qathet Regional District directors have directed staff to request a $50,000 grant from the provincial ministry of municipal affairs for Lund Waterworks District.
At the August 28 regional board meeting held on Texada Island, directors considered a staff recommendation that the money be applied for to assist with additional costs not covered by the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program associated with the Lund water system renewal project, including, but not limited to, managing conversion-related work, or negotiating a service agreement with Tla’amin Nation.
According to a staff report, municipal affairs notified qRD on August 21 that there was potential grant funding available, which would require a resolution from the regional board requesting a grant to cover additional costs associated with the Lund Waterworks District improvement and upgrade project.
Electoral Area A director Jason Lennox said the report stated there was some urgency in the application to get it out before the writ drops for the next provincial election.
Electoral Area B director Mark Gisborne said he recalled some previous provincial grants, where sometimes, a grant application is made, and later, there is opportunity to apply for a larger grant. He wondered if the regional district was potentially at risk of missing out on a future grant that might be larger.
Corporate officer Michelle Jones indicated the regional district did not have any information about potentially larger grant opportunities.
The regional board carried the grant application unanimously.
The staff report stated that grant funding benefits the Lund water users by reducing currently known costs, and in return, reduces relative taxation needed to compensate currently known cost differentials and borrowing.
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