Voters in Sechelt are going to be asked to approve a $7.4-million loan to help pay for the $25-million wastewater treatment plant.
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities is offering the 10 year, low interest, loan along with a million dollar grant through its Green Municipal Fund. But provincial rules mean the District has to get the OK from voters.
The District is aiming to hold a referendum sometime in March.
Councillors, and Mayor John Henderson, are unanimous in wanting a referendum instead of the often-used “Alternative Approval Process”, where people against the idea would have to write in.
Henderson also says the District will be organizing some information sessions for the public leading up to the vote.
Some of the more vocal opponents of the treatment plant project are already getting organized to try to defeat the proposal, but Henderson says he’s confident the majority of voters will back accepting the loan.
He says if that doesn’t happen, the District will just go back to the existing plan to fund the project, which includes a significant draw-down of reserves.
