Image Credit: FILE PHOTO
August 21, 2017 - 6:30 PM
PENTICTON - Residents of the Regional District’s rural Electoral Area D recently received a brochure containing information about the proposal to split the electoral area into two as the district enters a final round of public consultation of the proposed changes.
The proposed changes are the result of a governance study initiated in Electoral Area D in 2015/16.
The proposal would see the area split into an east and west entity, through Skaha Lake and along the west edge of Okanagan Falls.
The eastern portion would remain Area D while the new western area would become Area I.
The split would divide the existing population of Area ” at 6,659 into 3,367 in proposed Area D and 3,292 in proposed Area I, in addition to creating a new director’s position, bringing the total number of directors in the regional district to 19.
The estimated annual additional cost to the taxpayer for an average residential household worth $373,371 is expected to amount to $1.68 per household.
The regional district is using the recommendation from the governance study as well as feedback received from the two rounds of public consultation - the first being through initial release of the governance study, the second being this final round - to consider a proposal to the province relating to division of Area “D”.
If approved, the division would take place in early 2018, in advance of the 2018 local elections, at which time a new area director would be elected.
The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen plans two open houses on Sept. 12 in Kaleden and Okanagan Falls. Meeting times are from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Kaleden Community Hall and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Okanagan Falls Community Centre.
A proposal to split RDOS Electoral Area D in two, creating a new Area I is making the second and final round for public input in the coming weeks, with open houses scheduled for Kaleden and Okanagan Falls on Sept. 12, 2017.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/RDOS
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News from © iNFOnews, 2017