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Abbotsford, Mission waiting until after election to tweak water sewer commission agreement

A proposed water agreement between the City of Abbotsford and the District of Mission has been put on hold. The Abbotsford Mission Water Sewer Commission (AMWSC) has unanimously decided to defer the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) until after the municipal elections on Nov. 19.

A proposed water agreement between the City of Abbotsford and the District of Mission has been put on hold. The Abbotsford Mission Water Sewer Commission (AMWSC) has unanimously decided to defer the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) until after the municipal elections on Nov. 19.

The commission was drafting an update to the services agreements which govern the regional water and wastewater partnership between the two communities, which include the allocation of existing resources, cost agreements and housekeeping issues.

The modifications became necessary after Mission voted against a joint plan to pursue a public-private partnership (P3) to help create a new water source at Stave Lake. Abbotsford decided to move forward alone.

"We all agreed to take it off the table until after the election and referendum," said Abbotsford Mayor George Peary.

Abbotsford voters will be asked if they support moving forward on a P3 project and could reject the idea, which would affect the proposed MOU. But there are other reasons for delaying the agreement.

"There could be changes on both councils," said Peary, which could also change who sits on the water commission.

Mission Mayor James Atebe agrees that the delay is needed.

“We look forward to continuing our MOU discussion in December with our new commission,” he  said.

“It is important that we continue to foster the spirit of cooperation between the two communities while both communities explore and secure long term water supply sources.”



Kevin Mills

About the Author: Kevin Mills

I have been a member of the media for the past 34 years and became editor of the Mission Record in February of 2015.
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