The potential of looking at incorporating Sorrento is one of the items Columbia Shuswao Area C director Paul Demenok discussed at last week’s Union of British Columbia Municipalities in Whistler.
It is something Demenok would hope to examine more closely if he is re-elected in November.
“The reasons for considering a study is the results would provide taxpayers with a better understanding of the costs and benefits of incorporation,” he says.
Demenok says potential benefits of incorporation include:
• greater opportunities to win grants to fund local infrastructure projects such as waste water treatment facilities and recreational/cultural centres;
• increased local government focus on local needs, with greater representation and staffing;
• greater opportunities to develop a local economic development plan and
• increased likelihood of attracting health-care professionals, including physicians and nurse practitioners, among others.
In terms of potential concerns, Demenok says incorporation could include increased taxation.
At UBCM Demenok met with Coralie Oakes, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, to discuss if there could be any potential for the province to assist in the funding of an incorporation feasibility study in 2015.
“The study would look at the revenues and the costs associated with incorporation, and would provide taxpayers with the relevant information they would need to support moving in this direction,” said Demenok. “I think we should look at it and reach our conclusions once our numbers are in place.”
Demenok says which areas in the South Shuswap would be included would be a matter of discussion.
“There would need to be community consultation in order to define the areas involved in the feasibility study,” he said. “We have to go through pre-feasibility work at the CSRD; start looking at our figures, doing an internal analysis and then a process of community consultation.”
While noncommittal at this time, Demenok says incorporation is an issue he would like to consider sometime next year – if he is elected.
If he is elected, Demenok has a lengthy list of issues to pursue.
“I have a number of things to finish – the watershed council, implementation of a new Area C parks plan,” he said. “There’s also a number of things to look at: from street light improvements in some subdivisions to improving and enhancing recreational sites and waste management.
The regional district received a grant at UBCM from the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, under the Local Government Grants Act, for $10,000 for infrastructure planning of the Sorrento/Blind Bay sewer.
As well, Demenok said the province will be accepting applications under the Canada Building Fund for small communities, a program for infrastructure funding.
“In Area C, waste water treatment facilities for Sorrento and Blind Bay are certainly on the radar for me,” he said. “(Regarding) the liquid waste management plan, we could get in place if the board agrees.”
In his formal re-election announcement, Demenok cites other areas of interest for Area C:
• An economic plan for Area C to encourage investment and prosperity without negative impacts on the environment;
• continued maintenance of low local government taxes;
• support for small businesses;
• support for further improvements to health-care services;
• support for further development of safe walking trails;
• continued improvements to lake access points, boat launches and Area C park amenities
• reducing bylaw infraction issues and associated developmental services costs in Area C;
• continued support to Area C firefighters, emergency services, and first responders with training and equipment;
• improving understanding and simplifying the Area C official community plan and
• continued scrutiny of CSRD expenses and advocating for lower cost options
“There is a strong interest in Blind Bay/Sorrento for a multiplex recreation and culture centre,” he says, noting that message came out of six parks meetings that were held in August and September and were “pretty well-attended.”