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Their rent is now waived but a local group will have to search out an offsite washroom or hold it, council decided Monday.
Because of turnover in the Keremeos Search and Rescue group members requested council either reduce rental fees or waive them completely for the SAR Hall they store supplies in and use for meetings on a weekly basis.
The group pays approximately $1,200 a year in rental fees on the building. The village pays the utilities, which can be as high as $400 a month in the winter.
“I’m kind of surprised we’re charing them rent at all,” Counc. Jeremy Evans said. “They’re an essential service like the police, like the fire. I really don’t care if we don’t charge them anything.”
Counc. Arlene Arlow first threw out a number of $200 a year for a rental fee, which was turned down after some discussion.
“It’s just a starting point,” she said.
Council considered asking Areas B and G to contribute money towards a rental as they also benefit from the service of the group. The Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen does provide money to all search and rescue organizations in the district.
Council then agreed to waive the rental fee completely.
In the letter from search and rescue a request to also build a permanent or supply a portable washroom was also put forward.
Councillors discussed at length different options to accommodate the search and rescue members.
Unfortunately the hall can not have washroom built in it as grading issues make it impossible to hook into the municipal sewer system Jordy Boscha, public works director said.
A portable washroom was also kiboshed by Boscha as it wouldn’t get used often and water would need to be put in it regularly to keep the smell down.
“I don’t think the neighbours would like that very much,” he said.
The option of providing keys to the group for the public washrooms or those in the visitors centre was also turned down as it presented a security problem.
“I guess they’ll just have to hold it or go before their meeting,” Counc. Sherry Philpott-Adhikary said.
