The Municipality of North Norfolk council has given second and third reading to a borrowing by-law for this year's rural water expansion project. Mayor Neil Christoffersen says they'll be borrowing money on behalf of taxpayers who wish to finance rural water lines being put to their home as opposed to paying cash up front for the installation. Christoffersen notes this year's portion of the project will entail a three million dollar expansion of rural water lines, with the feds putting up one and a half million dollars and the Water Services Board providing seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

He says the municipality is responsible for one-quarter of the total amount, which comes from the end users of the water. Christoffersen notes homeowners have the option of either paying their individual portions up front or financing it over a ten year period on their taxes. He adds this means the municipality borrows money on their behalf to pay it up front to the contractor, then recoups the funds based on the borrowing they've done from the province. Christoffersen says they need approval from the Municipal Board so they've sent all the numbers to them and have now given the by-law second and third reading. He notes they can go ahead and use the province's interest rate to finance the water expansion for customers in North Norfolk, so it's a good deal all around for the folks who are interested in having the water lines installed.

Christoffersen adds all the test holes have been completed and a quote has been accepted. He says work can start as soon as the weather warms up sufficiently. Christoffersen notes it's nice to be able to get this project underway early in the season, instead of being forced to wait until July or August and having freeze-up arrive before they finish.