Service line ownership discussed at Leader's Town Hall Meeting
By Joan Janzen
The community of Leader held a town hall meeting on Wednesday, September 4th, to discuss service line ownership. The Town of Leader is considering changes to Bylaw No. 06/20, a bylaw to regulate the maintenance and management of the utilities provided by the Town. The new bylaw will see the ownership of sewer and water service lines from the property line to the primary service pipe change from the Town to the property owner. The current bylaw states that the property owner is responsible from the property line to the inside connection point.
The public was asked to review Bylaw No. 03/24 prior to attending the town hall meeting, where their concerns would be addressed and their questions answered. According to CAO Erin Romanuik's estimates, approximately 125 citizens attended the meeting.
"The main consensus from the residents was the community sticks together and believes in sharing these costs," she observed.
Council believes that this is a necessary step in being financially responsible. As infrastructure ages, the Town is having to complete larger projects to ensure quality and uninterrupted services to Leader's residents.
By making the property owners responsible for the service lines from the main line to the house, the Town can focus their time and funds on planning for larger infrastructure projects (i.e. replacing main water lines, main sewer line relining, water intake, etc.), which benefit the whole community rather than individual property owners. This ownership structure is becoming more common among urban municipalities throughout Saskatchewan and other provinces.
Erin said most of the concerns expressed at the meeting were regarding affordability, especially for seniors and single-income households. "Council will be discussing all the remarks made at their next council meeting," she said.
The Town has found that several insurance add-ons and programs will assist the property owner when it is necessary to replace these lines. These options were discussed, but those in attendance were advised to speak with their insurance provider for more details to see what works best for them.
Council welcomed written correspondence from anyone who could not attend the meeting. If you have any other questions, please contact any Town Councillor or the Town Office, and they will do their best to assist you.
Residents can be assured that Leader Town Council will work on a path forward that addresses all the concerns and ideas raised at the town hall meeting.