In a split 4-3 decision, the City of Lacombe Council voted not to help cover the cost of a property owners’s large water bill.
A Lacombe resident in her eighties sent a letter to council requesting a January 2020 $901.50 bill and a potential February bill of over $1,5000 be covered outside of the regular $200 per month she usually pays.
“Our tenant recently (redacted) from February 13-16, 2020 and apparently for some or all of the time she was away (and likely before that time) the basement toilet was running continuously,” the letter stated.
The letter stated water bills of over $2,400 for two months creates “substantial and significant hardship” for two women on fixed incomes.
Councillors Reuben Konnik, Thalia Hibbs and Cora Hoekstra all voted to help cover some of the City’s administration costs on the bill. Konnik advocated the bill should be completely covered.
Councillors Don Gullekson, Chris Ross. Jonathan Jacobson Mayor Grant Creasey voted against the motion.
Mayor Grant Creasey said it was a difficult decision for council.
“It certainly wasn’t an easy one for myself either and I do feel for the individual, however in these matters that is the only way the City has to recoup these costs,” he said.
Creasey said that he is by no means blaming the tenant or landowner in this difficult situation.
“While I am not suggesting their is any fault of hers that she had a plumbing issue, it certainly is not the fault of the remainder of the taxpayers in the city,” he said.
Part of the decision was not setting a precedent for the future where the city covers the costs of these types of errors. Discussion around the matter at council lead to a direction to city administration so that ratepayers in Lacombe are informed of unusually high bills well in advance.
“It is great to have these things discussed in a public forum and I look forward to seeing the report that administration brings forward, which will clearly identify the process and it is my expectation we will do everything we can to notify account holders as fast as we possibly can if there is a significant issue with a particular service,” Creasey said.
Creasey said this can serve as an important reminder to all property owners in the city to ensure someone is checking on their properties while they are away.
“It is especially troubling when people leave their properties with the water on because it can create significant issues, not only with increased utility bills but also damage it can cost from leaking,” he said.
“It is important to have someone either check on your property often, which is a requirement of most insurance policies and better than that is to turn water service off.”
Creasey said the city has no interest in penalizing citizens, as water and wastewater in Lacombe are revenue neutral.
”Whatever efforts we can do to lessen the burden in these unfortunate circumstances, we are willing to do. If that means stretching the payments over a specific period of time, then that is what we will strive to do,” he said.
todd.vaughan@lacombeexpress.com
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