WHITBY FREE PRESS, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1980, PAGE ' Average cost $1 78.16 a year.... Re gion raiLse s us er rates 21 per c ent By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff Whitby residents can ex- peet to pay 21 par cent more for water and sewer services in 1981. General Motors is stili considering buying the now empty Firestone Canada plant in Whitby. That as the word of GM Canada president F. Alan Smith last week, however, he was quick to point out that no decisions have been made. "It's one of a number of alternatives we're looking out", Smith said. Smith refused to conf irm previous reports that the 350,000 square foot tire plant will be used to house the At last week's meeting of Durham Regional Council, councillors voted to not only increase the water and sewer charges but to reduce the lot levices -'paid by developers for these ser- automaker's export division. Joe Barbera, a spokesman for Firestone, said that there have been interested buyers for the plant, however, he did comment on whether or not a sale is possible. GM "would certainly have the resources" to buy the 24- year old facility, he said. "They've displayed an in- terest in it," Barbera said, "but nothing is finalized on The plant shutdown on July 18 leaving 650 people out of work. Attersley wants polluting fir»ms pros ec uted Mayor Bob Attersley said last week that he wants Durham Region to continue prosecuting polluting in- dustries despite ane com- pany's stand that says pollution cannot be stopped. "I have been hearing that from this company for the past two years," he said. "We are going to force them to do something to clean up r GALA NEW YEAR'S PARTY L-seDELICIOUS HOT & COLD BUFFET P-rime Nib $4O00coUPLE Crab Legs $2O SINGLE BBQ Ribs Party Games, Spot Dances For Reservot ions 579-6424 21 CELINA ST., OSHAWA ) their act. " Attlersley said that while he was a memnber of the region's public works com- mittee he advocated the en- forcement of the Durham sewer-use by-law. "lIt is îaot only Durham Region either; I think it is the responsibility of cowicils of town that border the lake to fight pollution," he said. vices. Council also decided to raise the rates by a further five per cent in 1982. Next year, the average Whitby resident using 60,000 gallons of water a year can expect to pay $178.16 for his water and sewer services. Based on a quarterly charge of $44.59; the bill will. be broken down into two sec- tions: $19.87 for water and $24.72 for sewer. This is up for this years charge of $17.62 for water and $19.24 for sewer services each quarter. The average annual bill in 1980 for 60,000 gallons was $147.44. However, the water and sewer consumer should take heart for his bill will ac- tually be lower than that because while the rates are based on 60,000 gallons, the average use is dloser to 52,000 galions a year. The new charges are also slightly lower thani they could have been because of the special Town of Whitby reserve fund that is used to offset water and sewer charges. The reserve funds pays the region approximately $10,000 a year to offset these charges. However, according to town treasurer AI Claringbold, there is >only about $60,000 left in the fund, therefore, it should run out sometime in the next five years. (Based on 52,000 gallons a year, the annual charge to a Whitby resident will be somewhere in the neigh- bourhood of $154.04). Although Brooklin is not serviced with a regional sewer system, resident of the hamlet will experience an il par cent increase in their water charges. Their rates will go up to $21.64 a quarter from this year's $19.58. That means an average water bill for Brooklin residents of $8656, in 1981. One of the major reasons for the increase in the water and sewer rates is the redution of the lot levies paid by developars to the region for the installation of those tribute $1,885 towards the services, construction of water and Council reduced their lot sewer services and $245 levy from $2,750 per housing towards the contruction of unit to $2,130. roads. According to finance Regional council also did committee chairman, Coun- away with the general pur- cillor John Aker (Oshawa), pose lot levy that was used to the' decrease was necessary finance such projects as the because the ý'egion could not construction of police defend the old levy structure stations and homes for the either before the Ontario aged. Municipal Board or the The increase in the water courts. and sewer charges was also The* new levy will con- attributed, in part, to the closing of t.he Firestoi Canada plant in Whitby ai 1 the Houdaille Industril facility in Oshawa. According to region1 Finance Commissioner Jai Gartley, these two i dustries provided a proximately $300,000 of tI revenue needed to opera the system. The increase in the rat( s not only refleets these tv o facters but the rising costs of runming the system as well G eneral Motors stil interested mi empty ]plant murbamrm 1 00 9 MMO-IP-