Oroville City Clerk/Treasurer Kathy Jones being honored by Oroville Mayor Chuck Spieth for 35 years of dedicated service to the city. Photo by Emily Hanson
OROVILLE – The City Council signed a resolution stating their intent to assume ownership and operation of the Lake Osoyoos Veterans Memorial State Park Facility during their regular meeting on Tuesday, July 21.
“Whereas, the Washington State Parks Commission (WSPC) has indicated its desire and willingness to transfer ownership and operation of Lake Osoyoos Veterans Memorial State Park to the City of Oroville,” the resolution states. “Whereas, the Oroville City Council recognizes the contribution of Lake Osoyoos Veterans Memorial State Park to the local and regional economy and the City Council acknowledges the potential for further development and improvements that would expand the economic and ‘quality of life’ benefits to the citizens of the City of Oroville.”
The resolution goes on to state that, based on discussions between the WSPC staff and the mayor and senior staff of Oroville, the city will assume ownership and operation of the park on Jan. 1, 2010 at no cost to the city.
Also during the meeting, the city council heard a presentation from Judy Morales with the United States Census 2010 asking the city council to sign a proclamation stating that they will become a Census partner.
“Whereas, an accurate census count is vital to our community and residents’ well-being by helping planners determine where to locate schools, day-care centers, roads and public transportation, hospitals and other facilities and is used to make decisions concerning businesses growth and housing needs,” the proclamation states. “Whereas more than $300 billion per year in federal and state funding is allocated to states and communities based on census data and census data ensure fair Congressional representation by determining how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the redistricting of state legislatures, county and city councils and voting districts.”
Mayor Chuck Speith told Morales Oroville will try to help in any way that they can but that he’d like to look at the proclamation and Census information she brought more before signing the proclamation.
In other Oroville news, Councilmember Neysa Roley said the Library Committee has decided they would not do conference room renting and City Superintendent Rod Noel gave an update on the Biosolids Project.
“One stipulation is the dates are contingent on the Community Development Block Grant,” Noel said. “I think the big issue will be construction during the winter. There will be a lot of concrete to place and we may have to shut down during the winter.”
A cultural survey must be done in the area before work can begin, Speith said.
