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Winfield, Oyama, Okanagan Centre and Carrs Landing since 1951
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2 5 0 - 76 6 - 2 0 9 9 10 9 - 9 6 8 5 H w y. 9 7 N (Winfield Plaza) Lake Country Fu s i o n S t u d i o @ s h a w. c a
January 2, 2013
▼ JAMES BAKER
Inside
Lake Country’s mayor looks to growth in coming year KEVIN PARNELL STAFF REPORTER
Large donations are helping fuel a fundraising drive by the Lake Country Foodbank to find a new building to house its operations and feed those in need of help. ...............................
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The RCMP are warning the public to be on the lookout for scam artists plying what police are calling a “hard luck” hoax to try to part you from your money. ...............................
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Local MLA Norm Letnick is urging British Columbians to buy local this year. ...............................
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Flyers ■ JYSK ■ Staples ■ Budget Blinds
of the OKANAGAN
■ Home Depot
Lake Country’s longest serving politician says the district laid significant groundwork over the last year as it looks to continue a path of growth and become an important economic region in the Okanagan Valley. Lake Country mayor James Baker, 71, says the district is well poised to move forward over the next several years after a time of streamlining within the district’s staffing and infrastructure over the last twelve months. “We did a systems review of our procedures and did some re-organzing in different departments so we can provide more efficiency within the district,” said Baker, who is in his seventh year as Lake Country mayor and 25th year as a politician in Lake Country. “We’re laying the groundwork to get things moving better. It was a good year and we got lots done.” Among several initiatives brought forward by the current council was work done to improve transportation and safety for pedestrians as well as the approval of a new water master plan, which will provide infrastructure upgrades and safe and clean drinking water to all residents of Lake Country. “The Lodge Road upgrade was a major item on the agenda,” said Baker, of the new sidewalks, improved traffic flow and lighting along
the Lake Country road. “We still want to be able to get more safe pedestrian areas around our major roads, especially where students are walking.” Late in 2012, Lake Country council approved a tax increase to bring in a new water master plan which laid out the groundwork for some major improvements to the outdated water system in Lake Country.
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WE’RE LAYING THE GROUNDWORK TO GET THINGS MOVING BETTER. James Baker
The water master plan was adopted by council and will eventually see improved water quality as well as a universal metreing system so people who use the most water, pay the most. Baker says the new plan is affordable for tax payers in the district. “We think it’s a manageable plan,” he said. “Being able to budget it over 20 years we think it’s not a huge hit on people. There are a lot of upgrades that we needed to make and we need to spend the money to do it. “ Also underway in Lake Country is the major highway project that will change the winding Highway 97 along Wood Lake and move
DOUG FARROW/CONTRIBUTED
LAKE COUNTRY MAYOR James Baker says 2012 was a good year for the district with a new water master plan as well as other projects underway.
it to a major four-lane highway passing through the hills above the lake. Baker said it won’t dramatically change the
flow of traffic through Lake Country as the new highway will join with the old road as it enters Winfield.
But, he adds, the district must decide what it wants to do with the old Highway 97, which council named Pelme-
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wash Parkway near the end of last year.
SEE MAYOR A2