City of WL opinion too 'rosy' on Rural Fire Protection?

Just before Christmas - the BC Supreme Court issued a temporary court injunction requiring the City of Williams Lake to provide 120 days (4 months) of fire protection to Cariboo RD rural fringe residents' at the pre-referendum cost of $129 per $100,000 of property assessment

Now, last Friday, the Globe and Mail reported the following:

The Cariboo Regional District (district) says thousands of rural B.C. residents are in danger of losing fire protection services after the City of Williams Lake reneged on a deal.

The district now has 120 days to either pursue further legal action or find another solution after winning a B.C. Supreme Court injunction that will keep those citizens covered for fire protection in the meantime.

The district launched legal action alleging that in mid-December the city unilaterally refused to sign an agreement the jurisdictions had come to in August. The deal was for Williams Lake to provide fire service for residents living in the so-called “rural fringe” areas around the city for five years, starting Jan. 1.

The city and district had both passed requisite laws to complete the agreement, then put it to a referendum where it was authorized by voters.

But the district alleged that Williams Lake council members then passed a resolution instead saying it would only agree to a one-year term, and that the cost must be fixed.

B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver granted the district the injunction it sought on Dec. 21, requiring Williams Lake to temporarily honour its offer to protect citizens in the event of fire.

“While this is welcome news, a long-term resolution is still required,” the district said in a news release.

According to the court documents filed in request for the injunction, the district plans to seek a declaration that the deal is valid and binding.

Otherwise, the documents say the district wants the city to be compelled to provide services until an “adequate alternative” can be implemented.

This is a story that refuses to go away for Williams Lake Council and with the last minute one year $147 per $100,000 assessment fire protection arrangement, that decision may very well come home to haunt Council and I could see the BC Supreme Court ordering the City of Williams Lake to honour its' original 5 yr, $129 per $100,000 fire protection arrangement.  Should CRD rural fringe residents' demand it at the Jan 17th meeting - the Cariboo RD Board could seek an alternative court order requiring the City to provide fire protection until a new 'Central Cariboo Volunteer Fire Department' is up and running (about 1-2 years from now)

One way or the other -- WL Council has dug itself a very big hole and either way, it will come out a loser...