There will be referendum questions pertaining to aquatic centre expansion, infrastructure and graveyards in the civic election.
City of Grand Forks
1. Are you in favour of the City of Grand Forks Council adopting the City of Grand Forks Emergency Water Supply for Fire Protection Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 1922, 2011 to authorize the borrowing of a maximum of one million and three hundred thousand dollars ($1,300,000) for emergency water supply for fire protection, using a 25-year debt term.
2. Are you in favour of the City of Grand Forks Council adopting the City of Grand Forks Capital Renewal Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 1923, 2011 to authorize the borrowing of a maximum of four million and two hundred thousand dollars ($4,200,000) for the capital renewal of road, water and sewer infrastructure, using a 25-year debt term.
Over a century old, the City of Grand Forks is looking to renew its aging infrastructure as residents consider two referendum questions that are aimed at updating current services, including transportation, water, sewer, energy, recreational and cultural services.
City Chief Administrator Officer Lynne Burch explained that the questions are straightforward.
“They’re asking authority for council to adopt a bylaw,” she said.
“If council adopts a bylaw, that allows the city to borrow money up to the money in the bylaw, for the purpose stated in the bylaw.”
Bylaw 1922 asks residents if the city can borrow funds up to $1.3 million for the use of emergency water supply for fire protection.
The second bylaw (1923), asks residents to authorize the borrowing $4.2 million to help rebuild road, water and sewer infrastructure.
Both bylaws would use a 25-year debt term.
“There’s nothing saying we’d borrow that exact money, it’s just giving the city the authority to borrow,” explained Burch.
“It’s like when you’re going to do a project, you have a budget, you know what you want to do, and you go get your finances in order. It’s a simple yes or no.”
Burch stated that funds would be taken/given from the Municipal Finance Authority, which is a local finance authority in B.C.
Eligible electors will be able to vote on advanced polling days Nov. 9 and 16 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary boardroom.
General voting will take place on Nov. 19 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Dr. D. A Perley Elementary School.
Electoral Area C
Do you support the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary adopting Bylaw No. 1476, being a bylaw to establish a cemetery service in Electoral Area ‘C’ with a maximum requisition limit of seventy thousand dollars ($70,000) per annum?
Area C residents will be asked if they would like to establish a cemetery service, with a maximum requisition of $70,000 in an upcoming referendum question.
Last year Area C Director Grace McGregor commissioned a study to determine if the idea of a cemetery service would be feasible.
“Grace brought this to the table and asked the board of directors from the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary to give money to Area C to get a study done about the cemetery,” explained Theresa Lenardon, chief election officer for the RDKB.
“She’s going to ask them at this referendum if you want to increase you taxes to have a cemetery service based on the study.”
McGregor explained that there was an old cemetery used many years ago in the 1900s by the old town of Cascade, off of Stewart Creek Road.
“We had a volunteer committee go up and uncover (the cemetery),” said McGregor. “We had a guy come in with a machine to find out where all the people have been buried.”
“I’m getting a lot of positive feedback about this,” stated McGregor.
“There are a lot of people out here, even though people are shying more away from being buried, they do have ashes and there’s a lot of families that would have the ashes available in a green- friendly manner.”
The $70,000 limit doesn’t necessarily mean that much money will be used each year, clarified McGregor.
“When we did the study, the study kind of told us what the costs would be to get the road put in and so forth,” she said.
“When you do a study and use funds from the regional district to do that, it’s wise to bring it to a referendum if people are interested in it.”
Lenardon pointed out this referendum question is different because money will not be borrowed.
“It’s just one question that asks (residents in) Area C, do you support the regional district in adopting Bylaw 1476 which would establish a cemetery service and it would have the maximum requisition of $70,000,” concluded Lenardon.
Currently, Area C residents are using services from Grand Forks because there is none available in their area.
To determine the increase of taxes on your home: (Property Assesment*0.0961)/1,000 = Estimated Property Tax
Electoral Area D
Do you support the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary adopting Bylaw No. 1478, being a bylaw to authorize the borrowing of funds in the amount of one million five hundred thousand dollars ($1,500,000) and Bylaw No. 1479, being a bylaw to increase the requisition limit from five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to six hundred fifty thousand dollars ($650,000) per annum?
The referendum question in Electoral Area D asks residents if they would finance the construction of a Wellness and Fitness Centre addition at the Grand Forks Aquatic Centre.
John Mackey, director of recreation and facilities for Grand Forks and District Recreation, explained the $1.5 million project would include two new activity spaces totaling almost 915 metres (3,000 sq. ft.).
“Right now we’re turning people away. That room can only handle 12 to 14 people for the classes we have,” said Mackey.
“On some days, we’re getting 20 to 25 people show up for drop-in classes. For the larger space, it will provide more room for people to participate in the classes.”
There are two bylaws involved with the possible construction of the new addition.
Lenardon explained that Bylaw 1478 would authorize the borrowing of funds for improvements to the aquatic centre.
On the other hand, Bylaw 1479 is connected to the service establishment law, which was formed when the aquatic centre was built.
The second bylaw places a maximum limit on how much the government is able to tax the taxpayers to maintain, operate and build the additional facility.
“In the service establishment bylaw, you always have to put the maximum amount that you and the government would be taxing the taxpayers to maintain and operate and to build the service,” explained Lenardon.
“The second bylaw will increase the requisition, what they call the taxes.”
Rather than having two questions in the referendum, it has been combined into one question.
“Quite often you’ll have two questions on a ballot, but we’ve combined them to make it simpler,” stated Lenardon.
Broken down, Mackey stated, “The increase (in taxes) is $150,000 a year, so that will be an increase of $42.82 for a home valued at $250,000. That is less than 83 cents a week.”
Currently, the fitness room is only open when the pool is open because there needs to be a lifeguard available when people cross the pool deck.
“With the new addition, it will be off the lobby,” Mackey continued.
“We’re tentatively looking at 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at night, straight through. We won’t have to close because the pool is closed.”
Mackey pointed out that the additional room would allow other physically active groups in town to rent out a more permanent facility to offer their services rather than moving from one location to another, including dance and yoga clubs.