Sewage system maintenance programs were back on the table at the Douro-Dummer council meeting on Tuesday evening.
Don Helleman (CBO) presented a report outlining the proposed Discretionary Sewage System Maintenance Inspection Program (DSMIP).
The discretionary program came about as the mandatory system that was in place faced challenges from the ratepayers. Council voted to change the program so not all residents were affected.
Council passed a resolution at the December 3 council meeting. The resolution read as follows:
That the Discretionary Sewage System Maintenance Inspection Program be limited to high-risk waterfront and high-density areas, with a voluntary service option available for the remainder of the Township. Further, that staff be directed to prepare a report on implementing a user fee system and include funding for an education program as part of the general levy.
Hellman’s report broke out all five requests laid out in the resolution and dealt with them individually.
Mayor Heather Watson suggested that council deal with the individual sections and pass five separate motions rather than dealing with the report as a whole.
The first section was the inspection areas the program would cover. The resolution asked that a report deal with high risk waterfront, high density areas along with additional areas that may be considered.
Councillor Ray Johnston moved that the program include only the high risk waterfront properties.
Deputy mayor Harold Nelson questioned why the high density areas such as Donwood and Warsaw were not included in the motion as this area was listed in the original resolution.
Johnston suggested they deal with the high risk waterfront at present and move on to the other areas in the future.
The motion to only service the high risk waterfront passed.
The next section addressed was the voluntary Inspection Program.
Hellman told council that the voluntary program could be implemented by the Building Department, but suggested there were private firms in the township that offered those services and suggested that the municipality may be stepping on the private sectors toes.
Councillor Tom Watt made a motion that anyone wanting a voluntary-inspection should obtain the services of a third party.
The motion passed.
The next topic was program fees. The report outlined four different fees.
The first “Type 1” would apply when the property owner has completed the questionnaire on time, and the lids to the septic system are exposed for inspection. This fee is suggested to be $235.00
The second fee “Type 2” would be in addition to the “Type 1” one fee and would be applicable when the property owner fails to complete the questionnaire, or they do not uncover the lids by the date of the inspection. If a second inspection/site visit is required the fee is suggested at $225.00.
Other fees include a report review which is a third party inspection report which would be billed at $50.00 and an action letter which is a letter detailing that remedial action is required. The suggested fee for this is $50.00
Councillor Ray Johnston requested that the fees be reduced to $200 and $150 respectively, but Hellman explained that any change in fees would require a public meeting. The rates are designed to recoup the costs. After historical information is obtained the fees can be adjusted to fit the actual costs.
The fee issue will be determined following a public meeting with a date to be determined.
Next on the list was the inspection cycle. The report suggested that the program work on a ten year cycle with the inspection of the properties spread out equally over that time period.
Nelson questioned the ten year cycle stating that with the number of properties it should not take more than three years to complete.
Councillor Watt moved that the program only run once rather than repeating every ten years. He said that it would be up to future councils if they wanted the program to continue.
The motion passed.
The final topic was education. Hellman told council that they planned a brochure to be mailed out to all ratepayers with the tax bill. The estimated cost for the brochure would be approximately $8,000.
Councillor Johnston suggested that a pamphlet was not enough and a public meeting should be held with lessons on how to prolong the life of your septic.
CAO Todd Davis suggested that a workshop was more what Johnston was describing and told council that this was certainly manageable.
Councillor Watt suggested more than one workshop and they should take place in the actual neighbourhoods rather than at the town hall in Warsaw.
Councillor Adam Vervoort moved that staff go back and look at implementing workshops rather than the one page flyer and the workshops should take the entire township into account.
The motion passed.
Davis told council that due to the council meeting schedule it would be prudent to start the program in 2026 as the Summer break is only three meetings away and time might not allow reports prior to the break.
Davis said the fee schedule might be ready sooner, but the other sections would take longer.
