Richmond Co. council is looking to change how they deliver sewer service in the municipality.
At February’s regular council meeting Monday night, councillors approved an amendment to the Sewer Service Charge By-Law.
Afterward, Warden Amanda Mombourquette said it’ll make things run more smoothly.
“It’s a complicated issue, we were factoring in a lot of things,” she said. “Our desire is to try to create billing systems that are as fair as possible for customers, but that are also predictable.”
Mombourquette said there are four proposed changes.
First, changing sewer billing to be based on current water consumption, rather than on the prior year’s average.
Second, add options for metered sewer connections for commercial customers.
Third, make a system to fix bills when water consumption is unusually high due to a water leak or other issue.
Fourth, combine the county’s four sewer systems, which will allow even rates for all residential customers.
Mombourquette said it makes things fairer.
“They’re at less at risk of large fluctuations, which a lot of people on fixed incomes just can’t afford,” she said. “A lot of people at many income levels, they’re looking for that predictability.”
If the amendment passes second reading, it can be adopted at the regular council meeting in March.
