By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: June 19, 2012 6:00 AM

Not a single Enderby resident took pen to paper against borrowing big dollars to prevent flooding. No signatures were obtained as part of an alternate approval process petition to borrow up to $850,000 to replace storm sewer collection pipes along Regent Avenue from Highway 97A to  Brickyard Road, make improvements to the storm sewer lift station, and replace other damaged drainage pipes. “It says that people in the community are well aware of the need to do the work,” said Mayor Howie Cyr. Under the alternate approval process, 10 per cent of Enderby’s voters or 248 people were needed to sign a petition to block borrowing the funds over 20 years. The city decided to proceed with upgrades after  torrential rainfall last summer forced some storm sewers to back up. That created extensive flooding for residences and businesses. “The incidents of last year put an exclamation mark on our storm sewer system,” said Cyr. Council adopted the borrowing bylaw Monday. Staff will now proceed with tendering so the work can begin. Residents currently have an opportunity to sign two other petitions before July 31. The city wants borrow up to $1.2 million for road improvements on Regent Avenue and Knight Street and storm drainage along Highway 97A. Public assent is also being sought to borrow up to $233,000 for upgrades to Sicamous Street.