Town of St. Paul’s interim director of Public Works Bert Pruneau started off a discussion about the town’s water consumption rates by putting a litre of water on the table in front of town council, purchased at a convenience store at a cost of $2.30. Pruneau expressed his amazement at the price, pointing out a person could get 1,000 litres of town water for that same price.
The town’s current water rate is $1.10 per cubic metre plus the $27 flat rate, with the sewer rates being $0.55/cubic metre plus a $15 sewer flat rate.
“We’ve got to start moving forward on increases,” he told council at its June 27 meeting, explaining the town’s rates were low compared to other municipalities and the reason for increases is that water and sewer infrastructure costs a lot to maintain and repair. As an example, he pointed to a recent sewer repair on main street that came to $85,000, even on what was a short distance of pipe. Costs are likely to increase, not decrease, in the future, he said, with council noting that costs will go further up once a carbon tax is introduced.
“The cost is, what it is, is based on consumption. The more you use, the more you’ll pay, the less you use, the less you’ll pay,” explained Pruneau after the meeting, while during the meeting, he noted that since it is a consumption rate increase he was proposing, it “may not be a bad thing” in deterring high use water usage.
Looking at a list of rates from other municipalities, Coun. Ken Kwiatkowski noted that the Town of St. Paul always tries to come in at the middle of the list for things like rates.
“We’re not even close to being in the middle,” said Coun. Edna Gervais. For instance, the Town of Athabasca charges $3.069 per cubic metre water rate plus a $15.35 service charge, while the Town of Westlock charges a $2.70 per cubic metre water rate plus a $12.50 per metre service charge.
However, councilors noted that just as with tax increases, people were bound to grumble about water and sewage rate increases.
“You’re not going to win on this anyway,” said Mayor Glenn Andersen, suggesting that council implement increases in stages, so that people had time to get use to the change.
Council originally looked at some more conservative increases such as increasing water rates to $1.26 or $1.30, and sewer rates from $0.55 to 0.63, but noted that there would be no money put aside into reserves.
“I don’t think it’s enough, personally,” said Coun. Dwight Wiebe.
After some more debate, council agreed to increase the rate from $1.10/cubic metre to $1.50/cubic metres for water, and from $0.55 to $0.75 for sewage, with White satisfied, adding, “And the good news is we’re still the lowest.”
Kwiatkowski wondered aloud if anyone would notice or care about what amounted to a few extra dollars on their water bills but Andersen was quick with a rejoinder, noting Kwiatkowski may want to watch what he said.
“A senior on a fixed income is going to be right at you,” he told the councillor.
People will get notices about the change in their next water bill.
