by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
HALEY TOWNSITE — A 33.5 per cent water rate increase for the 34 properties in Haley Townsite isn’t sitting well with those payinbg the bill.
Richard Reid spoke at the Whitewater Region corporate services committee meeting Aug. 19.
“We’re paying $145.08 a month for water,” he said. “It was supposed to be capped, it wasn’t.
“We read it was supposed to be higher, but that got squashed.
“We’re paying more for water than a small commercial business in Cobden is paying for water and sewer.”
He questioned if that amount has now been capped or will they be paying $200 a month eventually.
“A 33-and-and-a-half per cent increase is a heavy kick,” he stated.
This is not sustainable for those living in the Haley Townsite, Mr. Reid said.
“We’re asking, where can help come from,” he questioned.
He showed the committee members a petition signed by all residents in the townsite that is going to the provincial government asking it to amalgamate the three water systems into one.
The roads were amalgamated and so were the fire departments, he said.
“Everything was amalgamated except the water,” he said. “I’m going to ask why.”
In the legislation, there is a Sustainable Water Bill and it states if there is less than 10,000 people, council can see if it can be amalgated, he said.
“I want to know if it’s been investigated, and if not, why not,” Mr. Reid questioned.
“We cannot sustain these water bills,” he said. “It is doing nothing for real estate. I sell real estate, I have two houses in there for sale and we can’t sell them. We are paying too much money for water.”
People in Ottawa and Renfrew don’t pay as much money for water as people in Haley Townsite does, he noted.
Mr. Reid questioned what will happen next year.
He noted the most recent water bill was almost $550 because it was retroactive to the start of the year.
Councillor Chris Olmstead recalled when this issue was being discussed at budget. The rate increase was a concern because it was an “awful wallop to the taxpayers and water users in Haley.
“We had quite a discussion,” Coun. Olmstead recalled.
He said a document was provided that showed when the new water lines were installed the people were aware of the increase.
“They all signed off on the 10 year forecast,” he said.
Mr. Reid noted the lines had to be replaced.
Coun. Olmstead continued that the Haley rates were subsidized in 2015 by the Cobden and Beachburg water budgets.
As for amalgamating the three plants, Coun. Olmstead, that wasn’t on the table for discussion because it was something this new council only found out about it, so it wasn’t possible to discuss amalgamation.
Mr. Reid cut in saying there will be an investigation by the province as to why amgalmation hasn’t been done.
He reviewed the budget and saw what was being paid for by this council and there could be cuts to help the Haley water situation.
“You have three water systems all in the same municipality, they should share the burden,” Mr. Reid said
Joanne Laviolette said she was shocked to hear she signed off on something.
“I don’t recall signing anything to increase the water rates,” she said.
Councillor Charlene Jackson said it was the previous council who had this discussion with the Haley Townsite ratepayers and that is when the document was signed. She recalled that all but one of the residents signed the document.
She said the document explained why the work had to be done and how high the rates could go.
Treasurer Marsha Hawthorne said the document isn’t at this meeting, but she could get it. If her memory served her right, the cost could go up to as high as $1,700 a year.
She said she can provide a report to council regarding what occurred.
Coun. Olmstead said there was much discussion as to what could be done to bring the rates down, because $400 a quarter is too much. A plan needs to be devised to bring the rates down further than what they were, but it couldn’t be done this year.
“Personally, I think as one region, we should be looking at opportunities like this,” he said.
There are other areas to be looked at, such as recreation, Coun. Olmstead said.
Mr. Reid said the Haley group is hopeful the province will investigate amalgamating the three plants.
Everyone on water should be paying the same amount, he said.
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin recalled being at the meeting held at Haley United Church regarding the infrastructure that needed to be done to replace the lines.
All the ratepayers were in favour except one to do the project, he recalled.
When the former council suggested doing a different project with the grant money, it was noted it will cost more to replace the infrastructure in years to come.
This water system has been subsidized for many years from different budgets within the township, Coun. McLaughlin said.
All of council realizes that with only 34 homes on this water system there would be problems with people paying the water bill.
“That’s all the more reason for amalgamation,” Mr. Reid quipped.
Coun. McLaughlin said, “That’s not the first time that has been brought forward. It was brought forward before with the old council and we talked about it as well.
“That’s just to bring you some of the history,” he said. “There’s not one of us here who didn’t struggle with this. We did take money from Cobden, otherwise it would have been $1,700.
“It’s a struggle,” he said. “We understand your concerns.”
Mr. Reid said he would leave a copy of the document that was going to be sent to the proper authority at the provincial government with hopes of getting the water plants amalgamated.
Coun. Jackson said for the last three years, money from reserves has been used for Haley and this year there was just no money in reserves to give.
“There should have been (increases) occurring gradually over the last few years and because there weren’t there’s no more reserve money to help Haley,” she said.
Coun. Jackson encouraged Mr. Reid to send the document to the province.
Following the meeting, Mr. Reid said $145 a month for Haley ratepayers is more than what a medium-commercial business in Cobden is paying for water and sewer.
“Where is it going to stop,” he questioned.
Mr. Reid said the Haley water users are asking council and the province to look at amalgamating the three water systems.
“We’re taking it up the line and sending it (the petition) to the legislative assembly of Ontario, which is the parliament, and parliament will designate someone to investigate to see if it can be amagalmated,” Mr. Reid explained.
Ms. Laviolette said three years ago the water system was upgraded and the bills increased to $300 a quarter from $120.
“That was a pretty big jump at that time,” she said. “Now it’s gone up again and it’s $435 a quarter. That is not really sustainable for 34 houses.”
She noted other services within the township were amalgamated, but not the water systems.
“That is unfair because there are so few of us,” Ms. Laviolette said.
She understands it was the provincial government that mandated water systems be upgraded, and that someone has to be paid to maintain the systems. However, what the group doesn’t understand is why the water systems weren’t amalgamated while other services were.
