The Town of Olds has changed how it will collect overdue water bills.
At its Aug. 25 meeting, council voted to approve the process of transferring utility account balances more than 45 days in arrears to property taxes and sending a notification letter to the property owner.
With this collection method, water will no longer be shut off, except at the property owner's request, in which case, the outstanding amount will have to be paid before service resumes.
The town experimented with transferring overdue balances to property tax accounts due to weather conditions this past winter, which made physically shutting water off inefficient. That practice continued on a trial basis until July 2014, the meeting agenda stated.
Council decided at its policies and priorities meeting on July 21 to bring the matter back for a vote at the regular meeting.
During the meeting, Coun. Mary Jane Harper asked what would happen if renters complained to public health officials about halting water services.
“My question is health and safety in reference to public health officers coming in if a property owner has requested that the water account be shut off in case of the tenant,” Harper said. “What happens then? Are we going to be forced to turn the water on?”
Norm McInnis, the town's chief administrative officer said the town would work with public health officials on a case-by-case basis if complaints arise.
“If we do get a written request, we'll follow through with that written request,” McInnis said. “If there are legal obligations that we have to consider, we certainly will consider them.”
