qathet Regional District’s (qRD) board of directors has adopted the Lund Community Centre loan authorization, which will allow for significant renovations and construction at the site of the facility.
At the May 24 regional board meeting, directors first voted to accept the Lund Community Centre assent vote results and ballot account report. Electoral Area A director Jason Lennox, in whose region the centre is located, said a lot of work had gone into gaining approval of the assent vote and he hopes everybody is ready to move to get the project completed.
“The entire community club wanted me to extend their appreciation for the time and hard work that has gone into the years of effort to where we are now,” said Lennox.
According to a staff report, the project had received $4.2 million from the Canada Infrastructure Program – Community, Culture and Recreation fund for the project. In order to complete the project, up to $1.1 million is required from Electoral Area A voters. The project cost is estimated to be $5.9 million, according to the staff report. There have been three community donations for the project, totalling $115,000, which will reduce the cost of borrowing.
To attempt to achieve an agreement for the loan authorization, the regional district conducted an alternate approval process from January 27 to March 6, where if 10 per cent of voters responded negatively to the alternate approval process, borrowing would not proceed. The alternate approval process had 10.3 per cent of eligible electors submit elector response forms, so borrowing could not proceed on that basis.
The regional district then initiated an assent vote, or referendum, to borrow up to $1.1 million, plus interest, over an amortization period of up to 30 years, to construct an addition and renovate the community centre located at 9656 Larson Road. The assent vote passed with 284 electors voting yes and 171 voting no, with a voter turnout of 42 per cent of eligible electors. There was an advanced voting opportunity for the assent vote, with the main vote taking place on May 6.
The board then considered final reading of the Lund Community Centre loan authorization bylaw, which passed unanimously.
