Discussions

Outside of councilor Garry Mac Dowall being replaced by his wife Judith in 2014, Minnedosa has been served by the same town council for the last 8 years. In that time 2 by-laws have been passed increasing water and sewer rates and a third is pending 3rd reading subject to approval by the Manitoba public utilities board. the linked tabled shows rate changes over the last 8 years. https://www.keepandshare.com/doc/8223990/minnedosa-water-rates-pdf-44k?da=y The pending by-law 2559, http://minnedosa.allnetmeetings.com/pubs/download.aspx?ty=ag&agid=088DC262-BF4C-4045-96F4-A5B3D5659348&atid=4833C057-A56A-4445-BFC2-A07DA7F9149Ewill increases combined residential water and sewer rates on the first 500 cubic meters of water by over 47%. Council minutes and the Minnedosa Tribune indicate this increase is to make up for a utility operating deficit. Council has opted not to disclose the actual reason causing said deficit which is public information served to them specifically by the Public Utilities Board, PUB.  
In February 2017 the PUB asked the town to justify rates it had been charging Husky for water, http://www.pubmanitoba.ca/v1/proceedings-decisions/orders/pubs/2017%20orders/23-17.pdf  
A second PUB order in June of 2017, http://www.pubmanitoba.ca/v1/proceedings-decisions/orders/pubs/2017%20orders/64-17.pdf concluded  
IT IS THEREFORE ORDERED THAT:  
1. The rates currently being charged by Minnedosa to Husky are unjust and unreasonable  
and Husky is entitled to a retroactive rate adjustment :  
2. On or before the Filing Deadline Minnedosa must provide the Board and Husky  
a complete reconciliation of the debenture for Water Treatment Plant #2 (WTP #2)  
, failing which Minnedosa shall be subject to a penalty of $100 per day , retroactive to the  
date of this Order , until this directive is fulfilled to the Board’s satisfaction:  
3. On or before the Filing Deadline Minnedosa must provide the Board and Husky a  
proposal for a retroactive rate adjustment for Husky in consideration of the Board’s  
interpretation of the Agreement and subsequent overpayment by Husky:  
4. Minnedosa’s forthcoming rate application to the Board i:nclude a study that explains  
and supports the following: that the study i:nclude: (i) quantification of UFW: (ii) derivation of UFW costs: and (iii) allocation of UFW costs amongst the customer classes of the utility:  
Fees payable by the Town of Minnedosa upon this Order  
- $1,500.00  
What else is Council not telling us? I will be voting for anyone who is currently not an incumbent. Of all the candidates only Jim Dowsett has even mentioned transparency or accountability as a concern that I'm aware of and given his responses at the forum in Tanner's pit, I think he means it. He was CAO in Killarney for years. Looking at Killarney town Council minutes: cheques and who they are payable to are listed and general des:cription of In camera issues are i:ncluded in the minutes. That is not the case in Minnedosa and it would be a welcome change.

correct link to the pending by-law 2559 is http://minnedosa.allnetmeetings.com/pubs/download.aspx?ty=ag&agid=088DC262-BF4C-4045-96F4-A5B3D5659348&atid=4833C057-A56A-4445-BFC2-A07DA7F9149E

Thanks for providing this very interesting information. It is disheartening that once again, this council has seen fit to keep public matters a secret.  
I had already made up my mind to vote only for the new candidates, with the possible exception of Judith MacDowall who at least had the courage to oppose her fellow members on the issue of council indemnities.  
I sincerely hope that new members would be more forthcoming and not hide behind closed doors. The council minutes as well could be more informative and it would be really nice to have more info provided to the local paper and on the Town website.  
Hope everyone gets out and votes tomorrow!