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Published - Nov 4th, 2009
By
It really is going to be interesting to see how the Municipality of South Huron deals with Grand Coves Estates’ opposition to the new water rates.
Nearly 100 Grand Cove residents, many of them carrying signs in protest over the new rates, appeared at a council meeting in September, and the subject was once again a hot topic at Monday’s meeting, taking about an hour and a half to discuss.
In short, Grand Cove residents are concerned that they face a monthly rent increase of about $30 as a result of the new water rates, which went into effect Jan. 1, 2009. They’re looking for some sort of relief and cite two main factors — the water and sewage systems within Grand Cove are owned and maintained by Grand Cove, and many residents are on fixed incomes and can’t afford the $30 monthly rent increase.
Council made no decision Monday night, and it’s clear this thing could drag on — lawyers are now involved. Grand Cove’s lawyer spoke to council Monday night, and now council is seeking legal advice before proceeding with any decision.
Both sides of this discussion have valid points — the fact that Grand Cove’s infrastructure is privately owned could merit some financial relief from the municipality. On the other hand, as staff and councillors correctly pointed out Monday night, Grand Cove’s infrastructure is part of the large public South Huron water system that everyone in the municipality has to pay for. Grand Cove isn’t an island; it’s part of a system and part of the municipality.
And while sympathy needs to be shown for those Grand Cove residents who can’t afford the increase, there are residents throughout South Huron who can’t afford the higher water rates. Just look at how water bills have skyrocketed in Exeter. If council starts giving financial breaks to one group of people, it will be the equivalent of opening up Pandora’s box. Reducing the rates somewhere means raising them somewhere else.
And with lawyers now involved, who knows when this will end?
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Local manufacturers should be smiling today as they count the awards they picked up at last week’s Huron Manufacturing Awards banquet in Clinton.
As one peruses through the list of winners, one thing becomes obvious — most of the winners come from the Times-Advocate’s coverage area, specifically from South Huron and Hensall.
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