Water turnoff angers business owner
Lost revenue, 'impossible' bill spark letter to council
April Hudson
Northern News Services
Thursday, December 3, 2015
DEH CHO
The Village of Fort Simpson is working on glitches in its water billing system in the wake of an angry letter from Ice Breaker Lounge owner Kirby Groat.
During a recent dig on Main Street, the village allegedly failed to notify a local business that they would be turning off the water. Ice Breaker Lounge owner Kirby Groat, who filed the complaint, is also taking issue with his water bill which is up 10 times normal usage. - April Hudson/NNSL photo
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The letter, sent Nov. 13, states that on Oct. 27 the lounge had its water turned off without notification during street repairs along 100 Street.
"Based on our average October sales for a Tuesday night, we lost $2,010 in sales revenue and $149 in real costs for lost wages for a total loss to our business of $2,159," Groat wrote.
Added to that, the lounge received a water bill for October that put consumption at 37,000 litres - more than 10 times their normal usage and the equivalent of 205 bathtubs full of water, Groat stated.
"It is physically impossible to use that much water in one month at the bar," he wrote.
"We understand that the water billing system is flawed ... This is a known and ongoing problem that has never been rectified. Unfortunately, only people who complain get their water bill adjusted to actual usage."
During a special council meeting on Nov. 25, councillors heard senior administrative officer Beth Jumbo is working to rectify the error.
Development appealed
Liidlii Kue First Nation gave Fort Simpson formal notice on Nov. 5 that they would be appealing a development issued to the NWT Housing Corporation for housing units on Lot 504.
The lot in question was the subject of a sonar survey in the summer of this year, during which "anomalies" were found. Those anomalies are suspected to be graves.
In a letter to council, Liidlii Kue Chief Gerald Antoine wrote that "meaningful consultation did not occur" on the housing development.
Appeals must be heard within 30 days of notice being received. An appeal date has not yet been set.
Council notified of blaze
On Nov. 9, a demolished trailer in Fort Simpson was "deliberately" set on fire, according to a report that came to council on Nov. 25.
The report notes two Environment and Natural Resources officers observed plastics, insulation, siding, jerry cans and used oil tires burning, among other things. The fire department was called and the blaze was extinguished.
The trailer belonged to Nogha Enterprises.
Asbestos disposal goes to tender
The village agreed to put a proposal for asbestos removal out to tender after the price of removal climbed to $50,000 plus GST.
The asbestos in question consists of pipes currently lying in the Public Works lot.
Jumbo said the pipes are currently lying in a pile and must be buried in a place where they will not be disturbed or else disposed of in a proper fashion.
The village must do that by March 31.
Mayor Darlene Sibbeston said the old council budgeted $5,000 in last year's budget for removal of those pipes under the village's capital plan.
The original intent of the village, Jumbo said, was to bury the pipes at the landfill.
However, as the landfill is already facing space issues, that did not go forward.
