CENTRAL MANITOULIN—The spectre of replacing defective water metres has a number of Mindemoya residents concerned, especially given that the metres are getting older and rising numbers will have to be replaced. At issue is, who will be paying the piper?
A discussion was held at the Water, Waste and Education Committee meeting of March 6 on that subject.
“I have the bylaw sitting in front of me here and we do have I do have a bunch of questions about this bylaw,” said Councillor Derek Stephens. “It seems like all of this stuff is all wearing out at about the same time.”
Councillor Stephens noted that “Lots of businesses have had to change out the electronic portion of the meters and obviously never brought it up if there was a problem with it,” he said. “Was it the owner’s responsibility for municipalities responsibility after you purchased it with them first? Because the municipality says, ‘this is exactly what you need and you have to put it in’.” Councillor Stephens said he had a problem with some of the wording of the bylaw.
“All meters shall be furnished and inspected by the bylaw enforcement officer,” he quoted. “Well, I think the bylaw officer is pretty good when talking chickens, but I don’t think she has the expertise to install the meter or the electronics that goes with it. It says, ‘If there’s any mechanical defect that the cost of the repair shall be borne by the municipality.’ It doesn’t say anything in here about that equipment, whether it is warranty friendly, the time or anything else? If this was a car you would have warranty periods. There would be factory recalls or the whole nine yards that the company would pay for. If there was anything wrong with those meters, just seems interesting that all these meters seem to be wearing out at the exact same time and the people bear the cost on this. I think we need to look into this bylaw. They’ve already paid for it once.”
Mayor Stephens noted the meters were installed in the late 1990s.
Councillor Stephens pointed out that it was former councillor Terry McCutcheon who surmised that he believed businesses were using more water than residents and the meters were installed at that time.
Councillor Brian Mitchell noted that the meters are roughly 23 years old and that was a pretty good service. “If you’ve got 23 years out of a meter, you’re doing well and if it’s only going to cost you a hundred bucks or whatever it is to change the sensor, I think you’re doing extremely well.”
Councillor Mitchell went on to point out that the only part of the meters that appear to be failing is the electronic sensors.
A motion was moved by Councillor Mitchell and seconded by Councillor Dale Scott, “That we recommend to council that as per bylaw 2004-18 the owner of any property be required to maintain the water meter in proper repair at their own cost.”
Following the meeting, a number of residents of Mindemoya approached The Expositor privately to express their concern over the ambiguity of bylaw—especially when a residence was formerly a business, but now no longer being operated as such.
One of the most concerning of the issues that came out of the meeting was the suggestion that all water users will be provincially mandated within the next three years to install water meters—which the residents pegged at a $3,000 cost after discussion with the town clerk.
