A North Shore water users group will receive $75,000 through the Regional District of Central Kootenay’s community works fund.
The money will offset the $175,000 cost of the Ridgewood Road improvement district's plan to put in a standalone treatment plant.
Area director Ron Mickel excused himself from the discussion and vote Thursday, as he is a Ridgewood Road resident. Although he has said he is not in a conflict because he isn't the only one who stands to benefit from the treatment system, he left the room anyway to avoid any misperception.
Fellow director Andy Shadrack asked if having Mickel's signature on the application posed any legal problems but was assured by staff that it didn't.
Ridgewood Road residents voted in 2010 to turn their water system over to the regional district and considered sharing their treatment plant with the Shannon Orchards development. However, delays in the housing project and an enforcement letter from Interior Health resulted in the improvement district looking at other options.
The system has been under boil advisory for 18 years.
The community works fund is distributed to all municipalities and regional districts by the Union of BC Municipalities under the federal gas tax agreement. It will bring in over $1.2 million to the Regional District of Central Kootenay in 2013-14.