Trail city council has signed off on a study that will look at amalgamation with Warfield.
This week council unanimously supported a motion to endorse the study, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2027. Twin referendums will then be held in Trail and Warfield. Residents of both municipalities will need to endorse the merger for it to proceed.
Warfield had already given its blessing to the study, after commissioning another study last year that looked at the village’s ability to remain autonomous.
“It’s prudent and good business to do a home inspection on a property before you buy it,” Trail councillor Nick Cashol said. “I equate this to a super enhanced inspection of the inspection of the Village of Warfield.”
The provincial government will pick up $90,000 of the study’s $175,000 bill, while Trail and Warfield will split the other $85,000 evenly. The two municipalities are now expected to sign a memorandum of understanding that outlines administrative details. Warfield will look after paying for the work as it progresses. Neilson Strategies, which previously outlined the process, has been hired as the lead consultant.
A steering committee is expected to be formed, consisting of two councillors and four other residents of each municipality. They’ll meet for the first time in September and will be tasked with looking at the impact of amalgamation on service levels and property taxes. They’re also expected to lead public engagement.
Trail councillor Bev Benson said the “elephant in the room” is the issue of Warfield’s water supply. Corporate services manager David Moorhead said the matter will have to be addressed, but it falls outside the scope of the study.
Benson also asked about the staff time required to support the study, which isn’t accounted for by the cash each municipality is providing. Moorhead said it depends in part on what sort of information the steering committee requests.
There was some further discussion on whether the two councils should hold off on appointing elected officials to the committee until after October’s municipal elections.
Trail was incorporated as a city in 1901 while Warfield was incorporated as a village in 1952.
