The City of P.A. supplies water and sewer to 187 customers in Driftwood and Eastview Trailer Courts, according to a city report. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

Water and sanitation

Council approves conditional agreement to keep taps on at local trailer courts

Aug 26, 2020 | 5:02 PM

Residents of two local trailer courts say they’re relieved P.A. city council has approved a conditional agreement to continue supplying their community with water.

The nearly 200 mobile homes that compromise Driftwood and Eastview Trailer Courts are located just south of Prince Albert’s city limits, behind the Super 8 hotel.

“It’s piece of mind,” Driftwood resident Bernice Neufeld told paNOW. “I can actually get some rest.”

In July residents received notice their water could be shut-off unless the City of Prince Albert and the courts’ B.C.-based owners could come to an agreement.

Neufeld, who lives with her teenage granddaughter said the letter came as a shock.

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“My first thought was what do I do,” she said. “There’s a lot of people here that have kids. What are you going to do if you don’t have water, where are you going to go?”

Now after over a month of uncertainty on the part of residents, the agreement between the city and courts’ owners is nearly sealed.

Pending the receipt of a $90,000 payment, the city will enter into a five-year agreement to supply the trailer courts with water and access to Prince Albert’s sanitary sewer system. According to Monday’s city council agenda, the owners have already signed the deal and agreed to pay $90,000 up-front as compensation for infrastructure and capital costs incurred by the city during the negotiating period. The two parties began negotiations in 2017.

“I feel relieved that they came to an agreement,” Eastview resident Donnie Seaborne explained. Like Neufeld he was worried his family of seven might have to relocate. “I don’t know why it took so long, but I guess things happen.”

For her part, though she has some lingering concerns about communication from management throughout the ordeal, Neufeld said she’s glad to have the issue nearly resolved.

“Now I know I don’t have to go anywhere,” she said. “This is my home, I can stay here.”

Council documents indicate the consumption rate ($5.97 per 100 cubic feet of water) currently being charged at Driftwood and Eastview will continue under the new agreement. That rate is consistent with other out-of-town users.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom