A Wellington North councillor isn’t prepared to give approval to a new hydro office planned built here by Wellington North Power (WNP).
In a letter to council, utility president and CEO Judy Rosebrugh asked for a resolution of support from the township to proceed with plans to build a new $3.34 million building.
However Councillor Dan Yake felt the information received by council did not outline particulars about the planned building. He said council should not support the plan until more information was available.
Wellington North owns 96.79 per cent of the outstanding shares of WNP, according to township interim CAO and treasurer Mike Givens, adding share capital is valued at approximately $1.585 million.
“If I was building a 3.4 million home without telling my wife she would be upset,” Yake said.
The utility had looked at renovating the building to make it fully accessible, but a study found the renovation would be about $233,565 less than a new building at 290 Queen Street West.
Givens said WNP is in the process of putting in its rate application by September to Ontario Energy Board.
“The rate adjustment request is done in September,” Givens said of the procedures the utility follows. “The process is different in terms of what we do as a municipality. They have to look well in advance so they can get their rates to build it (new building) in the future.”
“They have to show the primary shareholders that this is what they are doing to put in the rate change,” he added, referring to the request for a council resolution.
“Rate increases versus this needs to be justified,” Yake said.
Passage of a council resolution was deferred.
