April 21, 2015 - 12:27 PM
KAMLOOPS - The Thompson-Nicola Regional District has received the go-ahead from Pinantan/East Paul Lake residents to conduct a public assent process to determine approval for the establishment of a fire protection service and authorization of borrowing for fire hall construction and equipment.
The decision to put the fire protection service to a public assent process resulted from a public information meeting that was held on April 13 at the Pinantan elementary school. The meeting was held at the request of the Pinantan/East Paul Lake Fire Department Association and Director Mel Rothenburger, Electoral Area “P” (Rivers and the Peaks), to determine the community’s support for establishing the service.
After a presentation by TNRD staff outlining the proposed service, the tax impacts and public assent process, the 140 community members who were in attendance indicated their support through a secret ballot process. Of the 133 ballots cast, 111 were in favour and 22 were opposed to the TNRD conducting a public assent process to determine approval for the establishment of a fire protection service and authorizing borrowing for fire hall construction and equipment purchase.
With strong support for the initiative, attendees then participated by a show of hands to determine which assent process should be conducted. Seventy chose petition as the preferred method and 36 preferred referendum.
The Board of Directors will now be asked to approve the conduct of a formal petition process for property owners within the proposed service area. With the Board’s consent, a second public information meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 5, and petitions will be distributed to attendees. Property owners who are unable to attend the meeting will receive their petitions in the mail following the May 5 meeting.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015