The Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD) did not receive enough support to extend the Vavenby Fire Protection Service Area to include Birch Island and adjacent properties.
During the petition period, held Aug. 18 to Oct. 4, 2024, only 49 petition forms were submitted, confirmed the TNRD.
That number only represents 35 per cent of the 140 properties in the proposed service area.
In order to be successful, petition forms have to be submitted by at least 50 per cent of the property owners.
Another way to measure the necessary percentage is by total assessment values of properties.
In this case, the total assessed valued represented by the property owners who submitted forms was $14,290,421 which is 34.5 per cent.
"If a property owner is in favour of the proposed service, they must submit a petition form," noted the TNRD in a news release. "If a property owner is not in favour of the proposed service, no action is required."
Jamie Vieira, general manager of operations for the TNRD, told Black Press Media, last winter the TNRD began talking with Birch Island area residents about offering fire protection.
"We had a public meeting to talk about the concept and there was information provided and a community survey. The community survey indicated the majority of residents wanted to move forward with a formal process to establish the service and that's what we did."
Had the proposed expansion been approved it would have meant an increased taxation amount of $1.07 per $1,000 of assessed property values.
For example, Vieira said, a property worth $500,000 would see the cost per year for fire protection being $570.
"From staff perspective it made logical sense and operational sense that we could provide that protection so if the community members wanted that service we were glad to be able to provide it, but ultimately it's their decision whether they want that service or not."
The proposed expansion would have covered the area between the District of Clearwater and the current Vavenby Fire Protection Response boundary.
On its website, the TNRD noted petition forms were being mailed to addressed properties within the proposed service area or alternatively, affected property owners could download the petition forms from the TNRD website.
The TNRD noted the public assent process has now concluded, and the Vavenby Fire Protection Service Area will remain unchanged.
With files from the TNRD
