Prize Draw (winner’s choice of: 32GB iPad mini/Big White or Silverstar gift card/grocery gift card):  winner randomly selected from among all participants that include contact information.

Survey completion deadline: June 14, 2013.

Please take 10 minutes to share your thoughts by completing a brief survey online at http://fluidsurveys.com/s/LakeCountryPublicSurvey/.

Our Street Team will also have paper copies of the survey at the Oyama Fun Day June 2nd and the upcoming Front Porch meeting in Winfield June 6th.

Poison Ivy along this high use recreational area has been an issue for a number of years and annual spraying will likely be required for two to three years because of the growth.   Other areas along the beach will be sprayed in subsequent years as budget allows.  Poison Ivy is a native plant and is not considered to be a noxious plant but certainly can affect public enjoyment of the area.

May 22, 2013: The District of Lake Country has temporarily closed all sports fields and baseball diamonds effective immediately, due to wet weather.

All recreation activity on the fields has been suspended to prevent damage and to ensure the safety of field users.

The fields are now closed and will remain closed until further notice. District Parks crews will monitor the fields daily and will re-open them when they are safe for use.

Tip:  Your password is the “EHOG Password” shown on the top left of the Property Tax Notice below your Roll number.

Reminder:  Claim your grant prior to the July 2 tax due date even if you are not paying your taxes at that time. If the grant is not claimed prior to the due date the late penalty is also charged on the outstanding grant amount.

Property Tax Notices for the District of Lake Country have been mailed.  If you are the registered owner of property within the District of Lake Country and have not received your Property Tax Notice for 2013, please contact the Finance Department at (250) 766-5650.

Please note that current taxes and rates are due before 6:00 pm, Tuesday July 2nd.  Property owners have the following tax payment options: • In person at Municipal Hall; • Banks; • Internet/Telephone Banking; • Mail – (mail your payment early with a July 3, 2012 post dated cheque)

Municipal Hall hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday and will be open for extended hours on Tuesday, July 2nd  from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm.  The office will be closed Monday, July 1st for Canada Day.  There is a drop slot available after business hours at the north entrance to the Municipal Hall.

Any current taxes and rates remaining unpaid at the close of business on July 2nd will be subject to a ten (10%) percent late penalty.  A tax payment does not have to be made for eligible property owners to claim their 2013 Provincial Home Owner Grant.  Home Owner Grants must be claimed every year and must be claimed by July 2nd to avoid a 10% penalty on the grant amount.

Court’s assistance in model airplane dispute

Lake Country, BC –The District of Lake Country is seeking the court’s interpretation on whether radio controlled model aircraft are a permitted use of an unpaved airstrip or helipad on agriculturally zoned land.

The Kelowna Ogopogo Radio Controllers Club (the Club) has an arrangement with a private property owner to use a portion of a 20 acre farm property for flying model aircraft.  The District’s A1 zoning regulation, which reflects the provincial regulations, was designed to allow unpaved landing strips on farmland for full-scale aircraft flying non-scheduled flights for farming purposes such as crop spraying, blowing water off tree fruit during seasons of heavy rain and similar common agricultural practices.

If the courts find in favour of the District the next step would be to seek an injunction to stop the flying activities.

The District has received numerous complaints from residents concerned about overnight camping, traffic, damage to property and disturbance to residents and animals from the noise of the radio controlled planes and helicopters.  At the November 15, 2011 Regular Council Meeting a delegation of concerned residents requested that Council end the flying of model aircraft on the property as indicated in their petition before Council. The Club representative Mr. John Falconer also addressed Council as a delegation following the resident’s presentation and outlined the Clubs operations, activities and impact on the neighbourhood.

The Club was asked to apply for a Temporary Use permit which would allow some restrictions to be implemented and address concerns of nearby residents. Discussions that followed between the Club and the District were unsuccessful.  While the District remains open to resolving the matter through discussions with the Club, conditions attached to further discussions are not acceptable to the District.  Similarly, the Club has indicated it cannot accept the concept of a Temporary Use Permit as a starting point for discussions, as it believes its use of the property complies with the District’s zoning. A court date was requested for early May 2013.

