MOOSE JAW — Two residents have expressed their concerns about a that would see property owners pay a monthly fee and be forced to connect to the system.
Fabrice Dourlent and Art King presented at the June 23 regular city council meeting, during a public hearing for the proposed bylaw.
Dourlent said he received a letter about the bylaw but discovered that it lacked sufficient information for him to fully understand the changes. Moreover, the letter suggested that the bylaw was already set and there was nothing residents could do but pay the monthly fee of $9.80.
Instead, he thought the letter should have said the bylaw is still in draft form and residents could speak to it during the meeting. Furthermore, he thought the full bylaw should have come with the letter.
“It’s not fair (and) it’s not transparent,” Dourlent remarked.
The homeowner emailed city hall asking how many properties were involved, but learned that the municipality was allegedly unsure. However, the city expected to receive nearly $1.6 million annually from the new utility, which made him think that “basic math” should easily reveal the number of properties.
Moreover, he believed that the city had a database of properties, since it had to mail letters to announce this bylaw.
“So there’s no way city hall doesn’t know how many owners received that letter. And I think it’s weird,” Dourlent said.
Continuing, Dourlent said he was unclear about how the city would use the money to support the utility. Moreover, he thought it was unfair, against the “democratic process” and “an abuse of power” that just the city manager would grant or deny exceptions to joining the system.
The Francophone resident said he moved to Moose Jaw in 2019, bought a house and wanted to build a fence, but city hall denied his request. So, he went to the development appeals board, which allowed him to proceed.
He pointed out that that process allows the city and property owner to discuss their conflicts, whereas there is no dispute resolution in the proposed bylaw.
“I think the councillors (were) elected by (the) population, so they should consider that people should be able to talk like (the public hearing allows),” Dourlent stated.
Continuing, he said he had concerns about the bylaw forcing property owners to connect to the system in 60 days. He said that’s not long enough, since people can be on vacation or outside the country, while contractors are usually busy.
“The city hall could do a better job in town,” Dourlent said, pointing out that the roads are growing “worse and worse,” are unsafe for motorists, cyclists and bikers, and damage vehicles. Moreover, he said his taxes have doubled since he moved here six years ago, with little to show for it.
“I wonder what (the) money is used for (by city hall) because I can’t see anything except just paying more and more and more … ,” he added.
Meanwhile, Mr. King criticized the bylaw because some of its clauses allegedly existed in another bylaw, so this one was redundant and a waste of time. Meanwhile, he suggested that the new utility would allegedly perform “at best, terrible.”
He also criticized a recent project at the corner of Ninth Avenue Northwest and Athabasca Street West near his house. He noted that crews dug up a storm drain and left it in such a poor state that it threatened the safety of students walking to school. Therefore, for the new utility to have force, these employees “will do exactly the same incompetent job.”
“This particular bylaw has to do with cash flow … . That’s what it comes down to,” King added. “It’s a cash grab; you’re milking a cash cow and the taxpayer is the cash cow.”
The next regular council meeting is Monday, July 14.
