Central Okanagan Regional District

Garbage and recycling pick-up changes over the holidays

CENTRAL OKANAGAN - Along with the holidays comes celebrations and gifts, which means more garbage and recycling. But the pick-up people get some days off too which means some slight adjustments to the schedule. Curbside pick-up ervice is largely unaffected by the holidays with Christmas and New Years the only days with service changes throughout...

Central Okanagan director censured, sanctioned and stripped of most duties

KELOWNA - Regional politicians took a rare step today in censuring and sanctioning one of their own, demanding she write an apology and stripping her of the ability to represent her area on several committees. All but three Central Okanagan Regional District directors voted to rebuke Central Okanagan East director Patty Hanson and have her...

Regional district will have to wait to probe loose-lipped colleague

'THIS PROCESS HAS... GONE OFF THE RAILS COMPLETELY' KELOWNA - A Central Okanagan Regional District hearing on the conduct of one of its members was postponed today due to an issue of procedural fairness, prompting new allegations and finger pointing among directors. Today’s hearing was supposed to determine if Central Okanagan East director Patty Hanson...

Kelowna-area politician’s loose lips have her facing possible penalties from colleagues

ALLEGEDLY GAVE UNTRUE INFORMATION; FILM COMMISSIONER FEARED LOSS OF JOB KELOWNA - A local politician is already in hot water with her colleagues, but tomorrow we should know exactly how much. Patty Hanson, a veteran director at the Central Okanagan Regional District, faces what amounts to a disciplinary hearing by her colleagues on the board....

Who’s paying their property taxes and who isn’t in Kelowna

KELOWNA - All in all, we’re a pretty honest bunch if measured by how promptly we pay our property taxes. “We do have some people who don’t like having to pay but the majority of people are really good about it,” financial planning manager George King says. Property taxes totalling $226.7 million were due by...

Hot dog reports surging this year, says SPCA

KELOWNA - Even as they staged a demonstration, the B.C. SPCA received a real hot dog call about an animal left for 45 minutes in vehicle in downtown Kelowna. “This one’s for real,” Kelowna SPCA branch manager Suzanne Pugh said. Pugh was demonstrating an infrared thermometer which allows accurate readings of the inside termperatures of...

Water utility customers left high and dry by power outage

WEST KELOWNA - A customer from a small water utility near the Westside Road fire, without regular power since it was shut off as a precaution, says the utlility owner is risking homes in the area by refusing to provide a back-up generator to keep the water running. However, the owner says there is no...

Abandoned camper underscores illegal dumping problem in Central Okanagan

KELOWNA - They had to use a tow truck to get rid of a piece of garbage, an old camper, illegally dumped up Postill Lake Road today. The regional waste reduction office says it recently learned through social media of the dumped camper. The camper is just the tip of a much larger problem though...

West Kelowna faces signifcant water and sewer rate hikes

WEST KELOWNA - It’s going to cost more for water and sewer service on the Westside after a decision this week to increase utility rates. Citing significant cost pressures, West Kelowna council gave first and second readings to its fees bylaw, which will see an increase of 20 per cent to district sanitary sewer user...

Don’t throw it away, bring it to the Repair Cafe

KELOWNA - Have you ever had a toaster oven or an old clock radio stop working for no apparent reason? Maybe you threw it in the landfill because everyone told you it’s cheaper to buy a new one and you've felt guilty ever since. There's a new way to avoid this guilt, and save a...

Regional district budget down this year, but could have dropped further

KELOWNA - The Central Okanagan Regional District will spend $59.4 million of your tax dollars this year and you’re welcome to say something about it. “There is an opportunity for the public to address the board regarding the 2015-19 financial plan,” said spokesman Bruce Smith. “They don’t have to preschedule or anything. There is a...