RDOS governance study looking for resident participation

PENTICTON – The goal of the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen’s governance study in Electoral Area D is to get residents involved in the search for new ways to govern the rural area.

The governance study offers residents a rare opportunity to share their perspective on how local government works — or how it doesn’t, according to a media relase from the reginal district. The end result of the study will hopefully see improvements in the way Area D is governed and the way local services are delivered.

A number of fact sheets are being published by the governance study committee, who are working with a hired consultant to provide a series of summaries of the various services offered, the release says. These summaries explain the service, how it is delivered, how decisions are made and what it costs.

Residents can check the regional district website to find the series of fact sheets. They will also be made available at various locations within the electoral area.

Two surveys and a governance forum open house will be conducted in early 2016, soliciting resident’s opinions and ideas. Notices and advertisements will be posted in next year.

Those who are out of the country at some point during the winter can stay involved with the study by checking the regional district government study webpage under Popular Links at www.rdos.bc.ca.

Regular meetings of the governance study are open to the public. The next one is on Monday, Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the Club Room in the Okanagan Falls Community Centre.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.