary.
The area near the arena is busy throughout the year with arena traffic. Perrino added that the costs of a sani-dump facility are significant. Setting up the facility would cost at least $100,000. Staffing costs must also be considered as two to three people would be needed in order to provide proper levels of staffing. She added that a private business would be welcome to set up a sanidump facility, but so far none have offered to do so.
Page 14 Big run Giant’s Head students rock the marathon.
Page 18 Best airplanes Fathers and children design air and wood models at a library fun event.
Page 10 Swim times Personal bests for Pikes at Merritt meet.
Page 18 Folk music Outdoor folk music event coming at cafe.
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YOUR SMILE The day after tomorrow is the third day of the rest of your life.
How plants survive Logan Gottwald and Matthew Winchester, Grade 3 students from Giant’s Head School, are studying plants in a butterfly garden. Their class was visiting the Summerland Ornamental Gardens recently to learn more about how plants adapt to survive in the hot, dry Okanagan.
Public surveyed on direction of community Surveys will be sent to 1,000 Summerland households as municipal council seeks input about the direction and priorities of the community. Municipal clerk Maureen Fugeta said the surveys will be sent to random households in the community. The structure and questions will be similar to a survey sent out in 2009. The surveys were sent
out last week. Mayor Janice Perrino said the last survey identified five areas of priority for the community. These were the water treatment plant, road work, affordable housing, a new RCMP detachment and sidewalks. “All five goals were completed,” Perrino said. “We fixed the water treatment plant, built the Prairie Valley Road Rosedale
Avenues, redid the zoning bylaw to help build more affordable housing, the RCMP detachment will open in July and sidewalks on Prairie Valley Road and Rosedale Avenue are completed.” Municipal staff are asking that the surveys be returned to the municipality by July 16, giving residents around a month to complete them. While the questions
are similar to those from the last survey, a new question will be added. The question is, what do you think Summerland’s vision should be? Fugeta said the response to the last surveys was low, with 563 of the 1,000 returned. The survey in 2009 was 10 pages long. The results were compiles in a 99-page report. While residents were mostly
satisfied with the community, transportation issues were addressed, including the lack of transit and the lack of sidewalks. Limited opportunities for dining, shopping and entertainment were also mentioned, as were the limited hours businesses are open. Municipal council modified some of its goals and objectives as a result of the survey responses.