“In a rural community, protecting the use of agriculturally-zoned land is of utmost importance,” noted Mayor James Baker.  “We need to walk a fine balance in addressing the needs of various segments of the community when it comes to residential, recreational, agricultural and business interests.  There is not always a clear cut answer and that is why the court process is available to assist in resolving matters when required.”

For more information contact:
Reyna Seabrook, Corporate Services Manager, District of Lake Country
Tel 250-766-5650 x206 or rseabrook@lakecountry.bc.ca

Lake Country, BC – At an April 25th Special Meeting, Council adopted Bylaw 865, 2013 which establishes the Lake Country Tourism Development Commission.  The key function of the Commission will be to coordinate the operation of Tourism Visitor Services in the community and advise Council on issues pertaining to local tourism promotion, development and enhancement.

“There is a group of local tourism operators that are very keen to develop and implement a tourism strategy in the community,” said Ryan Roycroft, Economic Development Manager.  “This is an opportunity for local tourism stakeholders to become involved in the decision-making process in a meaningful way, and to determine where the Visitors’ Information Centre operates this summer and into the future.”

The new Tourism Development Commission (TDC) has the mandate to liaise with other District advisory committees and commissions, community groups, clubs, associations and societies who are dealing with local tourism promotion, development and enhancement or events that may be of interest and benefit to the community.  The Commission is assigned a budget and, where appropriate, can apply for grants, matching funds and other external sources of revenue to fund local tourism.

Voting membership of the Commission is a minimum of 10 and maximum of 12 members consisting of at least five representatives of the community with an interest or experience in tourism, two members of Council, one member of the Chamber of Commerce, one member of the Economic Planning and Development Committee, and one member of the Okanagan Indian Band; plus one representative from Tourism Kelowna as a non-voting member.  Applications for voluntary participation on the Commission from anyone with an interest or experience in tourism promotion, operation or development are being accepted by the District of Lake Country until May 15th, 2013.

Commission meetings will be open to the public and held at Municipal Hall for the most part. The Commission will hold an annual meeting where groups or individuals with ideas or concerns regarding local tourism promotion, development and enhancement are invited to present comments.  One of the primary functions of the group will be to spearhead and support projects that support local tourism product development, promote local tourist activities and facilitate enhancement of local tourist amenities.

For more information contact: Ryan Roycroft, Economic Development Manager, District of Lake Country Tel 250-766-5650 x208 or rroycroft@lakecountry.bc.ca

On April 27, 2013 a group of WALC and Lake Country Rotary volunteers re-signed the first half kilometer of the Arrowleaf trail (yellow trail markers) from the Upper Lakes trail head. This trail is accessed near the upper water tank on Apex Drive. The volunteers also rehabilitated most of the Arrowleaf trail, grooming out erosion damage caused by motorbikes.

Hikers, please continue to use caution on the trails; recent high winds have brought a number of trees crashing to the ground, some right over the trail near the parking lot. But otherwise now is a perfect time to explore the trails on Spion Kop. The brilliant yellow sunflower like blooms of the Arrowleaf/Balsamroot for which the Arrowleaf trail is named, make a stunning display on the hillsides.

A big THANKS to WALC and Rotary volunteers for their work to keep the public trails well groomed and marked for everyone’s enjoyment!

Oyama                               7:00 pm, Thursday, May 9

Carr’s Landing                 7:00 pm, Thursday, May 16

Okanagan Centre            7:00 pm,  Thursday, May 23

Winfield                            7:00 pm,  Thursday, June 6

General Agenda items include: updates on Pelmewash Parkway, Integrated Community Sustainability Plan, Integrated Transportation Framework, Water Master Plan, parks, weeds, budget, and other items specific to each ward, plus an open forum for public concerns and comments.

3:27pm Update: What originally started as a rank 3 (north east moving “tree candling” fire early this afternoon is now rank 1 (surface fire only). BC Ministry of Forests is on the scene with a small crew to take down dangerous trees; BC Ambulance is available on site; and RCMP is assisting with evacuation and road control. The fire is guarded on the north, south and west and crews are working on the east.

3:30pm Update:  Camp Rd. is CLOSED from Lehmann to Tyndall for public safety. Access for residents of Nighthawk is from Okanagan Centre Rd. W.

4:20pm Update:  Road still closed; mop up in full swing; fire site estimated now at 5 acres in size, smoldering hot spots left only. The volunteered tactical evacuation is over.