West 琉璃神社 residents want to know why they are paying a parcel tax for the Asquith Road transfer station as well as fees to dispose of waste at the facility.
A staff report states that there are 14,704 properties within the city required to pay the parcel tax. The amount for 2025 is $42.2, up from $41.05 in 224. The tax is collected to fund services provided by the Regional District Central Okanagan.
At Tuesday鈥檚 (Apr. 8) council meeting, Councillor Rick de Jong said he has received several calls from residents asking why they must pay the tax and fees to dump at the Asquith Rd.
鈥淚t would be nice if there were some kind of understanding of why both,鈥� he added. 鈥淲hy is not the parcel tax not covering the entire cost of the transfer station.鈥�
Travis Kendall, the RDCO鈥檚 manager of engineering services, told council that the transfer station is partially funded by the fees collected at the site, but does not cover all services provided by the regional district.
鈥淲e do subsidize things, like the yard waste collection, so it鈥檚 easier for residents to they can dispose of their waste without having that high cost,鈥� Kendall said.
He added that the rates the regional district pays to use the landfill (Glenmore) are the same rates that anyone else would pay.
鈥淲e also have to truck from the Asquith Rd. location to the landfill, staff that location, and fund the capital replacements and the operating work.鈥�
For 2025, the net amount billed to the city is $620,817, up from $595,560 for 2024.
According to , the increase is due to higher transfers to reserves for future capital replacements and an increase in the amount of engineering overhead costs at Asquith Rd. station.
Coun. Jason Friesen questioned the need for the increase.
鈥淭here鈥檚 really nothing there that鈥檚 capital to improve or replace,鈥� he said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a little shack, scales that aren鈥檛 being used and everything else is concrete.鈥�
Kendall acknowledged that it鈥檚 been a while since there has been a refresh of the site. He added soon-to-come improvements including asphalt upgrades, and addressing the flow around the site to eliminate the need to stage traffic along Asquith Rd.
The scale house is to be replaced as well.
鈥淚t is at the end of its life, we鈥檙e limping along, but we do need something better there,鈥� Kendall added. The scales will also be removed.
Friesen asked if the RDCO has considered reopening a road that tied into the top of Asquith Rd. for better access to the site.
鈥淏ecause that鈥檚 a much longer stretch and a much safer intersection for people to be coming or going out of,鈥� he said.
Kendall replied yes, but was interrupted by city CAO Ron Bowles.
鈥淚鈥檒l respectfully request that we keep this through the proper channels and go through the regional district, through our members there,鈥� Bowles said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 fair to Mr. Kendell to put him on the spot鈥攈e came here to talk about a different issue.鈥�
Friesen said that he did not intend to put Kendell in a difficult position.
鈥淲e鈥檒l let our directors (RDCO) deal with that one,鈥� Friesen added.
de Jong noted that noted that without the transfer station, there might be more backcountry dumping. He asked if the RDCO might consider an education campaign to explain the fee structure to residents.
Kendall said he would take council鈥檚 comments back to the RDCO board.
