Yesterday - Martin Sills, spokesperson for the 49 Woodland Drive residents' seeking City of WL Water/Sewer services, stated that the City has offered the 49 Woodland Drive residents' two options:
1) $5,000 per property/ year for 20 years
2) One time payout of $72,000 as contribution to the water/sewer system for Woodland Drive residents'
Sills also says the residents are holding out hope for a government grant to assist with the $3.5 million cost to install water/sewer on Woodland Drive
Finally - Mr. Sills says:
the development of the 170 acre parcel at the end of Woodland Drive would result in a significantly enhanced tax base for the city.
Meanwhile - in discussing this matter with WL City Councillor Surinderpal Rathor - he still holds out hope that Victoria will come through with money for this project as there is a provincial election next year. Meanwhile - prior to last night's Council Meetings - he told me that he would push Council to seek a meeting with the Hon. Ida Chong (Minister of Community Services) to get funding for this project
For myself - I wouldn't hold my breath on getting any funding for Woodland Drive given Kevin Falcon (BC Minister of Finance) stated yesterday that the provincial budget for 2013-14 was on track to becoming balanced and there would be no "goodies" within it. Also - I wouldn't look to Ottawa as we would have no leverage with them (no pending federal election until October 2015)
No, if this project is to become reality - we must treat as a straight water/sewer infrastructure upgrade project and fund it locally. I really doubt there would a "protest of the masses" to block it, given, as Mr. Sills says, there is the development potential of 170 acres at the end of Woodland Drive which would lead to more taxpayers' for Williams Lake
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1 comment:
Sills bought a lot with no water. It takes a lot of gall to demand everyone else pay for his decision.
And I doubt he even has 50% of the Woodland Drive people backing him for water and sewer anyway.
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