Council passed the first three readings of two bylaws that will raise service fees to the city and one bylaw that actually lowers fees. All three bylaws were approved in the Five Year Financial Plan back in May.
The first two bylaws deal with water fees and sewer rates, raising the rates of each by $1. Water fees will increase from $19 to $20, while sewer will increase from $17 to $18.
The other bylaw deals with solid waste collection and disposal fees and will see the rate go down by $1. Sewer rates will drop to $11 from $12.
Coun. Gerry Warner was surprised at the decrease and why it was happening.
CAO Wayne Staudt said it was due to the surplus budget the city tries to achieve.
"We've reached that threshold where we're comfortable with the surplus balance in the solid waste funds, so at this point we can decrease the user fee there," Staudt said, adding that they will still be able to cover operating costs for the collection of the solid waste.
"Who says this council doesn't give taxpayers a break?" Warner said, and most in attendance laughed.
In other bylaw news, council passed third reading and adoption of bylaws 3776, 3777 and 3780 which dealt with the OCP amendment, zoning amendment and heritage amendment bylaw that focussed on Elko Station and the old CPR shed.
The bylaws were subject to public hearing on Monday and no members of the public came forward to speak.