The township will renew its contract with the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) for operation of the Drayton and Moorefield water and wastewater systems for one year.
Council agreed with a staff recommendaiton for a one-year deal, rather than a longer term, to allow the municipality to explore other options, including shared service agreements with other municipalities.
“In this regard, I have had some discussions with neighbouring municipalities in Wellington County, including a meeting of mayors, CAOs and directors of public works to explore options past 2013 as other municipal service agreements expire at that time. We will continue these meetings early in 2013 and report back to you on our findings,” stated Mapleton CAO Patty Sinnamon in a written report to council at its Nov. 27 meeting.
The new contract, which runs from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2013, calls for OCWA to be paid $198,885, an increase of 4.8 per cent over 2012. A letter from OCWA accounts manager Ted Snider explains the 4.8 per cent increase is due to higher fuel costs and staff wages. Higher labour costs, he stated, are “directly related to compliance activities.”
