Schreiber Residents Could face a Hefty Hike for Water and Sewer Services

Schreiber Town Council Meeting Recap

The Schreiber Town Council meeting began with a land acknowledgment, followed by the approval of the evening’s agenda with two additions. There were no delegations or questions during the question period.

Minutes and Unfinished Business

The minutes from the previous meeting were adopted, with unfinished business addressed. This included:

• Acceptance of a quote from Superior Propane for the year.
• Approval of the final cost of roof repairs to the town garage from Clow Darling.

Council also passed two resolutions:

• Support for a request to fix AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) registration costs for three years.
• Endorsement of a resolution focusing on Ontario forestry operations in the region.

Council Approvals

• A quote for food for the upcoming Christmas dinner was approved.
• An invoice for hall decorations was carried.

Committee of the Whole

Key items discussed during the Committee of the Whole included:

Outdoor Rink Proposal:
The CAO provided a status update on reopening the outdoor rink. Safety, liability, insurance, and staffing challenges were highlighted. The mayor hopes to attract volunteers to support operations, though past volunteer efforts faced challenges due to insufficient council support for maintenance. Signs will be installed to indicate the area is unsupervised and at users’ risk.

Water and Sewage Budget:
Treasurer Bottomley presented statistics indicating the need for a significant increase in water and sewer rates—potentially over 9%—due to failing infrastructure and rising operating costs. This year’s State of Emergency at the sewer plant significantly impacted the budget. With no residential water metering in place, all residents currently pay the same amount regardless of usage. Updated bylaws on water use are being developed.

Director of Operations Report:

• Persistent issues at the water and sewage plants were reviewed.
• Proposed renovations to the senior center could increase usable space by 25%.
• Updates to the traffic bylaw, including parking changes, were approved.
• Traffic control for the upcoming Christmas Jamboree was discussed.

Occupational Health and Safety:
The report highlighted issues with water leaks and accessibility concerns, along with completed repairs.

Economic Development:
A request was made for volunteers to assist with program implementation.

Fire Department:
Fire Chief Jan Morrison presented statistics showing an increase in road incidents and fire activities. Fire and emergency services, governed by the same committee, are updating fire and fireworks permits to address safety concerns.

OCWA Report:
The Ontario Clean Water Agency’s report indicated no major water quality issues.

Additional Business

• An older public works truck requires repairs, while a second vehicle will eventually be needed to replace it.
• A request for support for ambulance services was discussed. The region faces a healthcare and emergency response crisis due to staffing shortages and increasing road accidents.

Unfinished Business

Final plans for the Christmas Social were confirmed, including the need for designated drivers. Hall decorations, approved earlier, are in place, but discrepancies in administration fees for hall rentals and municipal events were noted and require clarification.

The meeting concluded with adjournment.