Debate continues over Doran’s snow removal

 

At the March 20th South Dundas council meeting, economic development officer Nicole Sullivan recommended “that council retain the services of McSweeney & Associates to complete an update to the 2005 South Dundas Strategic Economic Development Plan for a cost of $10,000.”

As reported earlier this year, Sullivan, with permission from council, submitted a completed application to the Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP) for funding to complete the project to update the 2005 economic plan.

“As part of that application,” she said, “we were required to have two quotes with it.”

“Quotes were obtained from Dillon Consulting and McSweeney & Associates whose services were retained to complete the South Dundas Community Strategic Plan and the SD&G Strategic Economic Development Action Plan respectively.”

Project objectives include:

• “Provide a realistic and strategic approach to economic development for the next five years;

• Align local economic development efforts with those of the community and region, identifying complementary and mutually supportive activities; and,

• Encourage advancement and accountability in local economic development.”

Sullivan’s recommendation for McSweeney & Associates was based on a group decision following a review and discussion period. The group included mayor Steven Byvelds, chief administrative officer Stephen  McDonald, chair of the economic development advisory committee Mark Prost, and Sullivan herself.

Following Sullivan’s recommendation and council’s approval, mayor Steven Byvelds said, “McSweeney & Associates can certainly bring us some useful information.”

“Funding was allocated under the 2012 capital budget,” reported Sullivan, “if our application to the EODP is successful that will offset our costs.”

[…]

 

Tuesday, contractors were putting the finishing touches on the second and third floors of the South Dundas Municipal Centre.

Moving to the new offices in Morrisburg starts today, August 21. Next week, the Municipality of South Dundas will be open for business, on the second floor of the newly renovated former high school building.

When the Municipal Centre opens for business August 28, Don Lewis, South Dundas manager of buildings and recreation, expects that the alternate entrance, being the south entrance to the building, will have to be used until the addition, which houses the main lobby and elevator, are complete. 

The first regular council meeting after the move is scheduled for September 3. It may not take place in the new council chambers, that are located on the third floor of the SDMC.

The room is ready, and furniture is expected to be delivered on time, but if the front entrance and elevator are not ready in time for the meeting, they will have to hold the meeting in an alternate, accessible location, according to South Dundas clerk Brenda Brunt. Many alternate, accessible options are available including the Iroquois Civic Centre, Matilda Hall and the Morrisburg Arena.

The first floor of the South Dundas Municipal Centre building, which will house the Morrisburg location of the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic, is not yet complete, but the SLMC plans to be open and operational in its new home early in September.

[…]

The numbers have been reworked by staff, but the end result will still be big increases to water and sewer rates for residents of South Dundas who are connected to municipal infrastructure.

The hardest hit by the increase will be those connected to the Iroquois waste water treatment plant.

Since the last time water and sewer rates were reviewed, about five years ago, consumption has dropped so much that the money being collected through the billing process is not covering the costs of the water and sewer plants.

The only solution to fix the problem is to raise the rates, significantly.

Staff first presented the numbers to council March 11. Those numbers showed that a 20 percent rate increase is needed. 

Following that meeting, staff were asked to rework the numbers to balance the budget, and minimize any transfer of funds to reserves.

The result will be a three cent increase in the consumption rate. It will go from 62 cents per cubic meter of consumption to 65 cents per cubic meter of consumption. But, that’s not all.

The water plant capital levy will go from the current charge of 50 cents per cubic meter to 75 cents per cubic meter. 

Also, the fixed rate water charge will increase from $19.54 to $21.99 monthly.

For those connected to the Morrisburg sewer system the sewage charge will be calculated at 100 percent of the water charges, excluding the capital levy.  

The calculation will not be the same for those connected to the Iroquois sewer system. 

Because water consumption in Iroquois is so low, the sewer charges are not sufficient to cover sewer operating costs. Already the reserves are being depleted by as much as $100,000 per year and with the new plant being commissioned later this year, the operating costs will see a huge jump. 

The new plant, will cost at least $100,000 per year in hydro alone, according to public works manager Hugh Garlough. 

He explained that the bigger building and the more complex treatment systems all mean added costs. 

However, those added costs that come with the new plant are necessary to meet the Ministry of the Environment’s secondary treatment criteria, added South Dundas chief administrative officer Steve McDonald.

Iroquois water users will be billed the same fixed water rate of $21.99 monthly, the same water consumption rate of 65 cents per cubic meter and the same capital levy charge. 

However, their sewer charges will be calculated at 125 percent of the water cost, excluding the capital levy.

Staff warned that this 125 percent figure, might need to go as high as 170 percent after the new waste water treatment plant is commissioned.

Once the new rates come into effect, in May or June, the average household in Morrisburg will see an increase of about 13 percent in their monthly water and sewer bill, while the average household in Iroquois will see an increase of about 21 percent in their monthly water and sewer bill.

[…]