I am writing regarding the sewer issue in Warfield. I attended the council meeting on Thursday, December 15th and listened to the compassionate presentation that Mr. Lattanzio gave to council, however I am not sure all the councillors at the meeting got the point.
Some councillors were more concerned with arguing the numbers the Village Office provided Mr. Lattanzio than with coming to grips with the point that a 400 per cent increase in the sewer rate for apartments is excessive.
Some councillors seem to believe the idea that apartments in Warfield are subsidized because the sewer rate is lower for two or more units than a single-family dwelling.
Most every other community in B.C. understands that apartments use less water than single-family dwellings and therefore create less sewage; so, the rate is lower for both water and sewer. Only Warfield now wants to increase the rates so apartments and single-family dwellings pay the same.
Looking at the facts, this is not fair or the right thing to do.
Also at the meeting one councillor said that the village needs to spend a lot on infrastructure over the next few years so they have no option but to increase the rates. He stated if beef prices go up you would need to increase the prices, it is just business.
I agree it is just business if your costs go up you must pass this along to your customers; however, a good business person would not just increase the cost for one group of customers, they would increase the costs for all customers. That would be the fair and right thing to do.
Warfield Council should think about what the fair and right thing to do is in this case.
Rick Georgetti
Trail