The preliminary results of the Edgewater Commercial Space Service assent vote show residents are not in favour.
RDEK officials said there were 352 votes cast, with 86 yesses and 266 no’s.
The question on the ballot was whether residents want the RDEK to establish the commercial space service and let it be leased to entities such as public authorities, societies, corporations, individuals, or used by the RDEK.
Part of establishing the service would include the RDEK borrowing $450,000 over 15 years.
RDEK director Mike Gray was against the proposal and said the RDEK should look at other options.
“I believe Edgewater is worthy of investment. I think it is a community that deserves to have dollars invested in it and I think the taxpayer should look at options for community building things for our community,” he said.
“But to the tune of the taxpayer paying approximately $800,000 by the time you added the interest in that on this project, I just think that if we are going to spend $800,000 in this community, we should be looking for community changing type of projects to work on.”
He added that he appreciates the amount of work that was put in to the proposal and getting the vote ready.
“Whichever side of this issue you’re on I think there is an acknowledgement that needs to be made of how much good work has been put in by the professionals on our staff and Director Roberta Schnider in bringing us to where we are now.”
The official results will be declared on Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. by the Chief Electoral officer.
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