Lake Country will keep longtime mayor James Baker for another four years.
Election results came in at around 8:50 p.m. Saturday night, with 1,479 votes came announced for Baker. His competitor Barry Rhodes earned 1,266 votes.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e got a lot of things on our plate and we91裸聊视频檙e going to keep them going,91裸聊视频� Baker said. For his fifth term, Baker said he will focus on the Jensen and Hill Road affordable housing project.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 also in conjunction in getting the recreation centre happening,91裸聊视频� he said.
One of the main issues during this election was the district91裸聊视频檚 .
The district stressed the need for a new fire hall, saying the old one is insufficient for Lake Country91裸聊视频檚 growing population. A referendum was held Saturday during the election to allow the district to borrow up to $6.6 million for the hall.
Voters came out in favour of the fire hall with 1,724 voting yes, and 1,026 no.
Baker said it was 91裸聊视频渨onderful91裸聊视频� that residents voted in favour of the new fire hall and that 91裸聊视频渋t was a long time coming.91裸聊视频�
It was narrowly defeated 10 years ago by 25 votes, he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 something we91裸聊视频檝e been budgeting for, putting money away, and we know what we can afford to do.91裸聊视频�
Cara Reed is the new Carr91裸聊视频檚 Landing councillor. She earned 183 to incumbent Coun. Jeanette Lambert91裸聊视频檚 65.
Reed was ecstatic to hear the results Saturday night and said the first thing on her list to do as councillor is to look at where Carr91裸聊视频檚 Landing sits in the budget. She91裸聊视频檚 setting her sights on road maintenance and repair, access to public waterfront and working to improve boat launches in the area as councillor, she said.
Candidates Blair Ireland for Okanagan Centre and have already taken their seats on council with no competition. Coun. Bill Scarrow, Coun. Penny Gambell and Oyama Coun. Todd McKenzie all retained their seats.
McKenzie said he will continue working to secure funding from the province to mitigate fire risks in the district.
Amy Geistlinger is the new Lake Country trustee.
Some residents said they weren91裸聊视频檛 pleased with the cost, noting that it91裸聊视频檚 too high and dislike the district will be building the hall partially on ALR land.
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The loan will be paid in a period of 20 years at about $476,000 per year at a borrowing rate of 3.5 per cent, according to the District of Lake Country91裸聊视频檚 website. The cost to an average home of $656,000 would be $90 per year for 20 years.
The talk around a new fire hall also tied with discussions about wildfire mitigation, which was a hot issue after the Nighthawk Road wildfire in Okanagan Centre destroyed eight homes in 2017.
Insured losses equalled more than $13 million. The Lake Country firefighters also spent 1,114 hours at the Okanagan Centre blaze.
A contentious bylaw, which was defeated by council after Carr91裸聊视频檚 Landing residents rallied, brought up the discussion around .
The district originally planned to sell portions of land near Gable Beach in order to pay off Kelowna91裸聊视频檚 interest in Okanagan Rail Trail lands.
A deal was made between the municipalities in 2015, as the district purchased the rail trail lands through its borders at a cost of $5.2 million, a contentious purchase that went to the public twice in 2015. First, an Alternate Approval Process failed before the district went to a full referendum, which passed in April of 2015.
Kelowna currently has a $2.6 million investment in Lake Country rail trail lands and since Lake Country was unable to meet its deadline of three years, interest is now .
During an all-candidates forum held earlier this month, the public asked questions about congestion around Highway 97 and Glenmore Road intersection, which both Baker and Rhodes said would be a top priority for them.
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As one of B.C.91裸聊视频檚 fastest growing municipalities, development continues in the district. With no speculation tax, developers are eyeing up the municipality and residents are pushing back as their quaint lifestyles continue to change.
Voter turnout for Lake Country was 26 per cent, which was slightly higher than 201491裸聊视频檚 election of 25 per cent.
carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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