Municipal council has given the green light to create a corporation to handle public utilities.
Instead of the old environmental services department, a for-profit corporation will be formed to handle water, garbage, and other services.
It can also go out and get contracts with industry for new environmental initiatives.
Environmental services director Kevin Scoble says it opens up new possibilities.
“We have reached that fork in the road where we can follow other communities and industries, and try to catch up with them, or we can take a different path in leadership and sustainability,” he told council.
Scoble says the corporation would still be accountable.
“If the ratepayers, municipality, commercial or industrial sectors are not satisfied, the corporation stands to lose customers, contracts, and the support of the municipality for this business model,” he said.
The municipality estimates the new corporation could turn a 27 million dollar profit by 2017; all that money would go back to the city.
Staff also predict that the new corporate model could eventually mean lower utility rates.
Published June 27, 2012
