Heart FM Local News
As water and wastewater rates are about to rise, discussion turns to the amount County Staff is requesting for reserves.
At the public meeting Wednesday night, Tillsonburg Mayor John Lessif asked for further discussion on the amount of money earmarked for reserves.
Four residents, three of which were from Ingersoll asked questions to Director of Public Works Rob Walton during the public meeting which lasted two hours.
Many of the questions surrounded where previous reserves were spent and why municipalities were paying different rates.
Director of Public Works Rob Walton tells Heart FM there has been a long standing concern over water and wastewater reserves. "We have some systems where we've spent a lot of money on capital and we have debt, no reserves. And than we have a couple of systems which are fairly healthy with reserves. Although when you consider those reserves versus some upcoming capital projects and versus the asset value and asset management, it's not necessarily that large".
Walton says there could be arguments to make the reserves more but also arguments to live on the dollar of the day more.
One of the questions brought forth was, instead of increasing wastewater rates in one municipality by 18 percent and just 3 in others, why not share the cost.
Final recommendations will be presented at the October 9th council meeting with implementation taking place January 1st.

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