Dear Derek,
(Fellow Petitioner)
This was the Motion I raised this morning at the NSSWD February General Meeting, while you were there. Thank you!
February 26, 2026
NSSWD General Meeting:
Motion -
Whereas;
The NSSWD Board of Trustees effectively approved a $16.6 Mil Construction Budget for the Maxwell Lake Water Treatment Plant at their Special Meeting on January 16, 2026, which amounts to a $2 Mil Cost Overrun from the May 2025 Referendum of $14.6 Mil.
Whereas;
The Design Engineering Firm and NSSWD Staff have failed to itemize the $2 Mil Cost Overrun for the Maxwell Lake Water Treatment Plant.
Whereas:
An an almost identical situation happened with Ratepayers in March 2015 between the NSSWD Board of Trustees & the same Design Engineering Firm, with Petitioners protesting the cost overruns. With 2 failed attempts, it was finally approved at $8.9Mil, as opposed to a projected cost of over $10 Mil.
Be It Resolved;
The 107 Ratepayers - Petition the NSSWD Board of Trustees to hold a Referendum concurrent with the May 2026 AGM - To approve the $2 Mil cost overrun on the Maxwell Lake Water Treatment Plant or preferably - “We the Ratepayers of the NSSWD Petition the NSSWD Board of Trustees to place a Public Tender for an RFP (Request For Proposal) to Design/Build the New Maxwell Lake - Water Treatment Plant at a Fixed Cost of $14.6 Million. This is in keeping with the Referendum Budget of $14.6 Million passed in May of 2025 by Ratepayers”.
I’m pleased that Trustee Steve Lam seconded the Motion. That was appreciated and allowed fulsome discussion. From Steve’s standpoint he wanted to clear the air on his position, for this, he’s a stand-up guy. An Engineer in the Potable and Waste Water Management Business and suggested that cost overruns happen. That’s where I politely disagree with our local situation. We are not dealing with a Major Conglomerate, where expenses are written off against income, in some cases obscene amounts of revenue. This is about 1857 Ratepayers trying to keep all the balls in the air within their household incomes. Meanwhile our Local, Provincial and Federal Economy is under severe financial stress. The Province of BC Budget - an Unprecedented $13.3 Billion deficit.
Chair Brian Pyper’s comment that the Referendum was about borrowing $11.7 Mil, not about disclosing the cost of $14.6 Mil. In which most who Voted for in favour in good faith, felt it was the overall cost of the Project. Shame on us for believing the Referendum provided by a Board of Elected Trustees, was not factual.
After discussion, the Vote was taken - 1 in favour and 3 opposed with 1 Trustee absent.
With feedback, the opinion of fellow Petitioner’s, they feel stop the bleeding now before it begins with this Project. That’s the common fear, more cost overruns.
Have the NSSWD Board of Trustees take the $2 Mil cost overrun to the Ratepayers for Approval at this year's AGM, slated for May 6, 2026. The other option, roll up up our sleeves and address the Engineering Design Costs and the Overall Design Cost by this Engineering Firm by putting it out as a "Request for Proposal” to Public Tender - Design/Build Fix Cost Budget of $14.6 Mil. While protecting Hazelwood Construction the General Contractor awarded to build the current design. I believe the Chair only signed the Contract for Construction Services last week, so this costly Project lies squarely on his shoulders in my opinion. The Captain is always held liable, as we both expressly know.
Thank you for your engagement in trying to mitigate costs by Petitioning and Advocating for a more cost effective Maxwell Lake Water Treatment Plant.
Best Regards, David Courtney.
NSSWD Trustee.
PS: This attachment show’s that our current Design Engineering Firm is not shy on pricing, they achieved the same in March 2015, convincing the then Board of Trustees, while Ratepayers were enraged about costs. We can't seem to learn how to mitigate costs, even on the Largest Capital Project ever on our Beautiful Island Home.
https://saltspringarchives.com/driftwood/2015/v55n5Feb4-2015.pdf