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12 THE NEW TANNER THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2011 Township Digest Permits report After a slow start to the year, issuance of building permits "exploded" in the past six weeks in Guelph/Eramosa Township. As of May 31, 51 building permits had been issued ­ in May there was one residential permit issued along with eight permits of additions or renovations, four permits for pools, and four new barns for a construction value of $750,000 for May and $1.9-million year-to-date. "This year was a very, very slow start," the Township's Chief Building Official, Michael Newark said last Monday in a report to council. He said there were no permits for houses, but a lot of "small stuff" with the actual number of permits increasing, but the dollar value lagging values of past year. Holiday waste Wellington County waste facilities will be closed tomorrow (Friday) for Canada Day and will re-open at 8 a.m. on July 2. There will be no curb and roadside Blue Box and user pay garbage pickup tomorrow ­ it has been rescheduled to Saturday. For details, call 1-519-837-2601 or visit wellington.ca. Wellington Literacy tests Public high school students with the Upper Grand District School Board and Catholic students with the Wellington Catholic District School Board tested above the provincial average in the mandatory Grade 10 literacy test administered by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). Results released recently show 84 per cent of student passed while 86 per cent of Catholic students passed, compared to the provincial average of 83 per cent. For individual school results visit www.eqao.com SWEET TREATS: Delectable homemade baking drew a large crowd ­ including Sylvia Peacock (left) who was served by Anne Balanyk and Catherine Hunt ­ to the bake and garage sale at St. John's Anglican Church in Rockwood on Saturday. ­ Ted Tyler photo Water rate study Municipal water is "quite a deal" according to a consultant hired by Guelph/ Eramosa Township (GET) to conduct a water and wastewater rate study. At last Monday's GET council meeting, Gary Scandlan with Watson & Associates Economists Ltd., compared the cost of municipal water with buying a 500 ml. bottle of water for $1. For a single flush of the toilet, using bottled water it would cost $12 (six litres per flush.) Using the same amount of municipal water at the current water rate Rockwood, would be 1.1 cents. A five-minute shower with bottled water would cost $110 ­ the cost to use municipal water is 10 cents. To make a cup of coffee with bottled water it would cost 75 cents ­ using municipal water it would cost 7/100ths of a cent. Scandlan said postWalkerton, were tainted municipal water killed nine people and made thousands sick, the province implemented six new pieces of new legislation governing water ­ additional testing and changes that added 25 per cent to Guelph/Eramosa's cost to provide water and waste water services to its residents. The rate study identifies all current and future water and wastewater system capital needs, identifies cost recovery options, estimates future operating costs for the next 10 years and recommends new rates to cover the cost of the systems. Currently, the rate structure for water includes a base charge of $4 per month, and a consumption charge, which is $1.60 per cubic metre in the Rock- NATURALLY FIT BOOTCAMP Wednesday & Friday Evenings Starting Wednesday, July 6th at 7pm 4 & 8 Week Sessions (Mornings at 7am possible if minimum of 6 people sign up) Cost: 4 Week Session $148 plus HST per person 8 Week Session $272 plus HST per person EZ TAXI, Acton's local cab company, congratulates Sign up a friend and receive 15% off!! $ 5 Sunday Morning Bootcamp is still available at 10am (Beginner/intermediate) at 11am (Intermediate/Advanced) Call or email to reserve a spot. on his retirement as of June 30, 2011. Bob has worked many years in the taxi industry, in Acton and Georgetown. We would like to thank him for his work ethic, and hope he enjoys his time to do whatever he wishes. From the staff at EZ Taxi. BOB MUTRIE Rockwood Naturopathic Clinic 4200 25th Side Road www.rockwoodnd.com 519-853-2443 For Safe Reliable Service Call: All Vehicles Gov't. Inspected 4 Times Per Year Millions Of Accident Free Miles · Airport Transprotation Available YS EZ-TAXI A K 7 D EE AW 519-853-1261 wood area, and $1.34 per cubic metre in the Hamilton Drive area. The consultant recommends slight increases in water rates, which have not increased in 10 years, to $4.20, which includes a three cent volume rate to $1.63 in Rockwood. For the first time, the consultant recommends a new base rate of $50.40 annually. The average Rockwood resident uses approximately 46,000-gallons of water per year. Scandlan said with a water system worth $22.6-million, and a wastewater system valued at $33.2-million, the Township has made a "huge investment" ­ $33,400 per customer ­ to get water in to a house, and wastewater out. As proposed by the consultant, the total annual water and wastewater bill for Rockwood would increase by $78.10 next year to $804.48 ­ an increase of about 25 cents per day, placing Guelph/Eramosa's rates in the middle of costs of 20 surrounding municipalities. Scandlan said Rockw o o d 's w a t e r s y s t e m would require $1.4-million in capital projects until 2020 ­ most of it covered by Development Charges. The wastewater system will require $3.7-million in capital projects over that same period, with all but $350,000 which will be financed through reserves and rates. The next steps for Guelph/Eramosa Council include looking at the capital and operating programs, considering phasing in reserve contributions to replace aging systems, and consider the proposed water and wastewater base charges and volume rates. Township staff will draft a new water and wastewater rate bylaw, which will be presented at a future council meeting.