Breslau neighbours to speak at council meeting after being handed $14K bill for decade-old work
CBC
A group of neighbours in Breslau who were hit with a nearly $14,000 bill for sewer and water work done on their street a decade ago are asking Woolwich councillors to hear their concerns.
Residents are set to speak during a Woolwich council meeting Tuesday night, according to the township's council agenda.
The group told CBC News they plan to bring up the legitimacy of the process that led to the bill and hope council takes their concerns into consideration.
The neighbourhood was in shock last week after 25 property owners received a letter from the township saying they each had to pay $13,950.19 to cover the cost of the project, which is $348,754.75.
In 2014, 77 per cent of residents in the neighbourhood voted in favour of having water and sewer services extended to their homes. The township went into litigation with the construction company when the work was completed in 2016.
That litigation did not get resolved until 2024, which is why residents are being billed now.
The initial letter outlined residents can pay the bill by Dec. 12 or have the option to add it to their tax bill, paying annual instalments of $1,286.25 for the next 20 years.
The township is now giving residents until May 2026 to pay the bill in full.
Residents also told CBC News they also met with Ward 3 Coun. Bonnie Bryant last week about the bill.
Coun. Bryant and Woolwich Mayor Sandy Shantz did not respond to requests for comment.
Jared Puppe, director of infrastructure services, told CBC News last week the township should have done a better job of communicating the charges with residents.
"The thinking at the time was that we felt we were fighting the good fight to reduce the cost, but what we missed sight of is the fact that there was likely to be property ownership changes throughout the process," he said.
"It was a miss. There's no excuse for it."
Puppe said he understands the almost $14,000 bill is a lot of money and that neighbours are frustrated.
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