Council agrees to review of Snug Cove sewage funding
Bowen’s chief financial officer got the go-ahead from council to develop a reworked payment plan for the Snug Cove Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades.
Kristen Watson first expressed her desire to address the contentious community issue earlier this month at a meeting of the Snug Cove Sewer Local Management Committee. The new CFO suggested rather than the original plan approved by council – where the entire $1.6 million costs of Phase 1 upgrades are split across the whole island – she’d like to see Snug Cove residents take on more of the bill.
“Snug Cove is home to the services and to the amenities that our community relies on. So I think it is fair and reasonable that some of the cost of the upgrade be attributed to all taxpayers,” says Watson.
“But I also think it’s fair and reasonable that as a local service area, property owners within that local service area (LSA) should be attributed directly with a share of the costs. I think that a shared cost model is more consistent with the past practice of requiring that our LSA are self-funded. It’s also in line with some of the more recent utility projects that have been funded in whole by the LSA, including Tunstall Bay and the Cove Bay Water Treatment Plant,” says Watson.
Councillors agreed, and directed Watson to report back with a new payment plan. The use of general funds to pay for Phase 1 stays in place since it’s already been approved, but the increased costs for Snug Cove residents – likely though a parcel tax or user rates – will help replenish these reserves.
Time to hike up the hill again
Council chambers will be hosting meetings again starting next month. With restrictions such as indoor mask wearing and capacity limits now gone, and the vaccine passport set to expire April 8, it was determined a return to in-person sessions was possible.
Technology installed during the pandemic means hybrid meetings where some councillors are remote are still an option, while also allowing for the public to watch proceedings online. Anyone can of course also attend in-person.
The April 11 council meeting was selected as the official return date.
