At last Monday’s council meeting, the reinstated Uplands Neighbourhood Association was present to discuss the association’s priorities.

Association vice president Marty Put and treasurer Mitch Vik were in communication with Coun. Scott Elliott, city liaison with neighbourhood associations and it was decided the association would be revived after a five-year hiatus.

The Uplands Neighbourhood Association held their first meeting May 5 with only Elliott, Vik and Put in attendance, where it was decided a second, more official, meeting would take place after canvassing the neighbourhood for members.

“On May 24, Marty chaired a meeting of Uplands residents after delivering flyers to the area which announced the reactivation of the association,” Vik said.

“At that meeting, many concerns were voiced including excessive speeding on Lewis Drive, unsafe accessibility to the Uplands Park and poor maintenance of the park, as well as the unsafe use of ATVs on the streets and alleys in the area,” he added.

“We also agreed a summer meeting should be held to maintain momentum.”

The Uplands Neighbourhood Association wrote a letter of concern to the city’s director of public works, Ken Coombs, who acknowledged the concerns and scheduled a meeting with Vik and Put to investigate the problems which were discussed at the association’s meetings.

“Ken Coombs was very cooperative and agreed to meet us at the park to discuss the issues,” Vik explained.

“He has already toured the Uplands Park to get a better appreciation of the problems.”

At the council meeting, Coun. Elliott asked to come along for the inspection of the park to get a better idea of the issues the association is facing.

At the next Uplands Neighbourhood Association meeting, Put and Vik plan on revising the priority items and deciding which direction the association is going in.

“In terms of priorities, those mentioned above will represent the first action items,” Vik said.

“As we meet in the future, residents are invited to

contribute to the conversation and add to the priority list.”

The Uplands Neighbourhood Association is holding another meeting in the summer and would like to invite anyone who has ideas on how the Uplands area can be improved.

“Although this association is named the Uplands Neighbourhood Association, residents from beyond the neighbourhood borders are welcome to participate and contribute,” Vik said.

For more information on the Uplands Neighbourhood Association, contact Put, 250-992-5209.

Look for updates of the Uplands Neighbourhood Association in your Observer.