The past three months (June, July, and August) have been a bit slower than normal for me. There are a few reasons for that and they include the ever-changing COVID restrictions limiting meeting sizes, the fact that many organizations take a well-deserved summer break from monthly meetings, and that Town Council also reduces the number of regular meetings during this time of year. However, I still had several meetings to attend throughout June, July, and August. Here is a quick breakdown of what they were:

June 2021

Thursday, June 1
Drum Vigil, Vermilion Forks Metis Association, Highway 3 (old Chamber of Commerce building)

Wednesday, June 2
Special Meeting of Town Council, Town Hall

Monday, June 7
Regular Meeting of Town Council, Town Hall

Tuesday, June 15
Princeton Exhibition Association (PXA), Sunflower Downs Track Office (*)

Wednesday, June 16
Committee of the Whole Meeting, Town Hall
Princeton Arts Council, Riverside Centre (*)

Thursday, June 17
Princeton Museum Society, Zoom Meeting (*)

Monday, June 21
Regular Meeting of Town Council, Town Hall

Wednesday, June 23
Special Meeting of Town Council, Town Hall
Canadian Mental Health Association, Penticton, Zoom Meeting (*)

Wednesday, June 30
Emergency Meeting of Town Council, Town Hall

July 2021

Thursday, July 1
Tree Planting Ceremony, Town Hall

Wednesday, July 14
Special Meeting of Town Council, Town Hall

Thursday, July 15
Princeton Museum Society, AGM, Princeton Legion Hall (I conducted the Election of Officers)

Monday, July 19
Regular Meeting of Town Council, Town Hall

Wednesday, July 21
Okanagan Regional Library, Kelowna, Zoom Meeting (*)

Thursday, July 29
Primary Care Network, Penticton, Zoom Meeting

August 2021

Tuesday, August 3
Special Meeting of Town Council, Town Hall

Wednesday, August 11
Princeton Museum Society, Princeton Museum (*)

Monday, August 16
Regular Meeting of Town Council, Town Hall

There were just a couple of meetings I could not attend for various reasons and one event cancellation. I was set to be one of the afternoon MCs during the annual Traditional Music Festival, set for the weekend of August 21 & 22 but it was canceled due to COVID and the current wildfire situation. This is the second year in a row that this event had to be canceled after twelve years of success. There have also been other local events that have been impacted by COVID restrictions along with several activities. It has been a tough year and a half for all non-profits and any other business that depends on tourist traffic in our community.

(*) - denotes attendance at a meeting as the only member of Town Council

Some Details From The Town Council Meetings

At the Monday, June 21 Regular Meeting of Town Council, the first of the 2021 Industrial Park Revitalization Tax Exemption Petitions was received. It was rejected because “the bylaw was not in effect on the date of petition and the proposed use of the property and the proposed business plan do not meet any of the outcomes of the program.” The specifics of the tax exemption are fairly easy to understand, however, I think Town Council is going to have to revisit this bylaw from time to time.

At the Monday, July 19 Regular Meeting of Town Council Rika Ruebsaat was present as a delegation representing the Princeton Traditional Music Society. She was the first delegation permitted since COVID restrictions went into place in March 2020 (The restrictions have since tightened up in the Interior Health Region). She provided Council with updates and information on the upcoming 13th Annual event which, sadly, was postponed a week before it was to happen on August 21 & 22. It was also at that same meeting where the Town Council approved a grant-in-aid of up to $2,500 for the organizing group.

At the Tuesday, August 3 Special Meeting of Town Council the Five-Year Financial Plan Bylaw Amendment 2 was adopted, Council authorized staff to move forward with “the location research, drilling, and study of a new source of water test wells.” Town Council also approved shifting back to Stage 3 Water Restrictions. Council was told that water use during the current heatwave was taxing the water system and depleting reserves required in case of fire.

