ABOUT THE PROPOSED SERVICE

Providing a space for the Edgewater post office had been a Board strategic priority since an assessment by a structural engineer on the current post office building determined that there is significant deterioration and signs of structural distress.

After considerable amount of discussion and perseverance, it was determined that the RDEK would work toward establishing the Edgewater Commercial Space Service, conditional to the approval of the electors.

Before being able to bring it forward to the electors, there were many considerations that required more detailed analysis so that we could provide as much information as possible to ensure electors are able to make an informed decision this fall.

A detailed Information Package is being created and will be shared with the community on this page, with copies available at various locations for pickup, linked on our social media pages, and through local media. In the event mail service fully resumes, a copy will also be direct mailed to all property owners within the proposed service area.

This is the question that will be on the ballot:

“Are you in favour of the Regional District of East Kootenay adopting Bylaw No. 3379 and Bylaw No. 3380 to:

  • establish the “Edgewater Commercial Space Service” for the purpose of constructing, leasing, operating, and maintaining space which will be leased to entities such as public authorities, societies, corporations, or individuals, or used by the RDEK, for the provision of services that benefit the community in the Edgewater area; and
  • borrow up to $450,000 amortized over a maximum of 15 years for the construction of a space for the purposes of the Edgewater Commercial Space Service; and
  • annually requisition a maximum of $0.33 per $1,000 of the net taxable value of land and improvements to pay for the service?”

The proposed service would provide a space:

  • to lease to Canada Post and its employees to operate a postal service.
  • to construct a modular stand-alone building on the “teacherage lot” located kitty corner to Pip's Country Market.
  • secondary to the post office lease, to lease to other entities such as public authorities, societies, corporations, or individuals, or used by the RDEK, for the provision of services that benefit the community.

The service will pay for the annual debenture payments to fund the following capital costs associated with the building:

  • Property zoning and OCP amendments
  • Legal and subdivision
  • Building permit fees
  • Site works, including site preparation, parking lot development, landscaping, and other works
  • Site servicing, including water, sewer, and hydro
  • Procurement of 800 sq. ft. modular building, including design, construction, delivery, and installation
  • Basic fixtures, and equipment

The service will pay for the following operating costs associated with the building:

  • Snow removal/sanding, lawn maintenance
  • Interior and exterior building maintenance
  • Water and sewer fees
  • Property and liability insurance (for owner)
  • Administrative salaries and Overhead costs

Costs for the proposed Edgewater Commercial Space Service would be recovered by a property tax on assessed value of land and improvements within the Service Area. The maximum that can be charged under the proposed bylaw is $0.33 per $1,000 of taxable assessed value.

The 2025 assessed value of land and improvements for the proposed service area is $237,488,582. Based on the estimated budget, the mill rate and cost per average residential property valued at $303,000 would be:

Mill Rate

Tax on Average Residential Property *

Year 1

$0.28

$86

Year 2

$0.24

$74

Year 10

$0.27

$82

Bylaw Maximum

$0.33

$99

*including the 5.25% Province of BC collection fee


Edgewater Commercial Space Service

Taxation - Examples By Assessment

Expected

Expected

Year 10

Class 1 Residential Property

Year 1

Year 2

Max

$100,000

28

24

33

$200,000

57

49

65

$300,000

85

73

98

$400,000

114

97

130

$500,000

142

122

163

$600,000

171

146

195

$700,000

199

170

228

  • INFO MEETING: A public information session will be held on October 28, 2025 at 7:00pm at Edgewater Community Hall to provide information and answer questions in advance of the vote. The meeting is open to all.

  • INFO PACKAGE: An information package is in the process of being prepared. If regular postal service resumes, it will be direct mailed to all property owners within the proposed service area and posted on this project page. If the postal dispute continues, electronic copies will be distributed via the Edgewater Email Group and hard copies placed at various locations within Edgewater.

  • EMAILS & OTHER NOTIFICATIONS: There will be emails sent via the RDEK's Edgewater & Spur Valley Email Group, social media reminders, radio spots and newspaper ads in the Columbia Valley Pioneer.

The RDEK Board decided to seek elector approval through an assent vote.

Assent voting day will be November 22, 2025 and there will be an advance voting day on November 12, 2025. Both voting days will be held from 8:00am to 8:00pm at the Edgewater Community Hall (4818 Selkirk Ave).

IF THE ASSENT VOTE IS IN FAVOUR OF THE NEW SERVICE:

If the assent vote results are in favour of the proposed service establishment and loan authorization, the bylaws will be brought forward to the December 12, 2025 Board meeting for adoption.

The RDEK would then proceed with the procurement process and construction of the building (estimated to take 7 months) and a lease agreement would be drafted between the RDEK and Canada Post (or their agent) for use of the space.

IF THE ASSENT VOTE IS NOT IN FAVOUR OF THE NEW SERVICE:

The service would not proceed.

Volunteering to be a scrutineer is a way to be involved in the assent vote process. Scrutineers play a role to help protect the integrity of the assent vote for their community. Scrutineers observe voting procedures and scrutinize the ballot-counting process. In general local elections or by-election, candidates appoint their scrutineers. In the case of assent voting, people apply to the Chief Election Officer to be appointed as scrutineers.

Scrutineers for and against the question must be appointed if applications are received from persons who wish to volunteer for the positions. Only persons entitled to vote as electors in this assent voting opportunity are entitled to act as scrutineers. If sufficient applications are received, one scrutineer for and one scrutineer against the question will be appointed for each voting place. One scrutineer for the question and one scrutineer against the question will also be appointed to be present at the determination of the official results and, if necessary, at a judicial recount.

Application Details

The period to apply to act as a scrutineer is October 29, @ 9:00am – November 7, @ 4:00pm.

Application forms can be dropped off at the RDEK office or emailed to elections@rdek.bc.ca.

Application Form

Links to Sections of the Local Government Act related to Apply as a Scrutineer:

Resident and Non-Resident Electors

Scrutineers for Assent Vote

Due to postal service disruptions from the ongoing labour dispute, mail ballot voting is unavailable.