WEYBURN — Weyburn city council unanimously gave first reading of two bylaws, one for water and one for sewer service, that introduces a $10 monthly infrastructure fee for all properties connected to city utility services. The decision was made during council’s regular meeting on April 28, following a recommendation from the city’s Director of Engineering, Renee Cugnet.
The proposed bylaw aims to create a funding stream for urgently needed capital utility projects, with total estimated costs reaching $10.2 million. The flat fee would apply to all utility users and is expected to generate approximately $468,000 annually toward utility infrastructure repairs and upgrades.
Coun. John Corrigan supported the motion, calling it a “good investment” and fair.
“It applies to every building with a water meter,” he said. “If we don’t continue investing, our infrastructure could collapse — to put it bluntly.”
Coun. Kellie Sidloski said the fee isn't ideal but there’s a lot of work that needs to be done on the infrastructure.
“We are hearing complaints about infrastructure, roads, facilities, and the reality of it is we just don’t have the money to fix everything,” she said, adding she hopes the city can move through the list of work that's required so the city doesn’t “have a catastrophic failure for the community.”
Mayor Jeff Richards said it’s pay now or pay later, adding that the rate increase will only generate approximately two to four per cent of the immediate need over the next five to 10 years.
“It’s never easy but it’s the right thing to do,” he said.
Coun. Larry Heggs said similar infrastructure fees are becoming more common in other municipalities, aligning Weyburn with municipal trends.
This new fee would be in addition to previously approved rate increases. In September 2024, council passed Bylaws 2024-3485 and 2024-3486 to set water and sewer rates through 2027. For a typical residence with a 5/8-inch utility connection, the fee increase would total $16.68 per month in 2025 — up from the previously approved $6.68 — and $17.23 in 2026 and 2027.
Cugnet said that many of the city’s water and sewer systems are nearing the end of their life cycle are in critical need of repair or replacement.
“As the costs of materials, labour, and technology continue to rise, the current methods of funding these capital projects (which is primarily dependent on general revenue and the occasional government funding grant) is insufficient,” said Cugnet in her report to council.
