The polls have opened in Rossland for the 2018 municipal election.
The city’s 2,700 voters are choosing six councillors, a school board trustee, and voting on a referendum on the city’s sewer system.
Voting takes place between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. at the Miner’s Hall.
Rosslanders won’t be voting for a mayor, however. Kathy Moore was unopposed in her bid for a second term.
While there are 13 names on the ballot for council, there are only really 12 candidates.
Andrew Zwicker has asked people not to vote for him. He initially decided to run, but withdrew after the deadline to remove his name from the ballot.
Zwicker has said work commitments will prevent him from serving, if elected.
The candidates on the ballot are Deke Baley, Chris Bowman, Caroline Enns, Scott Forsyth, John Greene, John Lake, Dirk Lewis, Andy Morel, Janice Nightingale, Fletcher Quince, Richard Soltice, and Stewart Spooner.
Voters are also being asked to choose a school trustee. Desiree Profili is taking on incumbent Gordon Smith for Electoral Area 5, representing Rossland on the Kootenay-Columbia school board.
Meet your School Trustee Candidates
Residents are also being asked to approve a move by the municipal government related to the regionally owned sewer infrastructure. There will be two separate questions on the matter, with a ballot for each.
Rather than the City of Rossland paying the RDKB to manage and maintain those sanitary sewer assets used only by the Rossland, the city is seeking voter approval for a proposal that would see the RDKB transfer the ownership of those assets to Rossland.
Approval would allow the city to decide upon future funding levels of the infrastructure directly from its annual operational budget. The second ballot question seeks similar approval with respect to the City of Trail.
A ‘no’ vote would see the current infrastructure remain within the Regional East End Sewer Utility Service operated and maintained under the current arrangement.
Rossland Sewer Referendum Explained
The Rossland News will have the results of the vote as soon as they are available, likely some time before 9 p.m. Visit our website and Facebook page to follow the results from Rossland and the rest of the region.