At the Monday, August 16 Regular Meeting of Town Council, the 2020 Annual Water Quality Report was received, and Town Council approved a proposed lease between the Town of Princeton, the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen, and the Vermilion Forks Metis Association for “a lease of the property located at 105 Highway 3 East from August 31, 2021, to August 31, 2026.”

Health Update

Not much to report on my health other than I am still on waiting lists for a cardiac MRI and my kidney operation (now 9 months waiting on that one). There is an interesting thing to point out. I was approached in mid-August by a writer who contributes to a medical magazine that is distributed to 400,000+ doctor's offices. They produce an annual Heart Failure Issue and I am going to be featured as the front cover story discussing my non-surgical recovery. The phone interview I had with the writer was 90-minutes long and we have been going back and forth in emails clarifying details of my story. Otherwise, I’m still walking and lifting weights. I stopped light jogging sessions and trips to do the stairs at Miners Climb due to the heat but should be back at them in September.

This month was much like the last one. Not a lot of meetings, and when they did happen, most of them were on the same day. No kidding. It is normally quite easy for me to schedule around the meetings I attend as a member of Princeton Town Council. But, for some reason, I had three meetings scheduled for the same day. Luckily, these were all online meetings as I would never have been able to drive to all of them and get to them on time.

The Meetings

Here is a quick breakdown of the seven meetings I attended in May 2021. There was another one scheduled, but due to technical difficulties (on my end) I couldn’t make it. In case you are not aware, not all online meetings are conducted on Zoom. The meeting I missed was on a platform I have never used before and could not get downloaded. I now have it, so hopefully, this won’t happen again. I currently attend meetings on four different online platforms.

Town Council Meetings

Monday, May 3, 2021 - 7:30 PM - Regular Meeting of Town Council, Town Hall
Monday, May 17, 2021 - 7:30 PM - Regular Meeting of Town Council, Town Hall

Other Regular Meetings

Wednesday, May 19 - 3:00 PM - Princeton Healthcare Steering Committee - Zoom Meeting
Wednesday, May 26 - 5:30 PM - Princeton Arts Council - Zoom Meeting
Thursday, May 27 - 5:30 PM - Princeton Museum - Zoom Meeting (*)

Other Events/Activities

Wednesday, May 19 - 5:00 PM - Canadian Mental Health Association - Zoom Meeting (*)

(*) - denotes attendance at a meeting as the only member of Town Council

Some Details From The Town Council Meetings

The May 3, 2021, Town Council meeting featured an interesting request. Titled the 2021 Sports Box Agreement, Town Council granted authority to the Princeton Lacrosse Association to build a “multi-sport box facility” on the property where the Princeton Arena sits. The sports box will go either between the building and the skateboard park or between the building and the bike park. What makes this so interesting is that a sports box is the shape of an outdoor ice rink but can have lines on it to permit pickleball, basketball, hockey, lacrosse, and other outdoor sports.

The May 17, 2021, Town Council meeting almost didn’t happen as the only members of the council present at the start of the meeting were Mayor Coyne and me. Without a quorum (three members of council) the meeting would be canceled. Fortunately, following text messages and a few minutes, a quorum was met. Probably the most interesting item on that agenda revolved around the Old Town Clock. I have always known the timepiece as the “Hugh Miller Memorial Clock” and it had been sitting outside of the former Town Hall (now the Visitors Centre) since I moved here in October 1986. I used to time my arrival at Town Council meetings I covered for the radio station I worked for at the time by minute hand on the old town clock.

The clock has had a long history here. It was donated by the Miller family in early 1958 in honour of Hugh, who had passed away the previous year. It was originally in front of the post office building and was moved in the 1970s to where it sat until it was removed in 2020 during renovations to the visitors centre building. The clock had quit working about six months before that. The clock has been repaired and remodeled several times over the years and currently, replacement parts are difficult to locate. Town Council chose to preserve the clock by donating it to the Princeton Museum and looking at an alternative clock to replace it. At least one local service club stepped up during the month with a plan for the project.

