Friday, September 5, 2014

Woodland Drive Water decision "Slap in the Face"

At their meeting this past Tuesday with WL City Councillor (and Mayoral Candidate) SPS Rathor opposed - Williams Lake City Council resolved the following:


That pursuant to Committee of Whole Council Report #31-2014 and the report of the Planner dated August 21, 2014, Council:

1. Advise Staff to communicate that the City will no longer focus on seeking grant funding for full servicing of Woodland Drive until a residential land development strategy has been developed, and only if and when such a strategy indicates such servicing as a priority;

2. Advise the residents of Woodland Drive that, if they wish to proceed with installation of any water or sewer service, a petition must be submitted for a Local Service Area to be established for the construction of such infrastructure;

a) The question of whether or not to engage in further study to allow for some subdivision is up to Council, with the recommendation that the cost of such study should be absorbed by the Local Service Area;

3. Direct Staff to proceed to the 2014 Business Plan Goal to complete a residential land development strategy framework to identify priority lands for future municipal infrastructure improvements to better identify where to direct such investment for growth.

Now - the Williams Lake Tribune reports that Martin Sills - Woodland Drive resident and point person on the Woodland Drive water file for the local residents there says Council's decision was a "slap in the face", particularly that no one from the City (Staff/Council) contacted residents to let them know that this item was coming up for discussion - either at Committee of the Whole or at Council

Read more here

1 comment:

Steve Forseth said...

Former Williams Lake City Councillor Tom Barr left me this comment on my personal Facebook page earlier today:

Steve ,a Local Service Area seems to be the way to go.If things have not changed since this item was discussed back in my time on Council there is a need for the residents to come together as ONE. At that time the ones with the serious water problems had little or no support from those without problems,except to attend the meetings. I remember talking to several with no problems and advising me there is no way they were going to pay towards the cost involved in water and sewer lines..At least a vote to establish a Local Service Area would indicate the majority were willing to to work toward a solution!