The results of the survey distributed to residents of East Coulee and Lehigh asking whether they want municipal water are in and residents overwhelmingly rejected the proposal.
The survey asked respondents to reply if they were in favour of the proposal to construct water distribution lines throughout East Coulee and Lehigh for a cost per household of $15,614.34.
“We tried to facilitate getting water into East Coulee and that was the cost,” said Mayor Terry Yemen. “The reality is that two or three years from now that price won’t be available.”
Three respondents replied that they were in favour of the proposal as is, 28 supported the need for water, but think the price is too high, and 87 did not support constructing water distribution lines. Of the 170 letters mailed out, 118 were returned.
The construction of a transmission line from Cambria to the western edge of East Coulee will continue as planned, because of funding provided by the provincial government.
The Town is pressuring the provincial government to supply additional funding so that the transmission line could be brought to the eastern side of East Coulee. This could reduce the cost of any subsequent local improvements.
With the transmission line in place, the distribution lines through the communities could built at a later time, but Mayor Yemen cautioned that the cost would be greater than what it is now.
Town Council will consider the results of the survey and make a decision regarding the distribution lines through the two communities in the new year.
