A petition to determine interest in a sewer extension project on Quadra Island won’t be complete for another month.
The Strathcona Regional District Board voted Sept. 22 to circulate a petition seeking approval for a boundary extension of the sewer service to homes in Quathiaski Cove, near the ferry terminal.
The Regional District hoped to get the results back before the end of the year but the process is not expected to be complete until February.
Brian Reardon, chief administrative officer of the Strathcona Regional District, said that “means the costs of the system extension study incurred in 2011, including staff costs, will be an outstanding charge at the end of the year.” The costs are estimated to be in the range of $8,000-$10,000.
Since the regional district does not yet have a sewer service budget, which could potentially offset the project costs, the regional district board voted at a meeting Dec. 15 to spend up to $10,000 from the Electoral Area C (Quadra Island) Feasibility Study Reserve Fund in 2011 to cover the costs.
Reardon said if the majority vote to go ahead with the sewer expansion, which will affect 53 landowners, the repayment of the reserve fund would be the first charge against the service.
The Quathiaski Cove Sewer Expansion is a project that was prompted by several requests from property owners in the area.
“Many of the 53 lots identified have a history of septic failure,” said Patti Wells, engineering service co-ordinator for the regional district, in a report to the board. “The installation of sewer service in this area will facilitate ground water improvement and a healthier system.”
The cost of expansion is expected to be $975,200 including taxes net of rebates.
The cost to each parcel owner within the proposed expansion area is estimated at a $18,400 one-time payment or a parcel tax estimated at $1,400-$1,600 per year for 20 years, said Wells.
However, Reardon said those amounts are solely based on estimates and if the project costs are lower, the cost to property owners would be proportionally reduced.