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Study looks at governance in South Shuswap region

Residents invited to get information and provide input
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The South Shuswap Chamber of Commerce invites area residents to attend one of the community meetings to be held from May 15 to June 14 in various community halls throughout the region. File photo

Electoral Area C of the Columbia Shuswap Regional District is currently undergoing a governance study.

While this governance study is not an incorporation study, the results should indicate whether a second phase of the study should be undertaken to explore other options in governance.

These could include exploring the benefits and pitfalls of incorporation. Exploring other governance models does not include just incorporation; there could be other options such as redrawing the area lines and adding more area directors to represent this region. There could be a number of initiatives to explore.

Residents of Area C should be referring to the CSRD website www.csrd.bc.ca in order to familiarize themselves with the governance study and complete the online survey allowing residents to provide feedback.

The public’s input on the governance study will simply indicate one way or another whether the second phase of this process be explored, one that could include gathering the data and facts on what the actual costs would be if incorporated as opposed to remaining as is. The second phase could also explore another governance model for the area other than incorporation.

Some key points to consider when reading the study and taking the online survey.

Decision making - Is it fair and equitable?

Under the current governance model, Area C is the largest in population and tax dollars collected. There is one CSRD director, Paul Demenok, representing the area’s interests at the board table.

Demenok, who represents 8,000 residents, has the same say and influence as another CSRD director at the table who may represent just over 500 residents.

Area autonomy

Some area residents have voiced concerns about Area C losing governance autonomy when decisions are made at the large board table.

Return for dollars

Area C contributes a significant amount of monies towards local and provincial taxes. Some have expressed that the area is not getting enough return for tax dollars, especially when it comes to road upgrades and maintenance.

Lack of Opportunity

Others have expressed that there may be funding opportunities passing them by that could be captured if a different governance model was in place.

There are a number of upcoming community open houses providing residents with the opportunity to speak with the consulting team and governance study committee members and get answers to their questions.

The South Shuswap Chamber of Commerce board encourages all Area C residents to attend the open houses and to visit the CSRD website to read the study and take the survey.

Area C governance study open houses – drop-in, 5 to 7:30 p.m. Discussion groups begin at 6.

Monday, May 15 – Sorrento Memorial Hall, 1150 Passchendaele Rd.; Tuesday, May 16 – Sunnybrae Community Hall, 3595 Sunnybrae Canoe Point Rd., Thursday, June 8 – White Lake Community Hall, 3617 Parri Rd., Friday, June 9 – Eagle Bay Community Hall, 4326 Eagle Bay Rd., Tuesday, June 13 – Notch Hill Town Hall, 1639 Notch Hill Rd., Wednesday, June 14 – Shuswap Lake Estates Community Centre (Lodge) Centennial Drive.

The next governance study committee meeting, which is open to the public to view, will be held on Thursday, June 15 at Sorrento Memorial Hall.