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Nanaimo, Lantzville councillors to talk water during special council meeting

Special in-camera meeting to be held July 13
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Councillors from Nanaimo and Lantzville hold an in-person special council meeting at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre on July 13 at 9 a.m. to discuss the recently executed Lantzville water agreement. (News Bulletin file)

It appears Lantzville councillors will finally get their wish and meet face-to-face with Nanaimo city councillors.

Both municipalities have a scheduled special in-camera council meeting for July 13 at 9 a.m. at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. Neither council’s agenda indicates exactly what the meeting is about, although Lantzville’s agenda states the discussions are to do with a “proposed provision of a municipal service” that is in the early stages.

Nanaimo mayor Bill McKay confirmed a face-to-face meeting with Lantzville councillors will take place on Friday and the discussions will revolve around the recently executed water agreement between the two municipalities. He said while he cannot speak for Lantzville, the conversation will centre on potential changes to the current agreement.

“We have no agenda items. [Lantzville councillors] were the ones that asked for the meeting,” McKay said. “It seems to me based on their own conservations … that they, before the end this term, want to ensure who [the water] gets distributed to will be more broadly based.”

Lantzville voted in favour of executing a $1.33 million water agreement with Nanaimo. Under the deal, Nanaimo will supply water to 225 homes currently receiving municipal water in upper Lantzville, while an additional 211 connections can be made to upper Lantzville residents on private wells. The agreement also allows 50 connections for new development to be made each year.

Prior to execution, Lantzville councillors had requested Nanaimo councillors meet with them in order to discuss potential amendments to the agreement. Lantzville had also proposed a number of changes to the agreement, including changing the wording to allow all areas of Lantzville to connect to a water supply.

Coun. Bob Colclough said he cannot comment on what the topic of the meeting is, but confirmed that a meeting will happen. He said Nanaimo and Lantzville councillors will first have their own separate meetings and then there will be a face-to-face meeting between councillors from both municipalities.

“There will be an in-camera meeting with Nanaimo councillors,” he said.

Lantzville mayor Colin Haime could not be reached for comment.



nicholas.pescod@nanaimobulletin.com

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