Municipal Water customers in Queens will see compensation for a boil water advisory that lasted almost nine weeks. The Region of Queens applied to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board (UARB) and was approved to provide a one-time 70 percent rate reduction to be applied to the current water bill. Municipal water customers had to boil their water after lightning struck the water treatment plant, damaging essential equipment on Aug 7. In their decision, the UARB says the boil-water advisory was reasonable and beyond the control of the water utility. The decision stated they saw no other way to ensure the safety of the drinking water. Mayor Darlene Norman says she is pleased with the review board’s decision. “We were given what we asked and also noted that we did what was expected to ensure consumers safety,” said Norman. Region of Queens estimates the approved one-time rate reduction will cost the utility $56,000 which will come from an unused water reserve fund initially intended to provide sediment removal. To hear the broadcast version of this story click play below. E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com

The Region of Queens has lifted the boil water advisory for users of the water utility.

The boil-water advisory has been in place around the Liverpool area since the treatment station was struck by lightning Aug 9.

The municipality is now exploring how to compensate the affected users for the inconvenience.

A resident asked if the Region would be issuing a refund to help people offset the increased power costs of boiling water as well as account for money spent on bottled water during the public comment period of the September 12 council meeting,

Initially, Mayor Darlene Norman said the Region of Queens wouldn’t be providing a refund because the utility is its own legal entity and rates are set by the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board. However, that stance seems to have softened at the Sep 26 council meeting.

Norman says the Region can’t simply give money back to users, they need permission from the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board, the body responsible for regulating the water utility.

“Of course, there’s not going to be a perfect solution to any of this,” said Norman. “However, council decided that we are going to have staff request from the UARB a 70 percent reduction on the consumption rate.”

Norman says if the ask is approved then the reduction will be applied to the next bill.

“May not really indicate how much water people consumed during this period because this period crossed over two bills,” said Norman. “There’s, I believe, 23 days on the last bill that was just issued and the upcoming bill which goes out in late December, payable January, would have like, another 20 odd days on it.”

Throughout the boil-water advisory Cowie well was available to supply fresh, potable water to residents.

The boil water order was lifted just after 11:00am Thursday Oct 5 once the municipality confirmed that water quality production issues have been resolved, and the Water Utility is again meeting regulatory requirements.

To hear the broadcast of this story click play below.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com

Tax decreases across Queens highlight this year’s budget.

At the most recent Region of Queens Council meeting a budget was tabled containing a three cent per $100 assessment drop for residential and commercial property owners in Queens.

Properties in Liverpool will now pay $1.93 per $100 residential and $3.03 per $100 commercial rates.

Outside Liverpool the amounts range from $1.07 residential to $2.17 commercial unless the property is in Brooklyn.

Property owners there add six cents to cover a four and a half cent area rate for the recreation centre and one and a half cents for the cemetery.

Mayor Darlene Norman says following an increase in assessments council wanted to provide some relief to property owners.

“Assessments went up somewhat and the council and staff that there’s a lot of things that happened last year and they weren’t going to happen again but yet there’s room for new things and with the increase we were able to put forward a progressive budget,” said Norman.

An area that saw a dramatic increase was water bills.

Council had already approved a base rate increase of 19 percent and 33 percent for consumption over the next three years.

Norman says the first water rate increase in 18 years will bring the municipality in line with what comparable regions across the province are charging.

“The water people who did our study for the UARB (Nova Scotia Utility and Revue Board), said good municipalities have, every year or every so many years, just a little slight increase so you don’t get something like this happening,” said Norman.

The Queens Community Aquatic Society made a presentation to council regarding the construction of a new outdoor pool.

Norman says council will take time to review those materials before deciding how or if they will move ahead with the proposal.

Later in the agenda council voted to repeal the Region’s vaccine mandate policy to align with the recently lifted provincial COVID restrictions.

They also discussed the composition of the steering team who will lead the development of the new library.

The six-member group will include two people from South Shore Public Libraries, two members of the library board and two library users.

A request from the Queens County Historical Society to repaint two prominent murals located on buildings in Liverpool will come back for discussion at the next council meeting.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.

Residents of Queens can expect their water rates to go up by 19 percent in the new year.

A water rate study presented at the last session of Region of Queens Council indicates water rates in the municipality are among the lowest in the province.

According to Region of Queens mayor Darlene Norman, most municipalities undertake a water rate study about every four years.

The study presented to council is the first to be done in Queens since 2002.

Norman says relying on data that is so out of date is costing the municipality.

“What I do know is that our utility is not bringing in enough revenue to match our expenses. So we are applying to the UARB for a slight increase in the base rate for the next three years,” said Norman.

If Nova Scotia’s utility and review board (UARB) approves the increase, users will be charged a base rate of $81 annually as well as a consumption charge of $1.21 per cubic metre beginning in 2022.

Norman says saving money on your water bill is simple.

“If people want to reduce their bill, they find ways to reduce their water consumption.”

The mayor says the Region needs to address issues with their water infrastructure as the study estimates half the treated water is being lost through leakage.

“Our water treatment plant may be new but our pipes in the ground are 1890,” said Norman. “Which is why, when people wonder why we’re always digging up streets and doing things, we’re finding leakages.”

Norman expects the Region will make their case before the utility and review board sometime in January.

That hearing will be open and any member of the public is welcome to speak on the proposed rate increase at that time.

E-mail: edhalversonnews@gmail.com
Twitter: @edwardhalverson

To listen to the broadcast of this story, press play below.