Editor's Note:
Prior to the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) Board meeting held earlier today - WL City Council, at a Special In-Camera Meeting on Dec 11th, passed the following Resolution:
“That Council enter into a 1 year agreement with the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) to
provide fire protection to those areas of D, E, and F based on the maximum requisition
indicated in the Regional District’s Bylaw and further, prior to the expiration of this
agreement, the City and CRD enter into discussions for renewal of fire protection services.”
As the CRD will explain in their press release - the CRD will look at all of its' options including legal avenues which, in my view, would be unprecedented as I don't (and I've talked with residents about this) recall the Cariboo Regional District ever starting legal proceedings against one of its' own municipal members'
Next steps will likely include a meeting (as early as this Monday) of CRD Directors' J. Sorley, B. Kemp and Area 'D' Alt Director B. Carruthers as to what can be done in light of the City of WL Council motion as far as rural fire protection goes and options from that meeting will then be presented to rural residents in early January 2013. The options really are:
1) New referendum for stand-alone fire department for parts of Areas D, E, F
2) Initiate legal proceedings against the City of WL for "negotiating in bad faith" of which I believe the CRD has a very strong legal case
As they say in poker -- "buckle up, Ladies and Gentlemen"
Courtesy of the Cariboo Regional District:
The Cariboo Regional District has been officially informed by the City of Williams Lake that it has reneged on its most recent offer for fire protection services for Williams Lake fringe area residents. This written offer was the foundation for the recent Williams Lake Fringe Fire Protection Referendum held on November 24, 2012.
The Cariboo Regional District is taking every step to ensure that fire protection services for rural fringe residents do not lapse including, if necessary, legal action. The CRD is now considering alternative options to make sure affected Williams Lake fringe residents receive fire protection services at a reasonable cost, including developing its own fire department to serve the affected areas.
A public information meeting will be scheduled early in Jan. 2013, to provide updated information and seek input from residents.
The proposed agreement, and resulting Bylaw, which was adopted by the Board today, was based upon a five-year term. The City has now provided a new offer for fire protection services at the maximum rate of $147/$100,000 of residential assessment for affected rural residents. Based on 2012 assessments, City residents will continue to pay approximately $74/$100,000.
As updates are received, they will be posted on the CRD website at cariboord.bc.ca and on the CRD’s Facebook page at facebook.com/caribooregion
No comments:
Post a Comment