Current News and Important Information

Waterworks Rate Policy

On April 8, 2024, Council enacted Bylaw No. 2024-01 – A Bylaw to Fix the Water and Sewer Utility Rates. This bylaw sets the rates to be charged for water, sewer, connection fees, bulk water rates, quarterly infrastructure levy, penalties and disconnection fees. This Bylaw was approved by the Saskatchewan Municipal Board on April 22, 2024.

The quarterly water rate was chosen in this bylaw is a rate that is affordable for residents and businesses and aims to work towards self-financing waterworks where users pay for the cost of the service. The quarterly fees are anticipated to generate enough waterworks revenue to cover the waterworks operating expenses. 

Council will monitor those expenses to determine if a rate increase is necessary in coming years to ensure this user service is self-sustaining.

Council will continue to review its waterworks rate policy annually to determine if revenues are covering expenses. This waterworks rate policy will work towards:

·  A financially independent waterworks that does not have to compete with other key demands on the municipal general revenue. 

· Ensure the Town’s waterworks can provide safe drinking water.

· Influence consumer demand and water conservation.

· Reduce pressures on property taxes which may impact future mill rates.

Waterworks Capital Investment Strategy

At their Regular Meeting on August 14, 2024, Council adopted Resolution No. 2024/97 which states:

“THAT, the Town of Springside’s waterworks capital investment strategy be to budget each year for anticipated maintenance in order to build larger reserves which combined with increased water rates, long term borrowing, municipal collaboration and grant funding can be used to upgrade, replace and repair the waterworks as necessary. The capital investment strategy will ensure that safe drinking water can be provided to the residents and businesses in the community in the present and future.”

The objective of the waterworks capital investment strategy is to address anticipated waterworks infrastructure maintenance or the replacement of waterworks infrastructure in a timely manner so as to ensure the municipal waterworks provides an uninterrupted supply of drinking water to residents and businesses. The strategy uses the 2006 waterworks assessment that was required by Saskatchewan Environment for infrastructure planning as well as the Water Treatment Plant Evaluation completed on March 13, 2023 by BCL Engineering. To cover the cost of future waterworks infrastructure maintenance and replacements, Council will likely need to utilize a combination of increased water rates and/or loans and/or grant funding and/or collaborating with other municipalities. New funding streams will be continually researched to ensure that the aging infrastructure will be replaced or maintained as necessary.

2023 Public Reporting on Municipal Waterworks

· Total waterworks revenue (R): $144,403.89

· Total waterworks expenses (E): $187,129.29

· Total debt payments on waterworks infrastructure loans for 2023: nil

· Comparison of waterworks revenues to expenses expressed as a ratio: 

R  = $144,403.89 = 0.771

E $187,129.29

For 2023, waterworks revenues covered 77.1% of the waterworks expenses.

Ratio Explanation: Comparison of waterworks revenues to expenses expressed as a ratio without the inclusion of amortization expenses is 1.271.

Note that the following information required pursuant to section 54 of The Municipalities Regulations is available for inspection at the Town Office during regular office hours:

· Current waterworks rate policy as outlined in Bylaw No. 2024-01

· Current Capital Investment Strategy as outlined in Resolution No. 2024/97

· 2023 waterworks revenues, expenses, revenues to expenses (expressed as a ratio) and any explanation of the ratio that the municipality considers necessary.

· Current Waterworks reserves (As of December 31, 2023, there was $691,048.49 in reserves available for waterworks capital infrastructure). 

· Most recent waterworks independent engineering assessment – completed by Stantec in 2006.

· The Town of Springside does not have any capital plans or sources of funding for infrastructure projects until grant funding becomes available.

· The Town of Springside has not entered into any agreements respecting the provision of waterworks services.

The following additional information available for inspection at the Town Office during regular office hours includes:

· 2023 Audited Financial Statement

· Drinking Water Quality and Compliance – Annual Notice to Consumers for January 1-December 31, 2023.

Truck Routes in the Town of Springside:

Pursuant to Town of Springside Bylaw No. 1-2006 the Heavy Vehicle/Truck Route in the Town of Springside is as follows:

Patrick Street from Highway 47 to Railway Avenue

Railway Avenue from Railway Street South to Sharman Street

Railway Street South from Highway 16 to Highway 47

(please see the attached map with the truck route highlighted)

ADDITIONALLY, Bylaw No. 1-2006 also states that no person shall park a vehicle with a manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating in excess of 5,500 kg on any residential streets or avenues within the Town of Springside. Parking is available on the west side of Railway Avenue ONLY.

AND FINALLY, the Bylaw also states that round-about on the west side of Railway Avenue between Sharman Street and Turner Avenue will have no parking and will only be available for vehicles to turn around.

Please help keep our streets in good condition by following these guidelines for heavy vehicles in the Town of Springside. Infractions of these bylaws will be reported to the Bylaw Control Officer resulting in tickets and fines.