Water and sewer rates are going up in Sioux Lookout for the first time in six years.
Council has approved the new rates by a 5-2 recorded vote after the increase was put on hold last year due to COVID-19.
Ratepayers will be asked to pay $4.78 more a month based on average monthly household water use of 14 cubic metres of water.
Chief Administrative Officer, Michelle Larose says the municipality has several major infrastructure projects starting this year, which are funded by these user fees.
The projects include expanding the wastewater treatment plant, construction of a third central treatment unit, upgrades to the pumps and forcemain at the Pelican Park Lift Station, and replacing World War II-era watermains and sewermains.
Officials stress some sections are in poor conditions and could fail unexpectedly if not replaced soon.
Councillor Joe Cassidy says, “We will either have to do it now a little but or we’ll have to do it down the road with a more drastic increase to cover these infrastructure projects. So I think we need to own this and go forward with this and spread it out over a longer duration.”
Cory Lago agrees that the hike can’t be put off because of the pandemic.
“We need to learn to live with what’s going on. We need to start moving forward. I hope to see a light at the end of this COVID tunnel. I’m quite frustrated with the lockdowns and the policies. That’s hurting my business more than a water increase rate.”
John Bath was also in favour of the increase.
“We can’t keep just holding off. COVID’s here. It’s going to be a way of life. I think we need to move forward. If we keep holding back and waiting, and waiting, and waiting, we are going to be in the hole.”
Joyce Timpson wanted the municipality to wait until the virus is under control as she fears of additional restrictions.
“I think that we will be very lucky if we avoid that but I think we have to prepare for that. And for that reason I feel that raising the rates at this time is not a good idea.”
Timpson adds, “This is really going to hurt the businesses that are struggling and restaurants where they use a lot of water and people that have lost their jobs. But we have to think about the small businesses. Small businesses are really suffering with this.”
Conner Howie was the only other Councillor to vote against the hike.
“We aren’t out of the woods yet and our reasoning initially for this was exactly COVID-19 and we’re not clear of that yet. We should hold off on this until we do actually see a light at the end of this tunnel.”
The new rates kick-in March 1.
The new residential rates are:
-$42.35. Flat monthly water rate (from $40.33)
-$38.09. Flat monthly sewer rate (from $36.87)
-$1.54 per metre. Metered water rate (from $1.47 per metre)
-$1.38 per metre. Metered sewer rate (from $1.34 per metre)
On Monday, Sioux Lookout's water and sewer rates will increase for the first time in six years – but we still have the lowest residential metered rates in the region. Read more here: https://t.co/ZEMnJVMjny pic.twitter.com/W5lmqJ2faT
— Mun of Sioux Lookout (@SLCommDevOffice) February 24, 2021