Like it or not, in a year when capital is tight and the City is faced with finding funds to replace the concrete flume in Mark Creek, other projects must go ahead as well.

On Friday, Kimberley City Council notified citizens of their intent to borrow $250,000 to upgrade the Kimberley RCMP building. Citizens against the borrowing can voice their opinion by filling out Elector Response Forms. At least 525 eligible electors (10 per cent of eligible voters) must indicate they are not in favor in order to stop the borrowing.

Mayor Jim Ogilvie says the City is not in a position to say no to the requested repairs.

"Under our contract with the RCMP we have to supply a building up to their standards," Ogilvie said. "But they keep raising the standards."

This upgrade involves improvements to the cells, a couple of washrooms and increased security cameras.

"Believe it or not that comes to $250,000," Ogilvie said.

Kimberley has been sending their prisoners to Cranbrook cells since 2004 when the RCMP said Kimberley's cells were substandard. They were paying what Ogilvie considered a reasonable price for the service.

"But now they've found out the Cranbrook cells are in no better shape and they are upgrading them. As a consequence they want to charge more for taking prisoners there. Council has determined that it's better to upgrade our cells and keep our prisoners in Kimberley."

Ogilvie says he's not sure what they will do if the Alternative Approval Process stops the borrowing.

"It happened once before when the RCMP were housed on top of the Post Office. They said it was substandard and we had a referendum. There was a group of citizens against it and it was shot down. Then we had to have a second referendum. There was a debate between myself and the group on local TV and we were able to convince them that it was required that we provide a building with certain standards. The second time it passed.

"Rest assured we have to have a building up to RCMP standards or they will vacate that building and we'll have to house them elsewhere."

Voters have until October 6, 2011 to fill out a form