MUNICIPALITY STANDS GROUND ON WELL REFUND

As reported in the Listowel Banner on Wednesday June 23, 2010 by Andrew Smith
A dispute between the Municiaplity and a resident continued last week with the decision to again deny a $3500.00 water hook up refund. The request from Sherrie McTaggart came forward at the June 14 meeting of North Perth Council, where it was explained that McTaggart is seeking the refund as payment for hooking into a municiapl well. McTaggart wasn't present at the meeting but was later contacted by the Banner. She said the issue goes back to May 2005 when she bought her house in Atwood and was of the understanding she was already hooked into a municipal well. When it was discoverd the well was contaminated by E.colli Mctaggart sought a new water source and went to the municipality. "We needed a potable water source and the municipality offered us the water" "It didn't matter what documentation the municipality sent me I wanted water" The $3500.00 fee attached to that second well connection remains the point of contention for McTaggart who says she shouldn't have to pay for accessing municipal services when she was already receiving them. "I was already on a municipal water supply, it's not my fault they had no care or control and it was contaminated". However, the ownership of the contaminated well has been another unresolved matter. When McTaggart first approached North Perth for a refund in 2006 the municiaplities stancewas that the well belonged to the Ministry of Transportation and they had no responsibilty for it. A survey by the MTO in 2006 later revealed the well was indeed on municipal property, but neither had monitored or maintained the well. At the June 14 meeting Deputy Julie Behrns commented that everyone pays to to hook into municipal services and that the McTaggarts are no exception. Treasurer Frances Hale also stated they have documentation of McTaggarts decision to hook into the municipal well and pay the fee. "We do have her request to us signing up for it and giving us permission to put it on her taxes." McTaggart's response is that she had no choice but to switch wells, or else continue using contaminated water for ten months. "I am going to have to worry about the health issues from that for the rest of my life". McTaggart hasn't proceeded with legal action yet but is considering it after having her second request denied. Lawsuit or not she plans on submitting the request until council listens to her."They can file this with the municipality every Monday night at every council meeting until they decide to deal with it. Hale said McTaggart has the right to continue her protest against the Municipality and they will co operate in any way possible." We don't want to impede her ability to express what she has to express. She can do what she needs to do and certainly we will respond to that."