The township has again hiked its sewer rates for Drayton and Moorefield, even as councillors agreed there are some inequities in the system.
Council passed its new sewer bylaws on Oct. 11, increasing the Moorefield sewage fee 12% (from $36.70 to $41.20 per month) and the Drayton fee 14% (from $30.98 to $35.44).
“The new rate for Moorefield wastewater would take effect Dec. 1 2011, while the new rate for Drayton wastewater would take effect Jan. 1,” treasurer Mike Givens told council in his report.
He said the changes will coincide with the township’s bi-monthly billings.
The reason for the rate hikes is a problem the township ran into when preparing to expand its sewage lagoon. The cost came in at nearly $1 million over budget and there were also problems with incorrect data collection that nearly led to a spill. While the spill has been averted and the lagoons are now being emptied, the costs must be covered, and provincial law states the people using the system have to pay for it.
At the public meeting on the rate increase resident Mary Thompson said she is not so much concerned about the rate hike as she is about how that rate is calculated in the first place.
She said each individual user pays the same as a single family dwelling, and a company with any amount of employees pays the same rate as one senior citizen might pay.
As well, she noted there is a business in the township selling township water for over $3 a bottle.
Thompson said council should consider people on fixed incomes and do something about the inequities of the fee system. She said four apartments might be charged as much as a single family home, even if they have only one person living in each, while there could be any number of people living in that single family dwelling.
She noted the PMD Arena is paying the same as a single family dwelling, even though it is obvious to her and everyone else the arena would tax the sewer and water systems much more.
While the water fees were not part of the discussion, Thompson noted water coming in must leave a premise through the sewer system. She said the township is apparently not taking advantage of grants to install water meters in Drayton and Moorefield.
She said because people are charged a flat rate, they can waste as much water as they wish and there is no penalty.
“Those using a little are penalized,” she said, adding she owns four apartments with four adults and two children and they should pay less than a single family dwelling.
Thompson even volunteered to pay for her own water meter if she would be guaranteed to be billed only for what is used.
Mayor Bruce Whale had no argument with her statements.
“We support everything you said,” he told her.
He added, “We intend to install them [water meters] next year.”
Council had hoped to install meters this fall, but ran into a number of difficulties and delayed that project until spring.
Whale said the idea is “to do it all at once.” He said it was because of the lagoon problem and the inflow difficulties there. The delay will give council time to explain to people why the meters are being installed.
He promised council will issue a call for tenders to install water meters “late this fall or early next year.”
Thompson complained about how the current system is unfair. Whale said of the current method of charging fees, “They can’t be fair. It’s one reason we’re pushing for meters.”
He noted there is some money set aside this year for meters that will be used next year, and if the township needs extra funds next year, it can include them in the 2012 budget.
Thompson told council she has made a similar presentation in the past, and was “ignored.”
Whale agreed the system is “arbitrary,” and said in some ways it is “the same as when we pave a street. We don’t count the houses.”
Councillor Mike Downey said he has checked with other municipalities that do have meters, and he agrees the current system in Mapleton is “not really fair.”
Thompson said one business, the Drayton Festival Theatre, boasts 50,000 visitors a year, but pays a pittance in water use compared to the way homes and businesses are billed.
Whale said not all theatre visitors use water or the washrooms, and it is also a draw for the community.
“We try to treat them as fairly as we can,” he said, hinting the theatre will likely pay more when meters are installed.
Thompson asked if it is fair she has to pay six times for four adults and two children.
Whale said, “We’re not arguing it’s totally fair … If you’re willing to give us another year – we were lucky enough to get a grant and it’s our intention [to place water meters on all properties using the system].”
Thompson said, “People in the community don’t know how much they’re paying.”
Downey said it is definitely worth following up if someone is selling township water in bottles.
“Somebody’s obviously abusing the system,” he said.
Thompson said she told council that “some time ago.”
Whale promised her council would direct staff to investigate, and asked for a copy of her comments.
“We need that information,” he said.
Thompson replied, “I’m not sure it would do any good. I’ve tried before.” Later in the meeting, council voted unanimously in favour of the fee increases. Councillors Andy Knetsch and Neil Driscoll were absent.
