Council To Discuss Lowering Water Bills, Asking For More Support For Oil Sector

Wood Buffalo council meets this week with the flood and COVID-19 pandemic still top of mind.

They are set to discuss lowering water bills for those impacted by the boil water advisory.

This includes Fort McMurray, Anzac, Draper, Gregoire Lake Estates, and Saprae Creek Estates.

This is expected to cost the RMWB around $2.4 million.

Council will also decide whether to have all businesses applying for work related to the flood have an RMWB address for at least 180 before they issued a state of local emergency.

They’re also set to discuss a curfew for the entire community of Fort Chipewyan.

Right now, the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Mikisew Cree First Nation, and the Fort Chipewyan Mtis Local 125 have each put in their own orders for all their members.

The municipal curfew would include everyone who calls the community home, member or not.

Council is also set to discuss sending a letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Minister of Natural Resources Seamus O’Regan, Premier Jason Kenney, and Alberta’s Minister of Energy Sonya Savage asking for additional support for Alberta’s oil sector.

Meanwhile, the annual property tax bylaw is once again up for approval.

People living across the RMWB expected to pay, on average, less than last year.

The average drop in prices for households in Fort McMurray is expected to be around $10, while those in the rural areas will see, on average, a decrease of $3.

The RMWB is expecting to see a 25 per cent drop from last year’s revenue as taxes for the oil companies continues to drop as the municipality aims to get to a 5 to 1 tax ratio.

The public is once again being encouraged to tune into the meeting online.

Anyone interested in speaking about a certain item on the agenda can email [email protected] their information to join the teleconference.

The meeting gets underway on Tuesday at 4 p.m.

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