In an effort to ease financial burdens for Niverville families in the coming year, council announced at their June 21 public meeting that they will recommend that the Public Utilities Board (PUB) freeze water utility costs in the coming year.
However, it may not be in their power to do so. A review of the water utility will be completed in 2023, following the completion of the water treatment plant’s ongoing upgrade.
“We can only suggest to the [PUB] that we think the rates are adequate,” Councillor Kevin Stott explained. “If they say that we need to raise them, then we have to raise them, because the rates are controlled by the PUB, not by the town. The PUB is there to make sure that we always have sufficient amounts of cash in the bank to support our sewage and our water systems… They monitor that annually.”
To ease the burden of ever-increasing costs, council made another announcement at the meeting, this one about arena ice rental costs. For the 2022–2023 season, all youth-related ice rental costs will be maintained at the previous year’s rates.
“Recognizing inflationary pressure on young families, this is a way that we still want to see families be able to provide opportunities for their children,” said Mayor Myron Dyck.
That being the case, a five percent increase will be applied to all adult use rentals or bookings by non-locals for the coming season.
