Redcliff residents could see a slight increase in water and garbage rates

By Justin Seward

Commentator/Courier

Redcliff town council passed first reading of the rate changes for the water and garbage rates bylaw at their Nov. 23 council meeting.
If second and third reading go through at the Dec. 14 council meeting, the residential water rates for the admin component increased to $7.53 for a monthly rate and the bi-monthly rate went up to $15.06.
As for the capital component, there was an increase to $38.05 for a monthly rate and to $76.40 for a bi-monthly rate.
The monthly rate total under those componentss would be a total of $45.58 and the bi-monthly rate $91.16.
For non- residential under the same categories, the monthly total would equal to $57. 63 per month and a bi-monthly rate of $115 .26.
Greenhouses would see an increase to $216.23 for a monthly rate and $432. 46 for bi-monthly.
“The rates themselves- the cost of chemicals- things like that at the water treatment plant (and)electricity, none of that went down,” said Redcliff Mayor Dwight Kilpatrick.
“Therefore, there are some incurred costs going on to the bill moving forward. Sewer rates, I think they stayed relatively flat. We have to pay Medicine Hat for treatment, so we (have) keep that in mind. That’s a little over half-a-million dollars a year.”
The garbage collection rates were also broken down into an admin and capital components as well as an operation costs associated with the recycling depot are included in the rates.
“The increase in garbage rates was on the residential side and that’s because we’re going to bring in one of those recycling stations-the containers- that Medicine Hat has three or four of and then 360 Environmental will be collecting it,” said Kilpatrick.
The recycling station is expected to come in the New Year to a location near the Credit Union between Mitchell Street and South Highway Drive.
A dwelling unit will have a monthly rate of $24.44 and a bi-monthly charge of $48.88.
Commercial premises should have their own separate town owned garbage been and will be charged $69.90 monthly or $139.80 bi-monthly for an existing 1.5 cubic yard bin.
A 3.0 cubic yard bin will continued to be charged $86.24 monthly or $172.48 bi-monthly.
“Our policy is with the water, sewer and garbage rates is that they be self sufficient,” said Kilpatrick.
“We’re supposed to try to break even or even make up the five per cent, and then that would roll into general operations. Sometimes we end up going backwards and operations have to pay for it. But on the whole, they’re suppose to break even.”
The new rates would come into effect Jan. 1 if the bylaws are passed.

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