Last week at a budget meeting, North Battleford city councillors were concerned a two per cent increase to residents' sewer rates wouldn't keep up with expensive sewer replacement projects needed in the coming years. This week, they decided on a four per cent increase.
Having asked for more information on the impact of a higher increase, council received a report from Gail Adams, city assessor and office manager, indicating four per cent would mean an extra block of sewer could be replaced next year.
Councillor Greg Lightfoot, chairing the meeting Monday in the absence of Mayor Ian Hamilton, who was ill, said, "If we do an additional block each year, we can shorten up that time frame to replace that 24 km of pipe that's aging."
Adams said the difference between what is being charged now and a four per cent increase scenario was $6 a quarter based on consumption of 10 cubic meters a month, realizing an extra $250,000 in total revenue.
"Eight dollars to 10 dollars per year per residence, at the max, to save millions of dollars in the future, I think is a necessary evil."
The first budget meeting, Wednesday, Jan. 15, saw the decision to increase water rates by five per cent, driven by the need for capital projects planned for 2014. Those plans include the water and sewer mains on the 1000 block of 109th Street, on the 1900 block of 99th Street, 9th Avenue from 112th to 113th, and, if a local improvement goes ahead, water main on 12th Avenue from 101st and 102nd.
