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Tiverton water rates to merge with rest of Kincardine By Liz Dadson |
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Tiverton ratepayers cannot afford their own stand-alone water system so it will be merged, administratively and financially, with the rest of the Municipality of Kincardine. That was the decision made in committee-of-the-whole Wednesday night. The resulting rates would save each Tiverton water customer about $114 per year. The village opted out of the lakeshore water pipeline in 2004 and stayed with its own well water supply. The pipeline now services the four small rural well supply systems along the lakeshore, running north of Ward 1, as well as Inverhuron Provincial Park. The Scott's Point and Underwood systems could not pay for themselves and were merged with the the Kincardine system, financially and administratively, at the end of 2004. The Armow water supply system, completed in 2008, also became part of the Kincardine water system. And it is expected that in 2012, the Bruce Energy Centre non-potable water system will be assumed by the municipality, to be operated as a stand-alone system. Public works manager Jim O'Rourke said that with the implementation of new water regulations, operation of small stand-alone water systems has become expensive. A report from Hemson Consultants earlier this year, states that water rates will increase by just under five-per-cent in 2012. The Tiverton and District Ratepayers Association began discussions with the municipality to try and rationalize decreases in the residents' water rates. The only option was to merge financially and administratively with the Kincardine system. Next year, water rates for those on the Kincardine water treatment system will be a $26.34 flat rate per month, plus 78 cents/cubic metre, said O'Rourke. For those in Tiverton, the flat monthly rate was going to be $32.76, plus 99 cents/cubic metre. The Kincardine water system is slated to have an operating expenditure budget of $961,000 in 2012, and annual revenues of $2.11-million. Meanwhile, Tiverton would have an expense budget of $139,000, and income of $217,000. Merging the systems, means everyone would pay a flat monthly fee of $26.34, plus 78 cents/cubic metre. This puts the operating expense budget at $1.1-million, and revenues at $2.287-million - a loss of $40,000 in revenue annually.
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"I totally support this," said councillor Maureen
Couture. "Two councils ago, when Tiverton wanted to stay with its well
water, they paid more in water rates." Deputy mayor Anne Eadie said the ratepayers' association is in agreement with this, with a public meeting to come later. "I agree, with one exception," said councillor Randy Roppel. "Council should approve this in principle, and then hold a public meeting with the ratepayers who pay for the stand-alone system." O'Rourke said the ratepayers' association was looking for help in reducing the water rates, and has agreed with the consolidation of the rates. Committee-of-the-whole agreed with the consolidation but final approval will come to council Jan. 11, 2012. In the meantime, a public meeting will be held. Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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