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M.D. pitches water/sewer proposal
Chris Clegg
for South Peace News
The M.D. of Big Lakes council is prepared spend almost $400,000 on a water and sewer project in Faust’s east end.
The hotly-contested project was put on hold a few months ago because of high expenses.
Meanwhile, the M.D. applied for an Infrastructure Stimulus grant to lessen local costs to residents. They were successful in receiving $1,176,233 each from the federal and provincial governments. It left the M.D. to come up with the other third of the $3.529 million project.
M.D. CAO Jeff Renaud suggested in a proposal to council that they pay for water line installation leaving only sewer costs. The cost for the water line is $399,446 leaving only $776,788 for Faust residents to pay in yearly local improvement tax for sewer service. The fee would leave the highest tax bill for improvements at $5,130 per year and the lowest $535 per year.
Renaud added another public meeting in Faust was in order now the numbers were in. He sought council’s direction on whether to submit both proposals or the proposal with the M.D.’s contribution. Council decided to proceed with the offer including council’s subsidy.
“It (the new water line) would certainly supply water for future needs,” said Reeve Alvin Billings.
Billings conceded some M.D. residents may object to council’s money being put into the project because they had to pay the full bill for their water and sewer service.
“We can defend it as a municipality for future growth,” said Billings. “This Option “B” makes some sense.”
“In declaring this option council would be declaring that the costs associated with the construction of the water distribution line are a benefit to the whole municipality,” wrote Renaud. “In making this determination, council may wish to consider that the water line installation was deemed necessary by council due to the potential it would bring for future development along the east-end of the hamlet.”
Joussard Councillor Guy L’Heureux agreed the proposal was appropriate.
“We know we’re going to run out of water in five years,” said L’Heureux.
Councillors quickly endorsed the proposal and ordered Renaud to schedule a meeting.
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