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PEACHLAND VIEW
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April 25, 2014 / Volume 10 Number 17 / www.peachlandview.com
TroyFischer Real Estate Professional
250.878.0626 KELOWNA Each office independently owned and operated
TroyFischer@remax.net
Municipal taxes to go up 2.2 per cent
AT A GLANCE District issues water quality advisory
Spring runoff season continues in Peachland, prompting the district to issue a water quality advisory for the second time this season.page 2
Joanne Layh Peachland View
between 5th and 6th Streets. While Peachland has among the highest number of seniors per capita in the country, there are no subsidized or market seniors’ housing units available in the community, which means many residents are forced to leave town as their housing and support needs change with age. One such Peachlander is Julie Mearns, who will soon have to move away from Peachland because there is nowhere in town that can support her changing needs. Mearns, who will turn 90 years old this week, has lived in Peachland and been highly involved in the community for over 20 years. Mearns has been active as a volunteer or a member in numerous organizations in Peachland, including the local legion, so when she leaves town, she’ll also be leaving behind some very
Peachland homeowners can expect a 2.2 per cent tax increase in their municipal property taxes this year, according to the 2014 financial plan bylaw that is likely to be adopted April 29. Overall, the average single family dwelling will be assessed a 2.4 per cent tax increase, when taxes to other governments are taken into consideration, including Okanagan Regional Library, RDCO, Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District, School District 23 and the Municipal Finance Authority. As a result of tax increases from various levels of government, the average single-family dwelling will see an approximate overall increase of $73.24 in 2014. This year the net policing assessment for Peachland will increase to $418,287, up from $318,082 in 2013, as a result of phasing out funding from the policing reserve used to mitigate the policing tax impact. The increased cost of policing will result in an estimated 2.5 per cent tax increase or approximately $33.90, for the average singlefamily dwelling. “The final year for the phasing out of the funding is 2015,” direc-
See LOCAL RESIDENT on page 2
See MUNICIPAL on page 3
RDCO invites people to declutter their lives at trunk sale
Looking to sell, trade or give away some of your unwanted or gently used stuff? Then you’ll want to take part in the latest trunk sale at Okanagan College on Saturday May 24. page 7
Rotary spring gala to raise funds for the community
Spring is here and Peachlanders and visitors can be seen enjoying the community’s splendid exercise facilities. Rotary has been proud to use some of the funds raised at its annual galas to contribute to the exercise stations on the fitness trail in Lambly Park. page 13
INSIDE News 2-3,5,7 Opinion 4 Commentary 4-5 Local Activities 6 Community 7-8,10 Sports & Recreation 11 Classifieds 12 Service Directory 13 Puzzles 14 Faith 15
ANNICK STOLTZ
SPECTATORS WATCH THE RUBBER RACERS float down Trepanier Creek during Peachland’s first annual Rubber Ducky Race on Apr. 19.
For more photos, see page 8.
PEACHLAND SENIORS’ HOUSING CRISIS
Local resident soon to be forced out of town due to lack of seniors’ housing
Joanne Layh / Peachland View Last month a joint announcement from the governments of Canada and British Columbia to commit an additional investment of more than $300 million over the next five years toward affordable housing in the province sparked hope that the proposed affordable seniors’ housing project in Peachland may finally receive funding to move forward, but to date there has been no word from BC Housing about which communities might be approved for project funding. Peachland has been working towards an affordable seniors’ housing project since 2005 but has so far been unsuccessful in obtaining the necessary provincial funding required to make the project feasible. The latest draft of the proposal was submitted to the province last year for a two-phase project that would initially include 60 units of housing and some commercial space
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