by Alicia McCutcheon
NORTHEAST TOWN—At its regular meeting on March 21, Northeast Town council discussed raising the water rates for residents of Little Current and Sheguiandah by four percent for 2023.
CAO Dave Williamson gave council a breakdown of the rates. For Sheguiandah, residents on municipal water (of which there are 87), it will mean an annual increase of $59.73 bringing the total they must pay for 2023 to $1,543.06.
For Little Current residents, who pay for both water and sewer (of which there are 700 users), it will mean an annual increase of $20.05 for a total of $521.23 annually for water and the same again for sewer (equalling $1,042.46).
Mr. Williamson noted the capital projects slated for both water treatment plants this year. Councillor Bill Koehler asked about the big discrepancy in prices between the two plants and questioned their respective capacities. It was explained that Sheguiandah has much capacity left for new users, but Little Current’s plant is upwards of 85 percent maxed out. Mr. Williamson shared that an engineer has been hired to explore ways of increasing the Little Current plant’s capacity, and to find out its lifespan.
Councillor Dawn Orr, a Ward 4 representative in Sheguiandah, noted the high rates for her constituents. “That’s a big hike for people to swallow,” she said. “I understand you’re being careful but it’s still a real hardship.”
The water rates will next go to a public meeting scheduled for April 20. Northeast Town council meetings can be attended both in-person and virtually.
