Effective at noon September 1, 2010 campfires will be permitted due to a decreased risk of wildfires. Campfires must not be larger than 0.5 metres wide or 0.5 metres tall. Anyone who lights a campfire must have a hand tool such as shovel, or at least eight litres of water nearby, to fully extinguish it. Never leave a campfire unattended, and make sure ashes are completely cold to the touch before leaving the area.

Open fires of any other description remain prohibited, this includes fireworks and burning barrels.

Click on the link below for more information

Temporary Campfire Ban Rescinded

The Regional District Okanagan Similkameen and the Village of Keremeos invites everyone to the Gazebo in Memorial Park on Monday, September 13, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. for a FREE information session regarding the basics of composting, using compost in your garden, grasscycling, worm composting and building backyard ‘doggie doo’ digesters!

Come out to learn how to help your garden, reduce waste into our landfills, and to help the environment!

The RDOS is working towards the implementation of a smoke control bylaw for many areas of the Regional District including the Village of Keremeos.  The approach is not to ‘ban’ burning, but to encourage ’smart’ burning, to reduce smoke and particulate matter that is released into the atmosphere by burning improperly.  If you have any comments regarding the draft bylaw, please contact Janice Johnson at the RDOS at 1-877-610-3737 or janicejohnson@rdos.bc.ca  Thanks to everyone for providing your feedback!

Click on this link for more information

Draft Smoke Control Bylaw.2010

Pursuant to the provisions of Section 405 of the Local Government Act, notice is hereby given that the following properties will be offered for sale by public auction, unless outstanding taxes are paid prior to the Tax Sale:

            1.         802 – 6^th Avenue PID 003-128-253

                        Lot A DL 174 SDYD Plan 34398

            2.         721 – 6^th Avenue PID 011-874-210

                        Lot 12 DL 174 SDYD Blk 72 Plan 300

            3.         915 – 7^th Avenue PID 006-083-226

                        Lot B DL 174 SDYD Plan 976

            4.         716 – 7^th Street   PID 012-556-131, 012-556-149 and

                        012-556-157;    Lot 18 Blk 79 Plan 300 DL 174 SDYD

                        Plus portion South ½ Lot 16-17

            5.         217 – 12^th Avenue PID 012-391-204

                        Blk 127 DL 174 SDYD Plan 300

            6.         910 Blakeborough Avenue PID 008-427-755

                        Lot C DL 749 SDYD Plan 38661

The Tax Sale will be held in the Council Chambers, Municipal Office,     702 – 4^th Street, Keremeos, B. C., at 10:00 A.M., Monday, September 27, 2010.

A purchaser at the Tax Sale must pay in cash or by certified cheque.  The property may be redeemed by the owner within one year and, if so, the purchase price will be refunded.

Please note that, after expiry of the one year redemption period, the purchaser will be required to pay the 1% Property Purchase Tax on fair market value of any property purchased.

Joni Heinrich                                                                                                                        Chief Administrative Officer                                                                                                   Dated: September 2, 2010

Published in the Review,  September 02 and 23, 2010

Garbage and recyclables collection services are provided to the Village of Keremeos residents and businesses by Waste Services (CA) Inc.  While payments are made to the Village, the Village remits those payments to the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen (RDOS) who contracts the services with Waste Services (CA) Inc.  If at any time your garbage is not collected, please contact Waste Services (CA) Inc. directly for information and explanation.  They can be reached at 1-866-998-4888.

Veterans Avenue between 4^th Street and 3^rd Street will continue to be temporarily closed to other than local traffic while road and other construction take place in conjunction with the BC Housing development.  We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause anyone.

Water services in the Village of Keremeos and outside the boundaries into some parts of rural Keremeos and east toward Cawston are provided by the Keremeos Irrigation District.

The Keremeos Irrigation District is an Improvement District, and is separate from the Village of Keremeos.  The Keremeos Irrigation District is run by an elected Board of Trustees, (not by the Council of the Village) and collects fees for services it provides (water) in order to maintain the water provision within its service area.

 The current proposed reservoir project is an initiative of the Keremeos Irrigation District, not of the Village of Keremeos.  For further information regarding the reservoir project and any cost implications associated with it, please contact the Keremeos Irrigation District office at 250-499-5651.

Statement of Financial Information at December 31, 2009                     2009 Annual Report

The Similkameen Farm Workers Campground, located just east of the Village’s boundaries at the edge of the Similkameen River, is operated by the newly formed Similkameen Farm Workers Campground Society working with various local volunteers and the Village Keremeos.

The campground has been in operation for almost 2 months and is equipped with basic amenities including porta potties, garbage removal service and designated fire pit areas.  Safety for the campers and the surrounding properties is of the utmost concern to all parties involved.

The Society has been fortunate to receive several cash donations to pay for costs of operation, including a recent donation from the BC Fruit Growers’ Association.  In addition, society members and others have donated fire grates, picnic tables, garbage bins and signage.  Many people are aware that farm workers are crucial to the economy of the Similkameen Valley.

There are still improvements to be made to the campground.  In 2009, many complaints were received by the Village, however since the campground has begun, no complaints about camping in and around Pine Park have been received by Village staff.  The Village is of the opinion that this initiative is a positive step for both the farm workers and the residents of the community.

The Village has embarked on a process called a Liquid Waste Management Plan.  This process studies the need for sewer services within the Village to ensure continued protection of public health and the environment by proper management of wastewater discharges in the community over the long term.

Stage 1 of the multi-stage process has been completed, and the Stage 1 Summary Report is now available for public review at the Village Office (702-4^th Street) the Keremeos Public Library (638 7^th Avenue) and on the Village of Keremeos website (www.keremeos.ca).  The Village of Keremeos invites your input into the Stage 1 report until Friday, July 30, 2010 at 4:00 p.m.  Comments can be emailed to Joni Heinrich, CAO, at cao@keremeos.ca, or can be provided in writing, either by way of letter or by utilizing the input forms available at the locations noted above.