Wastewater rates for the residents in the Wheatland County community, Lakes of Muirfield, won’t be going up as soon as expected.
During an infrastructure and operations committee meeting April 16, the committee, made up of councillors, agreed to wait until Sept. 1 to jack prices from $2.44 cents per cubic metre to a monthly $30 fee plus $14.98 in the hopes of reaching a different agreement with the Muirfield Land Corp. and Lakes of Muirfield Home Owners Association.
Since 2008, Rocky View County has been transporting Lakes of Muirfield wastewater from Dalroy to the Chestermere lift station.
This service has cost Rocky View $235,000 more per year than it receives in service fees.
The deficit is covered through general tax dollars.
This year, council agreed to increase the wastewater fee for the Wheatland County residents to recover costs.
The new rates were set to start May 1 but after committee discussions April 16, another 90 days has been granted to look at other options.
Stuart Jewison, operations manager for Rocky View County, said administration has been having “positive discussions” with the Muirfield Land Corporation representatives and said the representatives are “anxious” about the increases.
He said some of the options that have been discussed, but not explored, include asking Wheatland County if there is an option to cost-share and whether there are different techniques to accept the effluent and possibly treating it on site and then sending it to the Dalroy lift station. Another possible solution is hooking up to Strathmore wastewater lines.
“While (this means) we will continue to subsidize, the opposite side will probably be a lawsuit,” said Habberfield. “I would rather spend the money to resolve the issue now.”
She said it would be cheaper than potential litigation between Rocky View County and Muirfield residents.
