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Lantzville puts water connection decision on hold

Aug 4, 2016 | 5:35 PM

LANTZVILLE — Lantzville district council has decided to hold off on a key water infrastructure project for the water-hungry community.

At a special council meeting Wednesday night, council voted to defer a decision to build a pipe to hook into the city of Nanaimo’s water system, at an estimated cost of $800,000.

Lantzville mayor Colin Haime says legal opinions are being requested on how the project would personally impact councillors, either positively or negatively.

“Legal counsel is taking a look at it, determining whether or not additional questions or additional information is required before they can provide their opinion,” said Haime.

Haime notes a construction tender for the pipe would essentially trigger the first major physical move of a water deal signed between the two communities in 2014.

He adds that efforts will continue from Lantzville’s perspective to tweak the agreement to offer Lantzville more flexibility on which properties can receive Nanaimo water.

“I wouldn’t say that they are completely dead; city of Nanaimo seems to want some additional process as it relates to it.”

The $1.3 million agreement means 225 upper Lantzville homes will connect to Nanaimo’s water system and 50 homes a year will get Nanaimo water over the course of the 20-year renewable deal.

Haime expects Lantzville council will revisit the pipe tender issue within the next month-and-a-half.