Water and sewer rates are going up in Fort Frances next year.
It’s a 2.8 per cent increase on residential rates and a 3.22 per cent hike to industrial, commercial and institutional users.
Councillor Rick Wiedenhoef says they set rates as low as they can while still being able to meet their revenue targets.
“If we don’t do this we set the community up for a future catastrophic failure of our entire water and sewer system,” warns Wiedenhoeft.
Wiedenhoef notes the town’s asset management plan has identified 40 kilometres of water line and 30 kilometres of sewer line needing to be replaced at a cost of $51-million.
He says with the increase, the town will raise about $5-million in 2020.
Wiedenhoef says even with the increase, Fort Frances rates are far below those in other northwestern Ontario communities.
“Thunder Bay which stands at $1,400 and as well as Kenora and Dryden which each charge over $1,900 residential rate this year before any increase for 2020. So we are well, well below our neighbours.”
The increase takes effect on January 1.
