The Annual Summer Slow Down

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.