WEYBURN — City council unanimously passed two bylaws for water and sewer introducing a $10 monthly infrastructure fee for all properties connected to city utility services.
The fee is expected to generate approximately $468,000 annually for much needed estimated $10.2 million capital utility infrastructure repairs and upgrades, said Renee Cugnet, director of engineering.
Coun. Todd Bedore emphasized the urgency of the upgrades.
“We need to get some work done here and we can’t keep kicking the stone down the road it because it's either pay now or pay dearly later and I think I'd rather pay now. I know it's tough on everyone but it's a decision I believe we have to make."
Coun. John Corrigan agreed and pointed to Calgary’s infrastructure crisis last year as an example of what could go wrong.
“You really can't ignore the infrastructure within your city,” he said, adding that what happened to Calgary was devastating for them to deal with.
“I don’t want us in that position.”
Coun. Larry Heggs said he wanted to reassure residents that the funds will be strictly dedicated to infrastructure and can’t be diverted to other projects.
The City of Weyburn currently has water and sewer rates established until Dec. 31, 2027.
