A last minute water rate change didn’t sit well with Bashaw town council and, ultimately, the town’s concern wound up with the tap being turned off by members.
At council’s Dec. 5 meeting, CAO Theresa Fuller brought up the Highway 12/21 Regional Water Commission’s revision to its 2020 budget, which included a rate for water of $3.08 per cubic metre.
That’s a three cent hike from what council heard on Nov. 21 when the initial budget was reviewed and came just one day before the commission’s meeting to pass the budget.
“It’s not a big difference, but the fact we had a council meeting prior to their next meeting in order to have a conversation,” said Fuller.
Among the reasons for the revised budget were Ferintosh dropping its estimated consumption by nearly 4,000 cubic metres, a $7,000 expense for a business plan review and taking $60,000 for a reserve.
Council felt the decision was unrealistic and that the commission should absorb the increase.
“For the good of the commission, we can’t approve this,” said Coun. Rob McDonald, adding he also wasn’t pleased with Bashaw taking on more of the operational costs due to Ferintosh dissolving and being taken over by Camrose County.
“One needs to live within their means. We can’t go back to our ratepayers and say, ‘oops just kidding.’”
Coun. Rosella Peterman felt the commission can’t operate like this stating, “Once we give a price for review, then that’s what it is.”
And as it turned out, nearly all of the municipalities that are members of the commission agreed with Bashaw, according to Mayor Penny Shantz.
“At the commission meeting Dec. 6, we suggested this was not acceptable and it was decided to cut the business plan review and leave the rate at the original budget figure of $3.05,” Shantz said.
“Rosella made a good presentation and it worked. We got a lot of thanks for bringing this forward.