Snow Lake town council closed their Dec. 1 regular meeting in order to move into a public hearing on By-Law 941/15.
It’s a borrowing by-law that provides for the expenditure and borrowing of funds to replace the water and wastewater distribution lines on Copper Road and Lipsey Drive in 2016.
Chief administrative officer Jordan Willner advised that notice of this by-law was mailed to all area ratepayers.
He received several responses and read them into the record.
Letters were received from Gerald and Charmain de la Roche, Hazel Kitzler, Glenn and Jody Young, Clara Young and Angela Enright. All wrote in opposition to the Local Improvement for a variety of reasons.
Former mayor Clarence Fisher appeared in person and was asked if he would like to address the council.
Fisher began by congratulating council members on the cost-sharing deal they negotiated with the provincial government for line replacement.
“I know the challenges and it is tough to get funding from government,” said Fisher. “This is another piece of the puzzle.”
Fisher stated he understood the infrastructure needed to be addressed but asked, in light of tax increases in previous years, that council be mindful of this at budget time.
He also wondered why none of the money to pay for renewals had come from reserve rather than making taxpayers pay the entirety of the town’s portion. There was no answer to this question.
By-law 941/15, which provides for the expenditure and borrowing of funds to replace the water and wastewater distribution lines for 2016, was given second reading.
Deputy Mayor Richard Jones suggested the town advertise why this specific area was chosen for renewal. Willner stated he would do this.
