Westside property owners, patiently waiting for new sewer hook-ups, could end up paying close to $20,000 per household for the service, something that doesn't sit well with Mayor Rosalind Neis. The municipality applied for a grant worth about $15 million through the Building Canada Fund for 11 sewer projects scheduled for completion between 2009 and 2014. The total bill for the 11 projects is about $27 million.
The municipality was informed late last week the funds would likely be allocated over a large number of applicants, meaning Westside would not be eligible for the entire amount requested. Westside Chief Financial Officer, Jim Zaffino, says the municipality may receive just $6 million.
Because of the anticipated decrease in funding, Zaffino outlined three options for council to look at in an effort to proceed, including:
- Option 1 - Postpone last five phases to a future grant application. Cost per parcel, $8,110.41
- Option 2 - Postpone last three phases to a future grant application. Cost per parcel, $10,193.23
- Option 3 - Include all phases in the current grant application. Cost per parcel, $12,554.77.
Westside Council decided to go to the affected property owners as soon as possible with option three, despite what Neis termed a willingness to just accept what is given by the province. "They(council) certainly didn't see eye to eye on my continual statements of that. They seem to think that, well, let's just sit back, bend over and take what they are willing to give us and not fight for our residents. $6 million off a $27 million project, while it's somewhat helpful, it does very little to those residents who are going to be paying nearly $13,000," says Neis.
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