Have faith

Nothing to see here. Kindly move along. The experts are on the job. The rest of you are just in the way.

The story emerging from some corners is that waterworks is complicated. Therefore, it is best left to the experts. You, as a layperson, have nothing to add. Nothing to contribute. You won’t understand any of it, and your interference will likely make it all more costly.

Your role as a resident is to pay among the highest water bills in the province and to stay out of the way of the professionals. It explains why public consultation has been so opaque, so empty, and so condescending. It explains why Shire Hall only stands before you when it feels it has no other choice—and why it feels it can tick the box of public consultation now that it has done so.

The folks who govern this County and their intermediaries appear to have a low opinion of their fellow residents—at least those who dare to raise their hands and ask questions.

You should, instead, have faith.

Yet, faith has proven a poor substitute for diligence and scrutiny in public water systems across Ontario. Two such stories are in the news currently.

A new water plant to serve Collingwood was originally estimated to cost $65 million. By March of last year, the estimated cost had risen to $120 million. When the town opened bids last week, the low tender was $212 million. The mayor is now pleading for help from federal and provincial governments.

In Cobden, water rates increased 60 per cent last year and will rise 5 per cent every year until 2029. Renovations to Cobden’s water plant were estimated at $9.8 million, but cost more than $13 million. The $3 million shortfall must now be spread among Cobden’s 497 homeowners. Residents are buckling under the weight.

In Prince Edward County, waterworks expansion in Wellington was estimated in 2021 at $100 million. The eventual cost may be higher. Meanwhile, Shire Hall is steaming ahead with its ambition to run water from Wellington to Picton. Many millions of dollars more.

Some say that only when faith is tested do you know it is true. We are about to find out.

Shire Hall contends that upfront development charges will pay the carrying costs until homes are built. That millions of square feet of industrial and commercial buildings in Wellington will pay for it. That thousands of new homes will pay for it.

But what if it doesn’t happen? What if housing, labour, and credit markets conspire to change the developer’s plans? What if he parks this project for a decade or two?

Have faith. Shire Hall says it can manage for a while on reserves to pay down debt.

Faith is carrying a lot of water in this assertion.

Waterworks reserves sit at about $12 million. Given that servicing $100 million in debt will devour about $12 million a year— current reserves may buy Shire Hall a year. Maybe.

After that, we will be entirely reliant upon the kindness of strangers.

It may be stretching faith too far.

rick@wellingtontimes.ca