Nov 2009

There was no lack of representation from both of Portage la Prairie’s major industrial plants at Tuesday night’s Public Utilities Board hearing.

The hearing took place at the Portage Industrial Exhibition Association board office and featured a presentation on a proposed water and sewer rate increase of more than six per cent for domestic usage and 12-13 per cent for commercial usage annually from 2010-12. The hike is to help the city upgrade its wastewater treatment facility to meet new provincial regulations for nutrient removal. The presentation was made by the city’s director of finance Nettie Neudorf and director of operations Kelly Braden.

Representatives from both McCain Foods Ltd. and Simplot Canada Ltd. were in attendance, and PUB chairman Graham Lane, along with fellow board members Monica Girouard and Susan Proven, heard arguments from both parties. Ralph Neuman, a lawyer at Taylor and McCaffrey, spoke on behalf of McCain. He says a lack of consultation has forced the company to speak out against the proposed rate increases.

“It appears the city left the impression there has been sharing of information between them and McCain … this is not true,” said Neuman. “It’s for the board to decide if rate increases are urgent, (but) an agreement must be reached before this takes place.”

Neuman claims the city avoided consulting with McCain until early 2008, when a pre-feasibility presentation was made on upcoming wastewate nutrient removal mandates from the province. He says the company has not had enough time to challenge the city’s presentation, and asked for an adjournment in order to give McCain the necessary time needed to complete a proper presentation.

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