Rocky View County (RVC) council gave first reading to Bylaw C-7380-2014 to implement a Local Improvement Tax for the upgrade of the water distribution system for the Blueridge Community in Bearspaw.
The bylaw now requires second, permission for third and third reading to pass.
There is a four-week period for advertising that needs to be done before second reading can be passed.
The date of a second reading was not known as of press time.
“Eighteen residences will be impacted by the proposed local improvement tax. We don’t have a count on the number of people,” explained Grant Kaiser, manager of communication with Rocky View County.
“At this time, Rocky View County is estimating the amount of the local improvement tax at $1,800 per residence per year until the debt is paid, but that will need to be confirmed as the project progresses.”
“I can’t imagine the people (of Blueridge) saying no to this,” said Councillor Earl Solberg.
RVC accepted a local improvement tax petition for the upgrade of the water distribution system on Sept. 27, 2011 from the community of Blueridge.
Since accepting the petition, administration calculated the total expense of the project to be $530,100.
RVC council agreed to front $1 million to Watermark Development L.P. for the completion of a water infrastructure project in the Bearspaw area on Nov. 27, 2012.
Part of the project includes installing a pipe, which will connect the Bearspaw Village and Blueridge Rise water co-operatives to the Blazer water system.
Overall plans for the water infrastructure project were outlined in a memorandum of agreement on July 12, 2012 between the County, Blazer Water Systems Ltd. and Watermark.
The memorandum was created so both the Bearspaw Village and Blueridge Rise communities can hook-up and use water from the Blazer treated water system.
The memorandum outlines the basic framework of the parties’ intentions to resolve the water issue.
Watermark and Blazer agreed to oversee and pay for the work needed to upgrade the Blazer water treatment plant and Watermark will oversee and pay for the installation of the piping that will allow for the two co-operatives to connect.
RVC agreed to contribute $1 million for the piping to Watermark as part of a cost contribution agreement where Watermark will pay back the money.
