The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) is in a position to take over the sewer utility at Silver Star Mountain with the conclusion of an alternate approval process (AAP).
The AAP for the regional district to enter into an agreement with Silverhawk Utilities and initiate a sewer utility service establishment bylaw and a loan authorization bylaw officially closed Monday, Nov. 20.
Under the process, a minimum of 10 per cent of Silver Star electors had to submit response forms opposing the proposed sewer acquisition. The RDNO estimated the total number of qualified electors in the service area to be 1,525, meaning 153 electors would have needed to voice their opposition in order to defeat the bylaws without a referendum.
However, the RDNO says only one person submitted an elector response form opposing the proposal.
The RDNO’s board of directors can now adopt the bylaws, which would authorize the regional district to establish a service and adopt a loan authorization bylaw for the purposes of borrowing up to $4.5 million for the acquisition, operation and maintenance of the Silver Star sewer utility.
In 2019, members of the Silver Star Property Owners Association voiced their dismay at what they called “mountain high” sewer service fees under Silverhawk, claiming the fees were about three times higher at Silver Star than in other communities.
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