ACTUAL I TÉ • NEWS
New water and sewer rates plan for Russell Township
GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
to the municipality. The problem with the flat rate was that the money earmarked for the asset repla- cement reserve was not large enough to ensure there would be sufficient funds avai- lable in the long-term when some repairs or upgrades were needed as parts of the systemwore out with age. The consultant’s report included a review and evaluation of the state of the water and sewer service setup for the township, with projections and estimates of what would need replacing or upgrading within the next 20-year period. There is no concern at present about how the system operates. The drawback with the present variable rate system to deal with Ottawa’s ownwater supply charge is that it doesn’t cover water loss like what happened during the past year when there was a leak in the Ottawa feeder main and the township still got charged for all the water lost until the leak was repaired. The township had to cut back on the contri- bution to the asset replacement reserve and draw on fire protection reserve money to cover the resulting deficit in its water supply bill from Ottawa. Given that the township can expect ano- ther rate hike fromOttawa for its water sup- ply, and still handle regular maintenance costs for the municipal water system, plus pay off the loan, the consultant report re- commended a new combined flat-and-va- riable rate system. The flat rate portion will decrease by two per cent each year over a five-year period. The 2014 flat rate of $427
will become $419 this year and reduce to $380 by 2019. The variable rate will be more in tune with how much water a household or bu- siness does use. The average amount of water during the year is calculated at 163 cubic metres a year, which in 2015 will cost $369.29. The variable rate for that average amount will increase six per cent each year fromnow until 2019 when it will be $466.22. The more water above the average that a household or business uses, then the more the variable charge will be. When the new flat and variable rates are combined, it works out to a nine per cent increase overall for water supply in 2015, compared to last year, with annual increases of between one and two per cent each year following until 2019. The sewage service rate for township resi-
dents since 2010 has also been a combined flat-and-variable rate setup. As with the old water rate setup, the same problem existed with making sure enough of the flat rate went towards the asset replacement fund and also towards helping pay off the loan for the water improvement project. The solution is for a new flat rate sewer service fee with guarantees that a portion goes to the asset replacement fund and to the water project loan debt. As more deve- lopment takes place within themunicipality, the flat rate will reduce. Council approved the new water and sewer rates schedule along with consul- tant recommendations for annual review and updates of the rates bylaw along with evaluation and assessment of the water and sewer services systemevery five to 10 years.
The last bit of budget business approval is finished now. Russell Township now has a new set of water and sewer service rate schedules in place. Council approved the 2015 water and sewer rates schedule during a special ses- sion March 23 following a consultant’s re- port. During a later interview, Mayor Pierre Leroux noted that the new rates schedule will be more fair to local homeowners and businesses. «This is amore user-pay friendly system,» saidMayor Leroux. «It’s basedmore onwhat you actually use. It’s a more realistic cost.» The mayor also noted the new system will prove useful for the township during future negotiations with the City of Ottawa over water supply charges now that Rus- sell Township is a service pod for that city’s water supply system. Since 2010 when the township and Ottawa completed its water resource improvement project, linking the twomunicipalities together for water service, Russell Township has used a combined flat rate and variable rate setup for charging for residential and business water use. The flat rate portion covered day-to-day operation and maintenance costs for the municipal water service and also debt re- payment on the loan for the improvement project, along withmoney put into the asset replacement reserve.The variable rate dealt with the City of Ottawa’s water supply charge
La municipalité de Russell lance une consultation
ANNIE LAFORTUNE annie.lafortune@eap.on.ca
âgées ou encore dans les écoles. Ils pose- ront des questions, chercheront à connaître ce qui distingue lamunicipalité de Russell des autres. Les résidents seront invités à expliquer ce qui, à leurs yeux, rend leur municipalité distincte. Cette vaste consultation publique, dont l’objectif est de redéfinir le portrait identi- taire de lamunicipalité de Russell, touchera tous les résidents d’Embrun, de Russell, de Ma- rionville et de Limoges. L’objec- tif de cet exercice se veut rassembleur et sédui-
C’est à compter d’aujourd’hui, le 2 avril, que les résidents de lamunicipalité de Rus- sell sont invités à s’exprimer sur le portrait identitaire de leur municipalité. Définir ensemble ce qui caractérise sa municipalité. Ce qui nous distingue est le slogan de ce qui se veut une vaste consulta- tion publique. Lamunicipa- lité de Russell veut les idées, les opinions de ses résidents
sant pour attirer de nouveaux résidents, de nouveaux in- vestisseurs. « En tant que maire de lamuni- ci- palité de
car elle souhaite s’approprier un portrait à l’image de la fierté et de l’engagement des gens qui la colorent. La démarche se mettra en branle dès
Russell, je suis heu-
aujourd’hui, le 2 avril, avec la mise en ligne du siteWeb www.jeparticipe-russell.ca. Les résidents auront jusqu’au 15 avril pour y livrer leurs idées. Aussi, au cours des prochains jours, des élèves des écoles secondaires partiront à la rencontre des gens dans les magasins, des lieux publics, les résidences pour personnes
reux de travailler sur un projet qui nous réunira, nous rapprochera et nous aidera à aller de l’avant en étant plus fort, a déclaré le maire de Russell, Pierre Leroux. Je vous encourage tous à prendre deux minutes de votre temps et à remplir le sondage. Votre voix est importante pour l’avenir de notre canton. »
7KH5HYLHZHVWÀHUGHSUpVHQWHU
'LPDQFKĒ DYULĵħ ħ
Yes Women Can! Au féminin pluriel!
%LOOHWō ĵçDYDQFĒ VHXOHPHQŐ %LOOHWōHĻOLJQĒ
Au Centre Communautaire de Vankleek Hill | 36 Mill Street, Vankleek Hill
• Divertissement • Conférenciers • Magasinage • 73 exposants •“Makeovers”
,QYLW©Ē6S©FLDĵ 6XĒ0Č*DUYLĒ GĒé6ĔZLWħ6XĒê
3HUIRUPDQFĒ6S©FLDĵ -DQLĒ5HQHĒ ħVXUOĒVF¨QĒSULQFLSDĵ
9RXōSRŔĕJDJQĕ 8ĻSUīĐçXQĒYDOHXUGĒ 3RXULQIRUPDWLRQō
Wi-Fi Gratuit fournis par:
\HVZRPHQFDĻFă
Nous remercions nos commanditaires:
1-877-678-3327 | info@yeswomenvcan.ca
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker