– Lack of final numbers scuttles grant application, but more in future –

(OSOYOOS TIMES — Feb. 21, 2007) –

By Julie TurnerrnOsoyoos Times

Airport delays are inevitable, but usually they involve late planes.
The Town of Osoyoos missed an opportunity for a $342,000 grant from the province to develop the airport land “ a project both the Town and Destination Osoyoos believes could give a real economic boost to Osoyoos.
The January 31 deadline was missed, said Mayor John Slater, due to the lack of some final numbers that were needed to complete the application.
When we originally looked at this we put the figures on it but by the time the deadline came up, costs had changed and we had to re-do the numbers and postpone some of the projects at the airport including fencing and some additional paving. He explained that Destination Osoyoos and Town staff worked to put the details together but the new information wasn't ready in time for the deadline.
Although Slater didn't say how much the airport project would be delayed, he said he is confident another funding opportunity will arise, possibly at the end of the province's fiscal year, March 31.
He added, We can't get them all. The government spreads these all over the province.
Destination Osoyoos Executive Director Glenn Mandziuk said Friday another chance to apply for the grant will come up in about four months, and at that time the information will be ready to go. He agreed that some significant increased costs delayed the application for the January 31 deadline.
Mandziuk said he remains excited about the project and added, There are other programs, including a provincial airport fund we can apply for.
He said the airport improvements will be split into two phases, to ensure funding resources are available without the project facing cost overruns. The first phase will encompass sewer, water and the airport access road. Phase two will include security fencing, the airport intersection and lights.
Slater said the Town is still determining what the [airport] intersection will look like in conjunction with the Kruger Mountain extension adding traffic could be increased as a result of development in that area. He said those details would be determined by the Town's engineering department.
We're working on it. Council is meeting next week with the ILMB (Integrated Land Management Bureau) on timing and schedules. Even if we don't get a grant, we can still do some of the work.