MANITOUWADGE — A number of concerned residents spoke out against potential changes to the municipality's water billing system.
Manitouwadge held a public meeting on Monday night, where a handful of residents appeared before the Township, including Mayor Jim Moffatt, to weigh in on the municipality looking at implementing a flat-rate billing program.
At a meeting on May 24, council directed staff to examine an efficient flat-rate billing program for water and sewer that accurately reflects the township usage and the operation cost of the utility.
A report from deputy treasurer Aaron MacGregor, Deputy Treasurer said that 15 to 20 per cent of the town’s water meters require inspection and maintenance. He estimated that replacement meters would cost the municipality $72,000, and additional costs would include inspections, repairs, labour, and utility billing data updates.
As part of the changes, the municipality will off a $250 subsidy program for low-income seniors and low-income persons with disabilities.
MacGregor’s report provided council with four options — two of which would increase the cost of the utility for single residential properties while decreasing the cost from multi-residential, commercial, and industrial properties.
The first option would keep a flat rate billing structure and the second would reduce the cost of single residential properties while increasing the cost of multi-residential, commercial, and industrial properties.
Shortly after the council meeting, the township posted a survey to the municipality Facebook page to engage with the public.
The results of the survey indicated that 48 per cent of respondents felt that an equal billing program will hurt those living on a fixed income such as seniors and lower-income people.
At Monday's meeting, resident Ed took issue with the increase to single-residential property, calling the equal billing not “a one size fits all” decision.
“People that live alone or couples that are very conscientious of their water consumption will be unfairly billed for their water consumption residing as the family status will be getting cost-benefits for their water consumption,” Ed said.
Randy, a councillor of Manitouwadge in 2005, argued the flat-rate fee should cover the cost of maintaining the infrastructure and operating costs related to the water and sewer network.
“The concern I am going to have is if we are going to offer a 33 per cent discount to people on a fixed income, whose going to pay that? Because the municipality is not going to help with a lump sum. So, if Resident A doesn’t pay their bill, you have to pass the expense to Resident B. There is no free money anywhere for anybody. It’s going to come from someone else,” Randy said.
MacGregor said the flat-rate system is meant to account for the municipal expense of operating the water and sewer network.
Manitouwadge’s water treatment system is rated at a maximum capacity of 10,472 cubic metres per day. In a 2022 report, the average daily flow rate was 1,095 cubic metres.
“The idea is that a flat rate water portion of a water bill should capture the fixed expenses and the variable expenses,” MacGregor said.
MacGregor said 90 per cent of the resident’s bill will be put toward those fixed costs, with 10 per cent will be put toward the cost of electricity which fluctuates with the amount of water consumption.
Another resident, May, spoke out about water quality issues in the township.
Since 2020, Manitouwadge has been under a drinking water advisory notice due to the presence of sodium, which sits at a concentration of 42.2 parts per million, according to a document by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit. Sodium at concentrations above 20 parts per million is a health risk for those on sodium-restricted diets.
Public works director Tyler Brewster addressed stated he doesn’t know what the causing the sodium to get into the water supply, but it is something that can be looked into.
“I believe it’s been occurring for quite a long time if I am not mistaken. But I also don’t know how to treat it or what they can do,” said Brewster.
MacGregor said he “believes it’s naturally occurring, but doesn’t know the detail.”
Resident Alex spoke in favour of the flat-rate billing program, stating that paying less than $195 quarterly payments “seems reasonable.”
“If there is no increased cost on the town, it’s kind of a win-win,” said Alex.
MacGregor said the township would not be making extra revenue from the flat-rate billing system.
“This won’t increase our revenue. All structures council has options for are revenue neutral,” said MacGregor.
Flat-rate billing will also help growing families, Alex added.
“Just to be clear, those of us with young and growing families since we ran this much [water] now, the prices only go up. And with a bit more people in the houses, they go up even more, so a flat rate sound good to us,” said Alex.