Bashaw residents will only pay about $50 extra every two months for increased water costs associated with connecting to the Hwy 12/21 water line. In mid 2017 the Town of Bashaw will connect to the line.
Town of Bashaw council, at its regular meeting Dec. 15, approved water rates that reflect being part of the Hwy 12/21 Water Commission. Residents will pay $178.22 every two months, up from about current $128.20.
“It’s modest enough to cover all of our costs,” said Town of Bashaw Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Theresa Fuller.
This includes installing coin/tokens at the camp site and tourist booth and $29,500 for capital costs for water repairs.
Other bi-monthly cost scenarios presented to council included $183.74 and $180.87.
The commission recently received funding from the government to construct a 20-kilometre waterline between Bashaw and Mirror.
With the new line, instead of the commission purchasing water from Bashaw, they will be selling water to Bashaw. The commission expects to have the Bashaw connected by July 1, 2017.
The Hwy 12/21 Regional Water Line’s rate is set at $2.88 based on a total estimated consumption of 204,273 cubic meters for 2017.
There are seven municipalities on the Hwy 12/21 commission including: Lacombe and Camrose County, Villages of Alix, Clive, Edberg, Ferintosh and the Town of Bashaw.
CAO Fuller said the town anticipates residents will want more information and a community engagement session is scheduled for Feb. 9 at the community hall.
Bashaw wins $100,000
The Town of Bashaw won $100,000 through the Aviva Community Fund Competition. Winners were announced Dec. 6.
This year Aviva received more than 450 ideas for positive change and three million votes on entries.
There were 13 grand prize winners who will share in $1 million. Bashaw was awarded the money for its School Enhancement Committee.
The Bashaw school was the center of a community-wide partnership that raised $250,000 of a needed $350,000 for a gym expansion to the new school.
