Back on December 18, 1990 the City of Welland implemented by-law 9350 stating all owners and occupants of land in the City of Welland who use sewage works are hereby notified effective January 1, 1991 are subject to a sewage service rate in an amount equal to 50% of all eligible water rate accounts ( including pools ) charged to said owners and occupants.
This by-law was compulsory due to the Ministry of the Environment for the elimination of sewage overflows being discharged into the natural environment---( still discharging if there is a heavy rain storm). To do this a pollution abasement program was set up to repair and replace aging and defective sanitary sewer systems and the construction of storm sewers for separation of combined sewers.The revenue resulting from this by-law was to assist in financing this work so it can reduce the impact on the general tax levy for the provision of these services. Yes, some of this work was carried out over the past 20 years but was some of the by-law money used to reduce the cost?
To the best of my knowledge this 50% sewer rate is still being charged 20 years later and the general levy has not been reduced but rather increased. After 20 years I believe the citizens of Welland are entitled in knowing how much was collected using this by-law and how much was used to lower the general levy if it was ever used for the proposed purpose? I'm sure all of that information is on the city's computers and readily available.
