TUESDAY November 19, 2013 Vol. 28 • No. 93 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T.
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The weather is colder, but the music will be hot for flamenco dancing Thursday at the Zocalo Café. page B1
The ring was rocking Nov. 9 at the K’ómox Band Hall as a gritty group of grapplers gathered. page B5
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Voters reject rural recycling Scott Stanfield Record Staff
Rural residents won’t receive roadside garbage collection and recycling any time soon. In a referendum Saturday, voters in electoral areas A, B and C soundly rejected a proposal for solid waste pickup that would have serviced about 7,500 homes in the Comox Valley Regional District. Denman and Hornby islands, Royston and Mount Washington were to be excluded from the service. According to unofficial results, 73 per cent of 4,289 voters said no. The turnout percentage was 29 per cent. Several advance votes were held. Late last year, area directors asked CVRD staff to explore solid waste collection in rural areas because
it appeared public interest might be growing for a roadside service. Seventyfive per cent of 150 rural residents who participated in a telephone survey had indicated they would support such a program. Some residents were angered about not being able to opt out of the service, which would have cost about $150 per household per year. The CVRD board had awarded a three-year service contract to BFI Canada. The recycling portion of the pickup service was expected to help the CVRD achieve 70 per cent diversion from landfills. Official results will be posted by Wednesday. Check www.comoxvalleyrd.ca and www.comoxvalleyrecord.com and Thursday’s Record. reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com
Ferry cuts coming Renee Andor, Record Staff
The Denman Island, Hornby Island and Powell River routes have been selected for B.C. Ferries service reductions by the Province. Service reductions to minor and northern B.C. Ferries routes, totalling $14 million in projected savings, will be implemented in April, Victoria said Monday. Community engagement starts this week, giving a chance for the public to comment on the planned changes. Details of this engagement are available at www. coastalferriesengagement.ca. writer@comoxvalleyrecord.com
CLIMATE CHANGE CONCERN Comox Valley residents concerned about pipeline projects, expanding tar sands and climate change rallied Saturday in Simms Millennium Park. The Comox Valley Defend Our Climate, Defend Our Community event was part of a protest across the country. PHOTO BY ERIN HALUSCHAK
Comox water meter issue surfaces Erin Haluschak Record Staff
Driven by rising service and infrastructure costs, Comox council approved a recommendation for an incremental increase for 2014 in Town sewer and garbage fees, while continuing the discussion on water rates. At Wednesday’s committee of the whole meeting, council forwarded the bylaws to next week’s council meeting, approving a $27 increase (to $321) for flat-rate sewer fee and a
$21 increase for single-family homes and duplexes for garbage (with yard waste/ organics service). Mayor Paul Ives said the cost increase — particularly sewer — is related to the system capacity and the growth outside the community, not within the Town of Comox. “The sewer service is shared with Courtenay,” he noted. “We share in the system and the system is 30 years old. The reserves aren’t really there.” A staff report suggested no changes to flat-rate
residential water fees, but for metered customers, suggested water rates rise $0.03/m3 to $0.96. Prior to the rate discussion, Comox resident Natasha Baert-Hockin presented to council as a delegation her request to be removed from the water meter program. “At present, a metered household will pay more than an unmetered one,” she said, and explained she signed up for the program not realizing it was a permanent decision. While she admitted she
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should have more thoroughly reviewed the information prior to registering, she admitted to being “quite shocked” by the excessive cost of water despite conservation efforts. Baert-Hockin said in 2012, she used a total of 333m3, which cost her $379.33. The flat rate for water usage (up to 600m3) is $312. Despite her efforts, she noted she is paying the same amount as a person on the flat rate who would have used 648m3 of water. ... see METERS ■ A2
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