In a move far from uncommon, Wetaskiwin county council had approved the motion to add any outstanding utility charges to ratepayer’s taxes, effective April 4.
However, council is looking to make changes to the process for future years.
Coun. Larry McKeever says he wants direction given to administration to create a draft policy outlining a minimum amount of outstanding funds council will not have to look to collect, “A basic amount where we can waive it.”
Reeve Kathy Rooyakkers says in some cases it costs more for the county’s process to collect the outstanding fees is more than what is actually being collected. She added it can also make the county come across as “petty.”
Regarding council’s to approve moving the outstanding utility charges to taxes for this year, a final notice of outstanding taxes was mailed to landowners on Feb. 10, 2017.
The amount of outstanding utility charges total $12,041.