HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-10-11, Page 11The Huron Expositor • October 1 l , 2006 Page 11
News
Huron East water, sewage rates need to
increase in new term, councillors told
Susan Hundertmark
Water and sewage rates need to
increase again after the municipal
election, Deputy -Clerk Brad Knight
told Huron East council at its Oct. 3
meeting.
"It's likely the trend is upwards
but not likely as significant as in
2003," he said.
Seaforth's flat rates increased
from $15 a month to $20.50 in 2003
while Brussels' flat rates went up
from $11 a month to $20.50 at the
same time.
The increase was made in antici-
pation of upgrades to the water sys-
tems in both wards and Knight said
that despite the need to guess at the
total cost at the time, Brussels is
now in a position where it should be
able to pay off its deficit for the
water system in the next six years.
However, he said without a
reserve fund to pay for watermain
breaks, the Brussels water rate will
need another increase.
In Seaforth, council will also have
to guess at increases since total
costs for upgrades to Seaforth's
water system have not been deter-
mined yet.
"We'll be taking a shot in the dark
for Seaforth because Burns Ross
has given us no idea of costs," said
Seaforth Coun. Joe Steffler, of work
towards two new wells for Seaforth.
"We were shooting in the dark
three years ago for Brussels but we
weren't far off," responded Knight.
Knight reported that OSTAR
Seaforth arena
board applying
forgrant for
new dressing
rooms •
The Seaforth arena board has
applied to Farm Credit Canada's
AgriSpirit Fund as a possible fund-
ing source for the construction of
two new dressing rooms.
Adding two more dressing rooms
on the west side of the arena was
estimated to cost $200,000 five
years ago.
Clerk -Administrator Jack
McLachlan said another engineer-
ing report with updated costs will
be done if a possible response is
received for the funding request.
The funding application must be
sent by Oct. 12.
By Susan Hundertmark
(Ontario Small Town and Rural
Development) funding of $928,573
has finally been received for four of
Huron East's water systems in
Brussels, Brucefield, Vanastra and
Seaforth/Egmondville.
The OSTAR grants were approved
more than two years ago. OSTAR
gives Brussels $335,655.58,
Brucefield $226,383.64, Vanastra
$168,416.93 and
SeaforthlEgmondville $198,117.15.
"There was a fair lobby to release
those funds. They (the province)
said they wouldn't release them
until all the systems were done and
Seaforth had delays," said Knight.
Clerk -Administrator Jack
McLachlan said' that while the
OSTAR grants provide two-thirds
funding for the completed water
projects in Brussels, Brucefield and
Vanastra, the amount for Seaforth
covers some of the initial engineer-
ing towards the new wells.
"We . suspect we'll still get funding
for the Seaforth wells and will ask
for additional funding when that
project is compete," he said.