Water Rates Approved

A Fort Frances councillor is worried about the impact another double digit increase to sewer and water rates will have on the town's industrial, commercial and institutional sectors.

Councillors approved Monday a 17 per cent hike in the variable water rates to the ICI class and a 16-per cent increase in sewer rates.

Ken Perry says combined with last year's rate, it's a significant increase.

"Last year we upped ICI 11.96 per cent," says Perry. "To me that's a substantial increase. When are we going to hit a breaking point for these guys? All in one year and now another 17.39. That's a 29 per cent increase over two years."

Operations and Facilities Manager Doug Brown says the increases are to bring I-C-I rates more in line with the costs paid by residential users which are going up 2 per cent in March.

Councillor Rick Wiedenhoeft says the town's approach will help ease the potential of that gap being legislatively reduced.

Currently, a private member's bill introduced at Queen's Park is proposing the development of a provincial water regulatory board that would oversee such things as water standards and rates.