Lyonel Doherty
Times-Chronicle
At least one property owner is speaking out against “exorbitant” water rates in Oliver, which prompted a recent debate on council.
The Sumac Street resident, whose name is redacted on Town correspondence, says the town is taking advantage of taxpayers who are trying to maintain their lawns.
“We are still paying for the well-heeled vineyard owners with their usually multi-million-dollar properties and substantial incomes,” the resident said.
The ratepayer also mentioned orchard owners who are not frugal with their water usage, alleging they waste this resource on roadways.
“I refuse to continue to be abused in this manner by the Town. I will allow my lawn to burn in future as the weather causes it to without your exorbitant, overpriced irrigation.”
The retired property owner said he is being penalized, “so that rich growers can produce more and more wine for the wealthy to indulge.”
The resident said that $864.80 per acre is four times the rate charged to vineyard and orchard owners.
“Do the rich speak louder than everyone else? We the overpaying, non-farm status plebes must limit our consumption drastically while the grower of alcoholic wines may carry on worry-free with no limitation whatsoever.”
Elma Hamming, the Town’s chief financial officer, said agricultural property owners do pay a lower rate than non-agricultural users, but noted the former pay a much higher parcel tax rate.
While in-town non-agricultural users pay $864.80 per acre, rural agricultural users pay $240.80 per acre plus $151.40 parcel tax.
Water councillor Rick Machial said the Town is not a utility for profit.
“These people are paying exorbitant costs . . . it’s not really fair; we are ripping these people off.”
He suggested exploring a compromise or different cost options to make the rates more equitable.
But Coun. Dave Mattes said the Town sells water on the basis of what it costs to run the system, noting that some people pay more and some people pay less depending on their situation.
“I see it as equitable . . . the rate is not the same for everyone.”
Hamming said the Town is charging customers based on the infrastructure, noting that bringing water to homes and farms is costly.
Hamming said she would love to see farms utilize meters for data purposes and to see if there is any leakage.
“There is something to be said for encouraging people to get meters.”
Mattes chimed in again, saying the Sumac Street ratepayer is getting his water at the quarter of the price.
“He’s basically watering four city lots for the price of one.”
Mattes invited the property owner to go on Town water and watch his bill grow from $800 a year to $3,500 for the same size parcel. “He’s getting a bargain.”
Machial expressed his concern about upsetting too many people to the point they start using the Town’s well water.
“We do not have enough water for that.”
