Among the topics making Yorkton City Council's agenda Monday evening were water and sewer rates. Both are set to rise with the coming of the new year.
The increase will mean on average, $2.23/per month for a family for water and sewer and an additional $1.70/per month for garbage.
Both are minimal say council when compared to other cities in the province.
"During 2014 budget deliberations, it was identified that the waterworks budget required a 4.3 per cent increase in operational funding," said the city's Director of Environmental Services, Michael Buchholzer to council. "The majority of the increase is due to escalating costs of PVC materials such as pipe and fleet rentals. With extra revenue generated from growth, the utility can remain self sufficient with a 3.09 per cent rate increase (the amount approved by council).
"With this budget, the utility is continuing replacement of underground infrastructure through its water and sewer line replacement programs. This budget also includes placing approximately $900,000 in reserves for future capital works. The next major upgrade could be Broadway reconstruction or the wastewater treatment plant based upon the new federal regulations."
Over the next five years, Buchholzer estimates roughly $13,000,000 will be needed to fund well, water and sewer lines, with borrowing to be projected at less than $7,000,000.
An increase in garbage rates was also approved Monday, bringing Yorkton more in line with other city's of similar size in the province.
An 18 per cent increase was approved. "This levy is charged on the utility bill and covers the collection and disposal costs of garbage to residents and multi-unit dwellers," adds Buchholzer.
"It is a user pay system where we calculate the amount of material collected (based on 2012 information) and charge the current landfill rates plus the collection rate. This direct cost is then passed on to the resident."
Plans are currently underway to expand the Yorkton landfill site at a cost of about $5 million for phase one.
Another topic on council's list Monday was the renaming of the city's airport. While it's not a big change, the new name is more representative of the airport say Gord Shaw from the city's planning and engineering department.
As such, the name will change for the Yorkton Municipal Airport to the Yorkton Regional Airport.
The majority of flights into or out of this airport are related to the region rather than the city," says Shaw. "Administration believes that the name, therefore, should be representative of the importance of this airport to the region."
It's also hoped, changing the name will in turn garner more support from the surrounding area.