Health Update

I’m doing rather well these days. I’m still on a waiting list for my kidney operation, but the longer it takes for that to happen, the more time I have to build my strength. I have increased the intensity of my “light jogging” intervals, increased the minimum number of stairs I will climb at Miners Climb, and I have increased the intensity of the light weightlifting program I have been on. I am also contemplating writing an eBook on the topic of congestive heart failure and injecting my story and tips that I have developed that seem to be working for me. My first virtual walk/run is the RUN for WOMEN in support of the Canadian Mental Health Association. It is set to take place between July 4 and 11 this year and that is the event I have been preparing for. If you’d like to donate, you can do so by clicking HERE. Any size donation is gratefully accepted.

April seemed to just fly by, didn’t it? It was a pretty big month as far as Town Council decisions go but rather light on most other fronts for me. Here is a look at the details of the past month in my life.

A Few Meetings

I had a total of eight scheduled meetings throughout the month. One I could not attend due to a time conflict. I know, it doesn’t sound possible, but for some reason, I have experienced double bookings for meetings more than once since being elected to Town Council. This month saw that happen again.

Town Council Meetings

Tuesday, April 6 - 7:30 PM - Regular Town Council Meeting, Council Chambers, Town Hall
Monday, April 19 - 7:30 PM - Regular Town Council Meeting, Council Chambers, Town Hall

Other Regular Meetings

Friday, April 9 - 10 AM - Meeting with PXA President, Council Chambers, Town Hall
Thursday, April 15 - 5:30 PM - Museum Society Meeting (Zoom)
Wednesday, April 21 - 3 PM - Princeton Healthcare Steering Committee (Zoom)
Wednesday, April 28 - 3 PM - Tourism Marketing Meeting (Crimson Tine Players), Princeton Visitor Centre (*)

Other Events/Activities

Wednesday, April 21 - 5 PM - Canadian Mental Health Association, Penticton (Zoom) (*)

(*) - denotes attendance at a meeting as the only member of Town Council

Some Details From The Town Council Meetings

Probably the biggest news to come out of the April 6, 2021, Town Council meeting was the 2021 Loan Authorization Bylaw that received three readings. This will get the ball rolling on major infrastructure improvements. In this case, sewer and water. It has taken a long time to get to this point as infrastructure was one of the main issues every candidate spoke of during the last Municipal Election campaign back in 2018. There is a long and involved process that follows the final approval of this bylaw by the Inspector of Municipalities which will lead to the requirement of seeking approval from local electors through the Alternate Approval Process (as directed by Section 86 of the Community Charter). If approved by electors, the Town can proceed to borrow up to $7-million to cover the costs of upgrading the water and sewer system servicing the community. It’s a huge step I don’t take lightly, but a step necessary for any significant future growth.

At the April 19, 2021, Town Council meeting another Business Facade Improvement Grant Application was approved. This one was for the front and side of the building located at 139 Vermilion Avenue which is home to Vermilion Chiropractic Centre. Council approved the allocation of up to $5,000 for reimbursement for the facade improvements taking place at that business location. The previous Town Council meeting saw the approval of a Business Facade Improvement Grant Application for $5,000 submitted by Sagebrush Physiotherapy at 217 Vermilion Avenue.

Health Update

I have been feeling very strong the past couple of weeks. I have been adding more and longer light jogging intervals into my regular walks along the KVR. I have also managed to jog the entire length of the tunnel that passes under Highway 3. I’m told the tunnel is 1,000-feet in length. I know that it measured out at 450 strides for me...lol There is no further word on my upcoming kidney operation so I’m focusing on just building my strength so that whenever it happens, I can have a speedy recovery. On April 29, both my wife, Brenda, and I received our first COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines at Riverside Centre. I was impressed with how smooth the process went on site after experiencing much the same frustration as many other residents have in dealing with the initial registration phase online. We ended up booking via the phone, which went very well. I can’t imagine how difficult the logistics must have been, and continue to be for administering the vaccines so I am grateful that we have a local clinic set up for this purpose.