By Pete McIntyre

UPDATE: Coldstream supports COVID relief measure

Apr 15, 2020 | 10:15 AM

UPDATE

Coldstream council is the latest community to approve COVID-related financial relief for residents.

At its regular meeting on Tuesday, council supported a staff recommendation to waive interest charges on overdue utility accounts for the current billing period of January to March, 2020.

The District has already mailed the bills, but the payments aren’t due until the end of April.

“Although the first quarter utility bills have been sent out, council could still choose to waive all interest charges for the first quarter billing period as well,” said Pat Higgins, director of financial administration in a report to council. “A media release could be prepared and posted on our website and in the local newspaper.”

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The municipality normally charges interest of 12 per cent a year on overdue charges.

Higgins added staff will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and, if necessary, will bring forward future recommendations to waive interest charges on other quarterly utility billings.

A news release issued by the municipality Wednesday advised residents of how to pay the utility bills.

“As our office is currently closed to the public, please note that payment of sewer and water quarterly utility bills can be made by mail in the form of a
cheque or money order or through our drop box at the District office. Payments may also be made over the counter at any financial institution in Canada, or through telephone or internet banking (use last 7 digits of your account number). If paying via internet banking, please check with your financial institution to ensure correct payee information for the District of Coldstream; some banks will have a payee account for utilities and
a separate account for taxes. If you have any questions please call us at 250-545-5304,” the news release said.

The City of Vernon earlier announced it will be waiving interest charges for the first quarter billing period and the North Okanagan Regional District has recommended to their board that the billing cycle for all utility bills within the electoral areas be delayed for 30 days for utility bills normally issued prior to August 2020.

by Pete McIntyre

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