Water Meter Committee puts final pieces together for proposal to council

The multi-residential, industrial and commercial users could have a chance to adjust their water meters.

Special Water Rates Committee Chair George Maroosis says there are concerns that some of those users may have a much bigger pipe than they need and are therefore are being charged to much.

Maroosis says their October bills will have information about their pipe size.

He says if there is a contradiction then those users can apply for a meter size adjustment.

He says they would need to provide an appropriate rationale in order for that to happen. The Committee will bring forward the proposal to a full council meeting on Monday.

Earlier in the week, about a quarter of Council Chambers was full on Monday night with residents who wanted to hear or make presentations to the Water Meter Rates Committee.

There were several who had questions about the costs and one resident stated the higher prices are going to scare people on a fixed income.

They said “I know council has to do what they have to do, but like we said we can’t sell our homes; people don’t want to move to North Bay. The taxes are too high and now the water is too much.”

However, there were other residents who said the committee actually did a good job with a tough situation, and is encourages others to get onto the web portal.

One resident says “not even half the residents in this city bothered to take the time, just five minutes, to check the portal and see what their cost will be. It’s easy to complain if you don’t bother to see what the truth is.”