City of Cranbrook voters will be asked if they favour the implementation of water meters in a Nov. 19 referendum, coinciding with the municipal elections.

As of Oct. 3, at least one city councillor was still wondering what the city was doing in terms of educating the public about the devices.

“The public should really be given a lot more information than we’ve seen so far,” stated Coun. Bob Whetham during last Monday’s regular meeting of council. He added that the public should also have a chance to ask questions about water meters.

“What are the tax impacts? What alternative approaches to water conservation are there?” Whetham asked as examples of questions that are on taxpayers’ minds.

“So when it comes to decide, at least they will be able to make an informed choice,” he added.

City chief administrative officer Will Pearce replied that information packages were being available the next day (Oct. 4) are available at city hall. The info package is also online at: www.cranbrook.ca.

Pearce then informed council that an open house could be arranged at their discretion, prompting Whetham to make a motion for the city to hold an open house and it was unanimously carried.

A date has not yet been set for an open house.

The water meter referendum question that voters will be asked to state ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to is: “Are you in favour of Council adopting Water Meter Loan Authorization Bylaw No. 3732, 2011 to borrow upon the credit of the municipality a sum not exceeding Seven Million Seven Hundred Seventy-Eight Thousand Five Hundred ($7,778,500) Dollars to be repaid over a period not exceeding 15 years for the purpose of funding the acquisition and installation of water meters to properties in the City of Cranbrook?”

As of today (Oct. 6) there is no easily locatable information on water meters on the city’s website, aside from the referendum question.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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