Gravelbourg & District Tribune

The biggest success for me while on the last council was fixing the water debacle.

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The previous council under Mayor Dan Lamarre and later Mayor Bob Bowler (win in a byelection) put most of the cost on the back of the hospital. They tried to convince Gravelbourg taxpayers that SaskWater was responsible all the sewer and water lines. They made it appear like all the costs of repairing and upgrading of water and sewer lines was the responsibility of SaskWater. It was a sinister plot.

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SaskWater is in the business of producing top quality drinking water. The Town of Gravelbourg buys that water at a set rate. The Town should sell the water for cost plus a few pennies to pump it from the location. Simple. How we distribute the water has nothing to do with SaskWater. We could use buckets to deliver the water. It really isn't any concern of SaskWater. Their only objective is provide good quality drinking water. So why did the past councils put Gravelbourg's distribution system onto the price of the water?

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This is where politics comes into play. The past council decided to take the cost of infrastructure and put it on the water in order to gouge the high users. That meant the hospital. Next would be restaurants and apartment blocks. A very anti-business approach. They said if you have 12 suites in an apartment block that you should be charged the same as 12 houses. Even if the block has only one water and sewer line. No other jurisdiction in North America operates like that. The message was don't set up shop in Gravelbourg or you'll pay double to three times what you would pay for water in any other community.

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Once in office the then elected mayor Darcy Stefiuk made fixing the water bill a priority. The very survival of our hospital and businesses were at stake.

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The cost of infrastructure was removed from the water and put back into public works. Everyone pays equally for repairs and replacement of water and sewer lines. Just like everyone pays the same when they use the fire department or when they get Loraas to pick up their garbage.

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The rates you now pay are similar to all cities and towns in the country. Regina pays a flat fee of $98 per month then they charge for the water you consume. Gravelbourg pays $103 flat fee for infrastructure then you pay for any water you purchase.

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St. Joseph’s Hospital/Foyer d’Youville suffered most with the previous water fees. Shameful. Did they want the hospital closed? Will we be returning to those dark days?

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Most of the new councillors said they wanted to attract new businesses. Here is a word of caution. If you mess with the current water rates you will discourage new businesses.

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Be careful what you wish for.

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We need our hospital. We need our small businesses.