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Yes, disconnecting from the water service is always an option. The home/business owner would need to apply to the district in writing with the signature of all parties with and interest and being named on title, including any mortgagor. The request would be reviewed at the next regular board meeting of the trustees. The applicant and related interested parties would be advised in writing of the review providing an outline of the process and estimated time to complete together with an invoice for the actual cost to disconnect the service. The invoice must be paid in advance of the work proceeding.
All connections are directly at the or near to the property line, on the public road allowance. The district would apply for a permit to do the work on the road allowance and upon receipt of the permit, the district's contractor would dig up the service connection, disconnect and permanently cap the service with Bylaw compliant material. Responsibility to remove the service line on private property is the responsibility of the home or business owner.
No, there are no annual fees for a service that is not received. However, taxes do still apply. A property in the improvement district that has the capability to be connected (or re-connected) to the water system and receive fire service will have property taxes levied on it for these services. Property taxes help maintain the capital infrastructure and long term functionality of both services. In Hagensborg Waterworks District, as in most service areas, the fire flow draws from the same service lines the water service does. Taxes for fire protection are collected by the Province of British Columbia on behalf of the District on the annual rural property tax notice. The District also levies a parcel tax for operating the district. Parcel taxes are currently $75 for all property within the district not receiving water service, regardless of the size or use of the land.
No, Hagensborg Waterworks District (HWD) is an “Improvement District”, a form of local government incorporated under the Local Government Act and operating under the direction of, and answering directly to Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
The discussion of merging water districts is an interesting discussion. It is not a matter of merging "water districts" but merging local governments and local tax bases. The short answer is yes, it is possible, just as it's possible for one municipality to merge with another as Kelowna and Westbank did. The feasibility of it would have to be examined through a thorough feasibility study by a professional firm who handles such studies (arms length and third party), and with public consultation. The report would then be made available to the communities impacted and a referendum would be held to ensure the majority of the community members of both communities affected approved the merger.
Note: Merging water districts does not avoid the cost of compliance to regulations. Indeed, transferring from a basically volunteer operated government with minimal staffing to a paid government with adequate staffing, such as a regional district or municipality, must increase cost to operate, and may not actually result in increased or improved service.
For example, based on data provided by the Central Coast Regional District, after significant upgrades to the system the water tolls for businesses in the Bella Coola townsite went from $162/yr when the Improvement District was taken over by the regional district in 1992, to $583/yr in 1998. Additionally, the community members are now paying an annual Parcel Tax of $500/yr. Note: this was after the provincial and federal government had paid 2/3 of the cost in grants.
A report of rates provided by Thompson Nicola Regional District (TNRD), presented to the BC Waste and Water Association, Small Water Systems Symposium shows the dramatic increase in costs after grants, once ownership of a water system transferred to the regional district. After speaking to TNRD staff regarding Bylaw 2507, we projected the impact of the bylaw on the 2013 rates. This was deemed necessary to reach sustainability.
Yes, they must, just as all costs for our operations continue to rise. We demonstrated this in the Spring 2015 Newsletter drawing on fair comparables from what was being provided in 1987 and the costs associated for that same product or service today.
The letter noted that, since 1987, when the water toll rates still being charged in 2015 were established, “Commercial liability insurance rates increased 550%, the same five fire phones cost increased 425%, and fuel for heating the fire hall and for the same fire truck increased 400%.”
For decades we in BC have enjoyed relatively cheap access to water, but that luxury has come to an end. In addition to the increased costs in compliance to the regulations around the Drinking Water Protection Act and Regulations, the provincial government will be increasing existing fees and adding more fees to water use "rent" starting in 2016 under the Water Sustainability Act. This will result in HWD fees doubling overnight, and application fees to do work around the dam increasing about 50%! For information on the new fees CLICK HERE.
Adding to the costs for compliance to these Regulations and Acts, are increased demands around governance and administration. For example, the Local Government Act, in 1996, required all Improvement Districts to conduct an annual audit. The audit alone, unrelated to an increase in administrative time, cost the district in excess of $8,000 a year.
In 2006 the Improvement District Manual outlined detailed a much higher level of governance. In 2011 both the federal and provincial governments began pushing for the creation and maintenance of an Asset Management Plan. In 2015 the Office of the Fire Commissioner handed down the new Playbook.
While all these result in a higher level of accountability and responsibility, not necessarily a bad thing, also result in an increase in time and level of competency for administration and book keeping. To mitigate administrative costs, the trustees voluntarily take on a great deal of the work through Ad Hoc committees and portfolios. But the scope of what they can reasonably be expected to do is limited and increased administrative costs result.
Improvement districts are one of the oldest, autonomous local government bodies operating in the province, responsible for providing one or more local services for the benefit of the residents in a community under the authority of, and with direction from, the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development.
Improvement Districts can vary considerably in size, from small subdivisions, to urban communities. Improvement districts are usually located in rural areas of the province. They are similar in structure to a municipality but are more informal and only provide direct services such as waterworks, fire protection or street lighting.
The HWD was organized and received the Letters Patent in May 1964. There are more than 200 improvement districts operating in the province.
For more information on Improvement Districts, Click Here.
Hagensborg Waterworks District is mandated to provide two services to the community; Fire protection to all properties within the boundaries as much as it is able given the access and equipment, and water service if it is requested. Cost for water service is recovered in part by water tolls and parcel taxes billed annually directly to the property owner. Cost for fire protection is recovered by the provincial government through property taxes. When a property is tax exempt, as in the case of a church or school, cost is recovered by direct billing at the same mill rate as taxable properties are charged. By having the provincial government collect for fire protection on behalf of the district home owners can reduce the costs through access to the home owners grant.
Every person who owns property within the HWD boundary pays a set amount per/parcel regardless of the use of land. For example, in 2015 every lot was taxed at the rate of $75.00 if the lot did not receive water service and $500 if it did receive water service. The rate does not depend on property value or any other factor. The rate is set by by-law each year.
Tolls are established in Bylaw and the rate depends on the service being provided. Water is not metered, and there is no charge for water. HWD only charges for providing the service and the rate is dependent on the amount of service. For example there is a set rate for a home, and an additional charge if the property has a stand pipe for irrigation. The amount and frequency of usage is not a factor and water is not metered.
The Trustees set the date for the AGM at their February meeting. The AGM is usually held on the 4th Thursday of April. During the meeting, the trustees report about their activities during the past year, an audited financial statement is presented, and new trustees are elected to available positions. The AGM is the formal opportunity for the public to comment on activities and to ask questions.
Yes, all public records are available on this website in the Library.
Regular board meetings are open to the public. However, if someone wishes to address the board, they must request the chair’s permission prior to the meeting. See Meeting Procedures Bylaw for protocol.
There are 319 separate properties within the district’s boundaries, 224 have water service.
To view the district boundary maps, Click Here
The boundary can be extended if residents outside the boundary request to be included.
The HWD is subject to voting rules set out by the Province of British Columbia’s Local Government Act. To be eligible to vote or be a candidate for trustee, a person must be: