Innisfail rejected the proposed business plan and budgets for the new regional sewage system, outlining concerns the town would need to see addressed before extending support.
Council voted unanimously to send the South Red Deer Regional Waste Commission operating budget, administration budgets, capital construction budget, administrative information and business plan back to the commission for reworking, during its regularly scheduled Oct. 22 meeting. The budgets are to go before the wastewater board Nov. 16.
A number of issues with the current plan were discussed, including the possibility of an interim rate for municipalities prior to hooking up to the sewage system 100 per cent, reserve contributions and more assurances surrounding guaranteed flow rates.
“We're not approving it the way it is,” said Coun. Heather Taylor.
Mayor Jim Romane said he was focused on the fact that while Innisfail slowly joins the sewer system, it will continue to maintain its own treatment infrastructure.
He also doesn't want to see the commission coming back for more flow contributions if surrounding areas don't supply hoped for amounts.
“What if they don't get what they want from other municipalities?” he said.
There needs to be more clarity in parameters around the 500 cubic metres of sewage a day Innisfail is planning to ship out, said Coun. Tracey Walker.
“We don't know what Olds can handle,” she said. “I know I certainly have some hesitations about the budget.”
Walker also reflected on project delays.
“This was like two years ago when they first brought us this business plan,” she said.
Coun. Mark Kemball said some of the financials in the documents just didn't add up.
“We're paying for a system that's not in place yet,” he said.
Wastewater commission CAO Dale Withage said while the board will consider the idea of an interim rate, he isn't sure how that would be economically possible.
“I don't know the feasibility of an interim rate,” he said. “It would be something I would have to talk to the board about and see if that's a direction they would want to take.
