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SEWAGE RATES

Hike on septic rates backed up until 2022, public consultation planned: City of PG

Dec 22, 2020 | 4:44 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – If you are on a septic tank there is good news, as City of Prince George council members voted Monday night to defer a hike on septic rates for the Shelley Lagoon.

“We decided that we wanted staff to come back with more information, about what these increases look like, is there an opportunity to work with the Regional District because it affects those folks too,” says Mayor Lynn Hall.

Originally administration proposed an additional volume charge of $45 per cubic metre, Lisa Kinnee with Blockbuster Drain and Sewer Service says it should be more like $10 per cubic metre if there is any increase at all.

“We are really hoping to work with the city, we heard from Brian Skakun that they will be reviewing and looking for documentation,” says Kinnee. “I am going to continue to send them documentation of how much we pump out,

Councillor Brian Skakun was critical of lack of information available in the report presented Monday night, after there were no exact numbers on who uses the Shelley Lagoon, how much they use it, and what they are discharging.

“The justification was that we need to start charging them because of the maintenance and operating costs of the lagoon. But in the report last night there was none of that included, it was just we need to raise some revenue because it’s costing us money to run, and I sad that’s not good enough.” – says Skakun.

Kinnee added that her company discharges around 160,000 cubic metres per year into the lagoon, which would’ve cost the company over $7 million in new fees had the increase been approved, something that would”ve been passed onto the costumer.

The city is expected to hear additional information in the spring, to make a better decision when it comes before council to vote again in January 2022.