Director Paul Peterson has followed the route of several of his colleagues and pulled Area K out of the Regional District of Central Kootenay's sustainability service.
"I don't think the Arrow Lakes will be getting value for their tax money on that one," he told the Arrow Lakes News.
Peterson signalled his intent in a one-sentence letter to the RDCK. In doing so, Area K joins Salmo, New Denver, Nakusp, Castlegar and two rural Creston areas in giving notice to withdraw. Nelson refused to join the service when it was established four years ago.
A five-person committee that includes Nakusp mayor Karen Hamling has been struck to review the service. Castlegar mayor Lawrence Chernoff will chair the committee, which also includes Ann Bunka from New Dever, rural Castlegar's Andy Davidoff and rural Nelson's Ron Mickel. The latter two want to remain part of the service.
They have been instructed to meet up to four times and submit a final report in time for October's board meeting. In the meantime, the service will collect no taxation and ongoing projects will be paid for out of reserves.
The sustainability service was established four years ago to deal with a variety of environmental initiatives, from climate change adaptation to agricultural plans but directors who want out argue they get little benefit from the service or that its scope has increased beyond what was originally intended.
Directors are required to give two years notice to leave the service.
With files from Greg Nesteroff/Black Press