Voters defeat Keremeos library bylaw

PENTICTON – A regional district bid to assist the Keremeos Library with funding to enable a five day per week operation has failed.

Results of an Alternate Approval Process by the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen to establish a contribution service to the library failed when 432 elector response forms opposed to the bylaw were received by the regional district by the Jan. 20, 2017 deadline.

A total of 421 responses were necessary to prevent the bylaw’s adoption.

Regional District Manager of Legislative Services Christy Malden says the purpose of the bylaw was to allow the library to maintain existing service levels.

The regional board was informed of the results at the Thursday, Feb. 2 regular board meeting.

The Keremeos Library’s present budget only provides funding for a four day a week operation.

Malden says there was some confusion regarding actual cost of the bylaw to Similkameen residents.

A homeowner with an average priced house of $185,000 would have paid an additional $10 annually for the service.

With Keremeos Director Manfred Bauer and Hedley Director Elef Christensen both absent from Thursday’s meeting, Malden says the matter will return to the board at the Feb. 16 meeting, when all three Similkameen directors are expected to be present for further discussion.

The board may proceed with a referendum or choose to abandon the bylaw.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.