The buzz from the No side is unchanged.
The Regional District of North Okanagan is holding a referendum on implementing a mosquito control program in Electoral Area F Rural Enderby on Saturday, March 2.
This despite the fact that residents and property owners swatted away the idea in an alternate approval process in December 2023, which required 10 per cent of eligible voters – approximately 388 votes – to cast a ballot against the plan. An overwhelming negative response resulted in 31 per cent voting against the program.
RDNO directors have given three readings to the proposed bylaw.
Flyers have been circulated in the region encouraging residents and property owners to vote No on Saturday, March 2, at the Enderby Seniors Complex from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
“While almost 1,200 residents signed petitions in opposition to the (control) bylaw in December, we are again required to show our opposition by voting in a referendum,” says the flyer.
Advance polls for the referendum will be Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the RDNO office in Coldstream, and Wednesday, Feb. 28, at the Splatsin Centre in Enderby. Both stations will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Two pieces of ID are required showing residence in Area F, one with a signature.
Should the referendum be successful, Area F residents will see a tax increase of nearly $100 per year for property assessed at $591,000, and that goes up with the assessment. And all taxpayers in Area F will be required to pay the tax, whether they live by the Shuswap River or not.
The No vote side also suggests a control program would cause significant impact to the ecosystem, affecting plants, birds, fish, insects, bats and other animals.
If you’d like more information on the proposed bylaw, or you need a ride to the polls, you can email nomosquitocontrol@gmail.com.
READ MORE: Rural Enderby mosquito control referendum date set
READ MORE: Okanagan water board critical of federal mussel response