WESTLOCK – With the Interim Budget approved by the Town of Westlock Council, fee changes are effective as of January 2025.
Simone Wiley, CAO for the Town of Westlock reviewed the fees in detail at the Dec. 9 Town of Westlock Council Meeting.
“On the residential waste collection, you're actually going to see a reduction down to $21.34,” said Wiley.
“The municipality will no longer have to pay for the recycling component of our waste, and that gets picked up by the producers.”
“It is my understanding that residents should not see a change from our current service level. I know there are still some things that need to be finalized.”
Recreation fees will remain the same with no increases to residents.
The rates for the community bus increased by $1 to $7.50 for a one-way trip. A round trip increases by $1 to $14.
With utilities there are a number of fee changes.
Water distribution is currently $23.10 and in 2025 there will be a slight increase to $24.30.
Then on the commercial side per meter fees are increasing from $32.65 to $34.30, institutional rates increase from $45.50 to $47.80 and per cubic rate on water by itself is increasing from $3.15 to $3.62.
Sewer rates based on metered water consumption changes from 30 per cent to 33 per cent.
On the sewer side as well stormwater drainage rates the increase is $1, going from $3 to $4.
Overall water rates are showing a slight increase.
Cemetery plots and fees saw the largest increases with no changes in these fees since 2017. There are increases in almost every category of pricing for the cemetery fees.
Perpetual care on full plots goes to $300 from $100 and the plot cost is increasing to $1000.
The cost of a veteran’s plot goes up to $250 for perpetual care and $750 for the plot.
Cremation plots in the lilac section increase of $100 and again increase about $100 for perpetual care.
The meadow section cremation plots increase to $750 from $600 and the same perpetual care increase of $100 will be applied.
Perpetual care is a one-time fee includes which maintenance and care for the plot from now to forever.
With the Columbarium niches, the terminology is changing to be more specific in placement to top, middle and bottom.
Fees are increasing for each level. New rates are $1200 for top, an increase of $200.
The middle level rate is increasing by $100 to $1000, and the bottom rate rises by $200 to $900.
Columbarium perpetual rates are increasing to $200 for all placements.
Monument permits are increasing from $25 to $75.
There are some minor changes and revisions under FCSS to reflect actual use of facilities.
There is a slight increase to the home support services from $24.32 an hour to $25.50.
The administration team has invested hard work to consolidate the schedules, making it easier for contractors to complete the process.
The new residential construction development permit increases to $150 from $100.
The non-residential change of use is changing from $100 to $150.
A stripping and grading permit has been added.
For land-use bylaw applications the fee is changing from $500 to $750, bringing Westlock in line with other municipalities in the province.
There is a great deal of administrative work required to process each of these applications.
Contract permits for safety for electrical work has been consolidated in a simplified chart since the current structure has not been working for contractors.
The same type of consolidation was done with the plumbing rate chart as well.
