An earlier agreement among all Sunshine Coast governments to help pay for the development of a cross-country ski centre at Dakota Ridge has run into trouble.
The District of Sechelt and the Sunshine Coast Regional District are debating how the financing, estimated at $220,000, should be arranged.
"We support Dakota Ridge, but we want to know exactly what it's going to cost us," said Cam Reid, Mayor of Sechelt. "We were prepared, once we knew the numbers, to pay our fair share. We were not prepared to enter into another regional district service."
Instead of joining the new function being set up to tax property owners throughout the Sunshine Coast, District of Sechelt wanted to enter into a contract with the SCRD.
But at its March 10 meeting, the SCRD voted to include Sechelt in the new Dakota Ridge Recreation Area function. In an attempt to satisfy Sechelt's concerns, the draft bylaw includes an opt-out clause allowing any participant to withdraw after three years. The party opting out would have to pay off its remaining portion of the debt.
John Marian, director for Halfmoon Bay, threatened to withdraw his support for Dakota Ridge if Sechelt gets special treatment.
"I'm getting tired of this We just agreed to regional recreation. [The District of Sechelt] is very selective about wanting everyone in when it's to their advantage," said Marian.
In an interview, Reid said the regional recreation initiative is very different.
"It's going to public referendum. They will have the opportunity to vote," said Reid. "With Dakota Ridge, the SCRD has proposed to go by counter-petition rather than referendum. If people don't pay attention, it could slip by them."Reid said this is not an issue of lack of trust. "Our council is very fiscally prudent. We do not want to let any money out of the purse that is not necessary and justifiable. We're prepared to support Dakota Ridge, but by way of a contract," he said.
