Rural Enderby residents have a chance to swat away a Regional District of North Okanagan mosquito control service bylaw.
The Alternate Approval Process (AAP) is now in place for the bylaw, with three readings of the proposal passed unanimously by the RDNO board. The AAP was unanimously agreed upon by the RDNO board.
This means 10 per cent of eligible voters in Electoral Area F must be opposed to the bylaw and let the RDNO by Dec. 18.
The RDNO estimates eligible voters in the area at 3,871, so 388 votes against would be needed to defeat the bylaw before it害羞草研究所檚 adopted.
It was created to establish a service to control mosquito larval habitats within specific areas of the Shuswap River floodplain to prevent the spread of mosquitoes.
RDNO is requesting $289,000 or $0.17 per 1,000 of net taxable land and improvements in the service area. Based on an average residential assessment of approximately $591,000 in 2023, the average residential tax impact would be a nickel short of $100 per year, starting in 2024.
Area F director Allysa Hopkins tried to explain to her colleagues that the proposed bylaw was a community-led initiative when a man in the gallery at the RDNO regular meeting Nov. 15 yelled out, 害羞草研究所淣ot true.害羞草研究所� He was warned by directors that any further outburst would result in his being ejected from the meeting.
害羞草研究所淭he nuisance mosquitoes have been affecting our area,害羞草研究所� said Hopkins upon resuming. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 impacted multiple sectors, including agriculture with farmers not able to keep workers on their fields. It害羞草研究所檚 affected tourism, with bed and breakfasts having to refund guests, and it害羞草研究所檚 affected the general lifestyle. People have not been able to spend time outside.害羞草研究所�
Hopkins said an information session at Mara Community Hall drew more than 50 people, plus she had received 害羞草研究所渓ots of emails and requests in support of the bylaw.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t was published locally and shared through all social media platforms,害羞草研究所� said Hopkins.
In a letter to Black Press, Mara resident Peter Vander Sar said there had been no consultation with constituents, and no communication on the subject by Hopkins, despite repeated requests.
害羞草研究所淚mplementation of the proposed service by the regional district would be detrimental to wildlife, provide significant benefit to few if any area F residents, yet subject all of them to a significant tax increase,害羞草研究所� said Vander Sar.
If you are opposed to the adoption of the mosquito service control establishment bylaw, you can sign and submit an Elector Response Form (at ) if you qualify as an elector of the participating service area.
All Elector Response Forms must be received in the office of the RDNO no later than the deadline of 4 p.m., Monday, Dec. 18. If you are submitting your form by mail be advised that postmarks will not be accepted as the date of submission.
Submissions can be sent to: RDNO, 9848 Aberdeen Road, Coldstream, B.C. V1B 2K9; Email: corp@rdno.ca; Fax:
If you害羞草研究所檙e not opposed, you don害羞草研究所檛 have to do anything.
Eligible people include those who live in Area F or who own property in the area. You can only submit one form.
