GREENSTONE - Municipal council has passed and enacted revisions to By-Law 22-24 that allow rural and semi-rural resident and commercial properties to receive a grant for septic tank maintenance.
Originally, the municipality removed itself from maintaining private septic systems on behalf of the residents; however, in recent years, this policy became a sight of confusion as those property owners were still contributing to water services despite not being connected to the municipal water infrastructure.
Several complaints have been issued to the municipality, where residents thought they were to be 100 per cent reimbursed for the cost of water services; however, the policy as it stands states that “reimbursement rates shall be reviewed annually, set by council, and the municipality shall attempt to base its rate off the lowest contractor rate known to the municipality.”
Over the years, local contractor availability has significantly changed and service rates have seen increases in cost due to inflation leaving the municipality in a tight position when attempting full reimbursement for property owners.
The municipality's most recent attempt to obtain service pricing a year in advance was met by some reluctance from contractors.
Because of inflation, private contractors have experienced fluctuating expenses like an increase in labour, fuel, and insurance cost which leads to volatile pricing for most contracted services including septic pumping.
Therefore, if the program is to continue to be offered, public works staff recommended that some policy changes should be addressed to reflect budget realities as well as the recommended maintenance timeline for such infrastructure.
Now that the revisions to the bylaw are in effect, grants are available for rural residential ratepayers that do not have municipal water and sewer service capability and are subsidizing municipal water and sewer services.
Residential properties will qualify for up to $200 once every three calendar years, while commercial properties may receive a grant of up to $1,500 annually.
The Septic Pumping Grant Program offers property owners in Greenstone an onsite sewage treatment system management; however, there are certain requirements under the Ontario Building Codes.
Greenstone will provide the grant for three types of class sewage systems.
- Class 1 Sewage System - Composting toilet, pit privy, vault privy
- Class 4 Sewage System - A conventional system includes a septic tank and leaching bed. An alternative system includes a septic tank and treatment unit and area bed (used for the treatment and dispersal of all wastewater).
- Class 5 Sewage System - This system is a holding tank (contents must be pumped as often as is required). This system is permitted only by the exemption under the Building Code.
Sewage system pump-outs are the only maintenance activity eligible under this grant program.
Written into the municipality’s policy, the grant monies will be dispensed on a per-property basis.
For rural residential properties, the grant shall equal the cost of septic pumping service fees incurred to a maximum of $200.
For commercial properties, ratepayers are eligible to apply for a grant equal to properties subject to the commercial property tax rate on an annual basis. Thus, the grant shall equal the cost of septic pumping service fees incurred to a maximum of $1,500.
To submit a claim, the following documentation is required:
- The application form for the Septic Pumping Grant must be signed and dated by the claimant to verify the recipient’s name and mailing address.
- Proof of contracted septic pumping services during the year of the claim for said property.
The property owner’s tax account must be in good standing before a cheque will be issued.
However, if the property tax account is in arrears, the qualifying amount under the grant program will be applied to the affiliated property tax roll.
Applications are also available at the Municipal Administration Office and all ward offices.
Supporting documentation (proof of service by a contractor) must be submitted.