Sewer plan will hurt homeowners

I have read the action plan put forth by the mayor in light of recent floods and I support it. However, what residents don’t know might really hurt them.

The plan calls for a camera in every sewer to detect any defects or bad lines. If found, you will be presented with the option to repair or replace the line from three feet into the basement to the connection at the road.

A repair on a residential street can cost around $7,000 and a replacement can cost over $10,000. This cost is on the homeowner.

The city will give you a rebate of $2,000 on a full replacement only. This rebate last went up in 2011 from $1,700.

The costs of materials, labour and permits have all gone up since then but the city has no plan to review the rebate any time soon. This happened to me two months after purchasing our new home.

I don’t know about anyone else but I was not prepared to spend $10,000 two months after buying a home, as we chose the full replacement. Seems we may have made the right choice, as we did not experience flooding recently.

The only reason they found the defect was that we requested a tree be planted by the city.

How many other sewer lines backed up because they were in disrepair?

We need the cameras in every sewer but beware, this will cost you. And it will cost significantly more if you are on a busy street.

Also, I may be one of the few people voicing their positive opinion of how the city and the garbage collectors are treating the garbage collection lately. I am beyond impressed with all the trucks being brought in, the extra hours the workers are putting in.

I’d like to thank everyone working their tails off right now to get Windsor cleaned up again. Shari Richard, Windsor