Water rates on the rise

Sharon McLeay
Times Contributor

What Calgary does with water resources has once again impacted Strathmore. Rates for water utilities will be increased to $2.10 from $2.05 per cubic meter per month. It will mean monthly household bills will see an increase of about $3.30 to $4.40 per month.
“The City of Calgary variable and fixed water charges are increasing, as they have over last year. An increasing cost of services study was presented at the l2014 fall workshop. An increase in operating cost for EPCOR will reflect the Statistics Canada CPI cost increase for this coming year,” said the Town of Strathmore Director of Corporate Services Mel Tiede.
The combined costs will increase from the projected department expenses for 2015, from $4,331,000 to $4,597,000 for the 2016 budget at an increase of $266,000 total.
The rates for all utility charges, including sewer and garbage services, are mid-range and comparable with other municipalities in Southern Alberta
There was an increase of $.22 per cubic meter of water per resident in 2014 and again in 2015. An additional increase is also expected for 2016-17 utility rates.

 

Fire truck request sent back for info
In October, the Strathmore Fire Department’s truck towing/rescue boat suffered significant water damage during a rescue operation conducted on Eagle Lake. The insurance company wrote off the 2008 Chevy 4X4 ¾ ton truck and only paid $11,000 in settlement, which will not cover replacement cost of a new truck and some of the equipment that was on board. Council was asked on Dec. 2 to approve the purchase of a new truck at a cost of $40,000 that would be able to pull a 5000lb payload, or purchase a used vehicle for about $30,000.
“The fire department needs a fire rescue truck to meet the needs of the community,” said Tiede. “We are dealing with this because it is an immediate need.”
Councillor Brad Walls asked whether other fire vehicles could be utilized for towing purposes. He requested more information on the truck’s uses and if there are any other options available in the interim.
“I am assuming that they think this is emergent. We do have a machinery and equipment reserve, so we don’t want to cause tremendous hardship,” said Councillor Denise Pederson.
Several councillors voiced they would like more information and council deferred the decision to the Dec. 16, 2015 council meeting, requesting that the Fire Chief be present to discuss the issue.

 

Downtown to Wildflower water system needs revamped
Gabriel Goral, Town of Strathmore utility engineering assistant, presented a proposal to Strathmore town council on Dec. 2 , to upgrade water services in the downtown and Wildflower areas. He said current work proposals could be coordinated with a new pipeline that would save the town money and additional refurbishment costs in the long term.
“It (current waterline) leaves the downtown overly reliant on the Brentwood reservoir, as there is only the one small 200 meter line leading to Wildflower,” said Goral.
Gabriel said to improve water distribution for the Wildflower area, a larger 500 meter pipeline will go across the WID canal, in the same area as the new walking bridge, and will loop a dual feed to the existing core area, improving the water networks resiliency now and in the future. The estimated cost is $168,000 and was planned for in the 2016 budget.
Council asked if there were costs to the developers. Goral replied that repayment for the project could be supplemented by charges in the development fees.
Council accepted the report as information.

 

Chamber talks with town about economic development and support for localbusiness
Chamber of Commerce President Waldo Munoz came to Strathmore council on Dec. 2 to ask a pertinent question of council.
“I have been approached by different companies and trades about what we can do to encourage use of local businesses,” said Munoz.
He asked council whether trades coming into town could be required to pay for business permits. He also asked whether local businesses utilizing out of town services could be required to purchase a permit to use outside services.
There have been discussions of this topic in the past; however, residents felt it limited their freedom of choice and might support services that may not necessarily give them the best service product.
Munoz also suggested council consider a one-year tax break for new companies and create incentives for manufacturers and companies generating employment opportunities for local residents.