Keremeos Village Council met for their bi monthly regular meeting on Monday, October 9.

Don Nettleton, Finanacial Manager of the Okangan Regional Library spoke to council about the library’s current situation and its future plans

Nettleton noted that Ed Minshull would soon be retiring from the Okanagan Regional Library Board, to be replaced by Councillor Gary Thielmann.

The current economic slowdown has resulted in higher useage at the library, but hard economic times might result in closures to smaller branches, Nettleton cautioned. The library faces a two per cent budget cut as a result of a cutback of government funding to the organization.

The Royal Canadian Legion in Keremeos made a request for a proclamation for the village to recognize a two minutes’ silence during Remembrance Day ceremonies on November 11.

The legion also requested a road closure from 10:30 a.m. until noon on Remembrance Day on Veterans Avenue. Both requests were given by council.

A lengthy discussion ensued during the Mayor’s report over the issue of transients in Pine Park.

The mayor was requesting a public meeting in order to get some input regarding the issue, sometime in early December. The mayor suggested bringing the village’s lawyer into the meeting, feeling that the transient situation needed a resolution in time for next spring.

Councillor Bauer initiated the discussion by asking what the village’s legal jurisdiction is regarding the transients’ use of public property.

“We need to find out what we can do first,” he told council.

The other members agreed, asserting that understanding the town’s legal rights was a necessary first step.

“We need to know our legal rights - and they have rights, too,” Councillor Charlene Cowling observed.

“We have rights too, as do the people who live near Pine Park,” Councillor Ed Minshull commented. “We should look at finding them a place... they shouldn’t be living on our river.

Councillor Thielmann agreed with Bauer, noting that a legal opinion was necessary.

“We need to find a solution... I fear it’s going to be difficult... and we are aware that some people seem to have more rights than others.”

Mayor Walter Despot agreed, adding that the situation as it now stands can no longer be tolerated, and a solution found before next year’s growing season. He further stated that it was his goal to have a solution in place by May 1.

The request for zoning amendment to the Branding Iron Steak house property was discussed again at the meeting. Negotiations are currently underway to get an agreement with the owners of the Esso property nearby for the use of parking spaces required to satisfy the bylaw amendment. The service station property has an excess number of spaces in their lot.

Third reading of the amendment included a stipulation that “long term parking arrangements will be in place” as a subject to adoption,as the owner of the Branding Iron Steak House needed a couple of weeks more time to make arrangements for a parking agreement.