Rural residents in the areas of Byemoor-Endiang and east of Stettler will be getting tapped into good drinking water over the next two years with the County of Stettler.
At its regular meeting Jan. 13, county council approved a recommendation to authorize Stantec Consulting Ltd. for engineering services for the County of Stettler Rural Water Servicing Project at a cost of $812,500 plus the federal goods and services tax.
County staff will approach property owners to determine what properties to connect to while Stantec will draft designs for the project.
“Both areas are identified as a need for potable water,” said chief administrative officer Tim Fox.
“They can both be serviced by two existing water lines,”
Lines in the Byemoor-Endiang area will be connected with the Stettler-Starland Regional Water Services Commission while the Stettler east section can be serviced through the Shirley McClellan Regional Water Services Commission.
County staff plans to award the tenders for the Byemoor-Endiang project at the regular council meeting March 10 and the second tender on April 14.
“Getting affordable potable water has long been a concern of council and ratepayers,” said Reeve Earl Marshall.
County residents last summer were given the opportunity to indicate their interest in connecting when the project was presented to various county communities
While this first phase is set for the next two years, remaining stages of the project would be expected to be complete by 2021.
Water and sewer fees
Council adopted a bylaw to amend fees for initial hook-up connections for water and sewer at $100, charging occupants rather than property owners and increase the cost of connection and re-connection to $50 from $25 to better reflect costs associated with this service.
Rural addressing bylaw
Council adopted a bylaw to guide the rural addressing program with fines of $150 for defacing or removing a sign, $100 for obstructing a sign and $75 for failing to post a sign as prescribed.
Buffalo Sands tax levies
Council passed two bylaws to set Buffalo Sands special tax levy of $210 for each parcel of land not connected to the sewer and water systems and $20 special tax for the Buffalo View Estates, both for the year 2010.
Council writes off accounts
Council approved a staff recommendation to write off accounts receivable totaling $12,037.50.