The information below is from an RDOS Sage Mesa Water System Fact Sheet shared with ratepayers in 2019.
The R&K Chapman, Joint Partner Trust, privately owns the Sage Mesa Water & Public Service Co. Ltd. The system provides water to Sage Mesa, Sandstone, Westwood Properties, Pine Hills Golf Course, WOW Golf Course, and Husula Highlands within Electoral Area “F” of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS).
While Sage Mesa Water & Public Service Co. owns the system's assets and water licenses, the Provincial Comptroller of Water Rights (the “Comptroller”) has taken over management of the utility and, for the past ten years, contracted the RDOS to operate the system. The RDOS has no part in planning capital improvements, budgeting, setting rates, billing, or collecting fees for water on this system.
A water system cannot be 'privately owned' to qualify for infrastructure grants. In late 2022/early 2023, the system owners signed an agreement with the RDOS expressing interest and conditions precedent to transfer the utility ownership to the RDOS. Since then, per the RDOS Acquisition Policy, the RDOS (contractors) have completed a system and financial assessment.
The RDOS now has the information required to engage with ratepayers (public information/open house dates will be announced soon). The system's ratepayers will determine if the system is to transfer the RDOS through a referendum. If the citizens agree to transfer the system to the RDOS, the RDOS can then apply for senior-level government grants (there are no guarantees on grants). If ratepayers do not support the transfer, the management of the system remains with the Provincial Comptroller.
Thank you for reading, and more to come.
Riley
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