The Township of Minden Hills passed its new user fees for 2024, with two members of the public objecting to some of the charges during a public meeting Dec. 14.
Diane Peacock spoke against a proposed increase to rent the community room. She’s leased it the past two Novembers for a Christmas craft sale.
“I started this sale because the previous Christmas artisan market that the township held was no longer being offered. I participated in those sales and they were always so well attended. Some of the artisans I knew wanted to do a Christmas sale that was inside and not in the cold,” Peacock said.
However, with the proposed raise in the rental fee for 2024, she said, “it means that if I hold the sale next November, the rental fee will be $382.75 plus insurance, and $30 tax for a total of $466.40. Because of this raise in rates, I will likely have to raise the cost of a space for next year, which is something I’m not wanting to do.”
Peacock added she looked around the County and found a larger hall that would only charge her $200, without insurance, putting the township on notice she may move. She said other events have left the township, including the fur harvesters workshop and Coby Islander hockey tournament. “What is next?”
She said they won’t get more rentals if they keep increasing fees.
Peacock also objected to the fire department no longer issuing burn permits during the fire season. She said her husband has used them in the past to burn brush and trees. She said she’s been told the alternative is to pay to bring brush and trees to the landfill or burn after 7 p.m. but Peacock said her husband does not feel that is safe. She said more people will burn illegally and they should scrap the brush fee at the landfills.
Bill Blakes agreed. He said he had lived in “quite a few municipalities and we’ve never been charged fees for dumping leaves.” He said most of the townships recycle them and make money instead of charging residents for them.
Peacock added, “I realize the user fees are put in place to generate revenue for the township to offset taxes but if you keep raising the user fees, these revenues will go down and the taxpayers will end up paying higher taxes.”
Following the public meeting, Coun. Ivan Ingram asked about cemetery fees if people don’t want markers for a burial plot and, or cornerstones. He asked if it could be a separate charge. Coun. Pam Sayne did not want marriage services taken out of the fees and charges bylaw. Clerk Vicki Bull said they don’t have enough staff to provide the service now. Ingram said it was a matter of needs, versus wants since they do not make money on marriages. Coun. Shirley Johannessen said she’d had feedback on community room fees as well. Coun. Tammy McKelvey asked if they’d address the concerns about community rental fees, burn permits and waiving leaf and brush costs.
After numerous meetings on the bylaw, mayor Bob Carter said, “this document is never going to be perfect. Ninety-five per cent of it is correct, and we need it for the budget process and for making plans. If we have one or two little things that we need to further examine we can bring it back and make the change.”
Council adopted the fees and charges bylaw for 2024.
