Written By David Gomez, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
ADELAIDE METCALFE - Council recently discussed the results of a comprehensive review of unbilled municipal drain construction projects, with an emphasis on ensuring that all benefiting property owners are appropriately charged for the drainage improvements. The matter was presented at the August 12 council meeting, where Treasurer Johnny Pereira provided an in-depth report on the findings.
The review, initiated in late 2022, was in response to a 2022 council directive aimed at addressing a backlog of unbilled drainage works. Pereira explained that staff had thoroughly examined 175 drainage accounts, some dating back to 2012. The process involved retrieving engineer reports, invoices, and reconstructing billing schedules to ensure accuracy.
Pereira’s report identified 15 construction drains requiring billing. Of these, seven had never been billed, accumulating a total of $151,122. The other seven were billed incorrectly, leading to both overbilling and underbilling issues. Corrections will result in some property owners receiving refunds, while others will be billed for the first time. Besides, one project, which had been approved by council in 2013, had not been billed due to the incomplete status of the drainage works.
The total amount to be recovered by the township for these construction drainage projects is $179,234.56. Importantly, the township will not charge interest outside of the construction period, as the delays in billing were attributed to the township, not the landowners. Pereira assured councillors that all affected property owners would be notified and given the option to debenture their assessed amounts, allowing for payments to be spread out over time according to the township’s Drain Billing and Debenture policy.
Mayor Sue Clarke expressed appreciation for the effort put into this review, acknowledging the tedious nature of the work. She emphasized the importance of recouping missed revenue for the municipality and ensuring fairness. Council unanimously agreed to receive the report as information, marking the completion of a significant phase in the township’s efforts to address long-standing drainage billing issues.
