Slocan Valley residents should receive a survey form on animal control within days.
Regional director Walter Popoff says ballots in the mail-in poll are expected to go out early this week and are due back by October 30.
He’ll use the results to help him decide whether to proceed with creating the service.
“Hopefully we’ll have all the information and I can make the call before the [November] election,” he says. “If not, I’ll make the call afterward if I’m re-elected. If I’m not re-elected, the incoming director will have all the information to make that decision.”
Each property owner will get a ballot asking them if they’re willing to pay $5.70 per $100,000 of assessed value annually toward the service, which would cover the entire valley except for Slocan, Silverton, and New Denver.
Popoff opted for the survey instead of a referendum because it’s cheaper and he hopes it may actually result in a better response.