THE
Review
www.keremeosreview.com PM Agreement #40012521
NEW DETACHMENT COMMANDER
Corporal Martin Trudeau on temporary assignment in Keremeos See page 5
COMMUNITY PRIDE IN OLALLA
“Friends of Olalla” and others work to improve community image See page 3
TENSE MOMENTS FOR MOTORIST
April 27 @ Keremeos Village Office
Vol.15 Number 17
Thursday, April 25, 2013
8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Serving the communities of Keremeos, Cawston, Okanagan Falls and Kaleden
All Candidates Meeting May 2 at Victory Hall in Keremeos $1.15 including HST
Students answer Earth Day challenge
Similkameen Elementary Secondary students from grades 5 to 12 participated in a clean up of Keremeos business section on Friday, April 19. Earth Day is generally observed on April 22 since its inception 43 years ago. There are reports that the annual day to to demonstrate support for environmental protection is being observed with less enthusiasm these days, even though environmental issues continue uabated. A possible reason, according to one opinion piece, is because environmental issues are less immediate in consequence than in the past - and a lot of us aren’t good at preparing for the future. More than 140 countries observe the day, worldwide.
Photo by Steve Arstad
Alan Gardiner (left) and Sydney Wigglesworth participate in Earth Day clean up of the downtown area of Keremeos. A number of Similkameen Elementary Secondary School students from grades 5 - 12 participated in a clean up of the neigbourhood on Friday, April 19.
Building activity, bylaw enforcement reflect sluggish local economy By Steve Arstad news@keremeosreview.com
Van leaves highway, close call for condo owners See page 8
Water Reservoir Referendum Voting
Village financial forecasts for building inspection services are taking a hit so far this year, as the slow economy tanks development in the village. In the first quarter of 2013, only three permits totalling $20,400 in value have been registered at the village office, compared with seven permits totalling $83,748 in the first quarter of 2012.
Revenue generated from building permit fees is also down this year from $1,647.48 in 2012 to $558.20 this year. Costs associated with building inspection services remain close to 2012 levels, however, at $5,470 this year compared to $5,269 last year. Since the fall of 2011 building inspectors have been working in the village for two half days per week because of the drop in demand. For the first quarter of 2013, there has been a weekly average of one to two
appointments, one to two inspections, three to five telephone enquiries and one to two walk-ins. Building inspection services in Keremeos are contracted to the village through the regional district. First quarter bylaw enforcement statistics tell a similar tale of a slow economy in the Lower Similkameen. The village received 11 complaints to March 31, 2012; to March 31 of this year, only six complaints have been received.