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8 Friday, January 6, 2017 brooklintowncrier.com Open Data is here to stay Durham Regional Council has approved a permanent Open Data program for The Regional Municipality of Durham. This will allow certain data to be made freely available to the public, in a machine-readable format, without any restrictions from copyright, patents or other mechanisms of control. "Through public collaboration and analysis from the Open Data pilot initiative, we were able to develop a program that serves our residents, while fostering openness and innovation within our community," said Matthew Gaskell, Commissioner of Corporate Services. "Facilitating public access to information through the Open Data program allows community groups and stake- holders to use data freely, which promotes an enhanced understanding of local government and stimulates economic growth within the region." As part of the Open Data program, Regional Council approved an Open Data Policy to establish a consistent policy framework for the provision of data to the public and other stakeholders through Durham's Open Data portal. The data sets currently available to the public on the Open Data portal are geographic information system (GIS) data (including childcare centres, community services, education facilities, government offices, health neighbourhood boundaries, and seniors' residences), Single Line Road Network (SLRN), Durham-wide access points, transit routes, transit stop locations, and General Transit Feed Specification (GTFS). To learn more about the Open Data program and to access available data sets, please visit www. durham.ca/opendata. Regional Council Approves 2017 Water and Sewer Rates On December 19, the Brooklin High School Prospect Park jazz band along with the Jazz Collective "rocked out" at the Brooklin Pub. Under the Direction of Mrs. Peck (front, centre), the students delighted the crowd and shared great community spirit. Durham Regional Council has approved the 2017 water and sanitary sewer user rates, with a combined increase of 3.6 per cent, or $2.64 per month ($31.72 per year) for the average Durham Region household. "Durham's drinking water is fresh, clean and low cost, and still only pennies a glass," said Roger Anderson, Regional Chair and Chief Executive Officer. "However, our municipal water systems are aging, and we need to invest in our infrastructure to protect this precious resource. We want to ensure our residents continue to receive quality drinking water, straight from the tap." Infrastructure requires large capital investments in order to meet regulatory, asset management and growth-related services. User rates are the main source of funding for capital investments for rehabilitation and replacement, often complemented by Regional development charges. As well as the funding of capital projects, the rate increases will help to cover operating costs (expected to rise due to economic and inflationary increases in utilities, chemi- cals and supplies); infrastructure (large capital investments in order to meet regulatory, asset management and growth-related requirements); and debt repayment costs (specifically related to the Courtice WPCP). While the rates are increasing, it is important to note that Durham Region still offers some of the lowest rates in the province. Of 13 larger municipalities surveyed across Ontario, the 2016 water and sewer charges are below average and are the fifth lowest in the province. These rates are set for residential, non-residential, small- to medium- sized ICI water users and large wa- ter users. The Region's water and sanitary sewer rates are reviewed annually and recommendations are made to Regional Council in December. The approved user rates took effect on Jan. 1, 2017. For more information on Durham Region's water and sewer user rate increases, visit www.durham. ca/watervalue. For more informa- tion about water billing, visit www. durham.ca/waterbilling.