– May be referendum and Council decision this fall –

(OSOYOOS TIMES — June 6, 2007) –

By Julie TurnerrnOsoyoos Times

The first lap in a lengthy process to develop a community pool in Osoyoos was completed Monday night when Town Council passed a resolution to have Professional Environmental Recreation Consultants (PERC) proceed with an aquatic centre feasibility study, at an estimated cost of $19,400.
Emphasizing the study's pressing time frame and the need to attract a wide range of community input to look at the single largest expenditure in Osoyoos' history, Council voted to get moving on the formation of a committee immediately.
In his proposal, PERC representative William Webster told the Town he preferred to begin the study in September and complete it over a 10-12-week period, with Council making a decision in December.
Recreation Director Gerald Davis suggested a committee to study the proposal be made up of Davis, a member of the Recreation Commission, a member at large appointed by Council, and a Council member.
But Councillor Allan Carswell, who agreed with embarking on the study, said he felt all members of the public should be encouraged to get involved in a committee to get as wide a scope as possible.
His motion was seconded by Councillor Dick Flintoft.
Carswell said, This would be the largest project the Town of Osoyoos ever tackled. It's a multi-million dollar project and as such, we need to get everyone's input from the beginning “ from people with small children, people who are disabled, people who are elderly “ and plan for a pool that meets everybody's needs.rnHe added that Council's experience has been that by hiring a consultant to do a study with minimal public input, you end up with a waste of a lot of paper.
Councillor Stu Wells said he agreed whole-heartedly with the motion, adding the referendum on Desert Park held a year ago was successful because it was done by champions of the issue.
The citizens of this community who want this pool to go ahead are those citizens who are going to lead the charge, Wells said, adding the latest the Town should hold a referendum is October.
Mayor John Slater said he was concerned about the study's timing and the fact that a portion of the community leaves town in the winter and would be excluded from voting if a referendum is held in December.
We need their input, as well. I'm really concerned about the timing and I think we need to talk to [William Webster] and get it going sometime this month. I think it's important to get this thing off the ground as soon as possible. It's going to be up to the whole community to move this forward, Slater said.
The Town stated previously that if a referendum to support building an aquatic centre fails, the Town will build a Splash Park next year.