Council walks back objections to pool service boundary bylaw
Without an apology for the weeks of consternation, outrage and confusion Fort St. John City Council caused through its misunderstanding of the North Peace Leisure Pool Service Boundary Amendment Bylaw, Council walked back its earlier objections, and voted unanimously to consent to the adoption of the bylaw.
Led by Mayor Lilia Hansen and Councillor Tony Zabinsky, Council’s objections were first raised at the October 16 Peace River Regional District board of directors meeting, when Hansen expressed her concern that 848 properties in Area B were being exempted from taxation to pay for the North Peace Leisure Pool, and that such an exemption would place a burden on other taxpayers in the PRRD.
Council’s insistence that these remote properties not be exempted, created a stir through the region, raising concerns not only for Area B director Reid Graham, but also former Area B director, MLA Jordan Kealy and former mayor Steve Thorlakson.