The Thompson Nicola Regional District board directed staff to prepare a referendum for expansion of the Vavenby fire protection service to include the community of Birch Island, located in Electoral Area “A” (Wells Gray Country).
The Board also approved setting the Birch Island referendum date for Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.
This follows public consultation with residents in Birch Island in March 2024, which included a public meeting, a survey, and sharing a thorough four-page fact sheet.
The proposed service would expand the existing TNRD Fire Protection Response boundary to include 131 Birch Island and adjacent properties between the current Vavenby Fire Protection Area and the District of Clearwater.
Following the March 5 meeting, a community survey was conducted where 74 per cent of the 65 respondents were in favour of the TNRD moving forward to a public assent process (referendum).
The estimated residential tax rate for the proposed service is $1.07/$1,000 of assessed value which is the same as the existing service area (Vavenby). The total additional tax revenue resulting from the proposed expansion is approximately $50,000 per year. The additional operating costs are $10,000 per year. The remainder of the additional revenue would be allocated towards the capital costs of constructing a garage for housing a fire truck within the community of Birch Island.
A public information campaign will begin again in late spring 2024 to inform residents of referendum details and to continue to share information about the proposed service, noted the TNRD.
In the meantime, the public can also continue to find information about the proposed service on the TNRD website, by visiting: tnrd.ca/birchislandfireprotection.