(File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Nigel Maxwell

Civic politics

Water woes on the rise in Duck Lake

Mar 20, 2020 | 11:50 AM

Frustrations have been boiling over in the Town of Duck Lake.

In addition to concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic, 20 homes had their water shut off in the past week.

Shayla Mike, a single parent with five children, has been at home self isolating after coming in contact with someone who had travelled abroad. She told paNOW she can’t understand the town’s reasoning.

“It’s like ‘Why arent you guys just putting it on hold? Why can’t we just wait this month and send out a letter and have some compassion for people who live in your town?'” she said.

Mike is one of the fortunate ones. Earlier this week, some men came to her house to shut the water off, informing her she was in arrears. But after telling them she would call the town office right away and make arrangements, the men backed off. Mike said she knows people who can’t afford to pay.

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“People are waiting until Friday because they are waiting fo their family allowance, especially single mothers like me,” Mike said.

When contacted by paNOW, Mayor Donna Piche explained the reason why people are having their water turned off is because they are 45 days in arrears, and the town’s policy dictates this is the recourse of action.

“It’s a bylaw that’s been on the books for decades but we started enforcing it in January,” she said.

Piche acknowledged the growing concerns of COVID-19 but added the town’s bylaw is very clear, and the issues with the unpaid water bills came before it.

“If you are in the middle of something, how can you stop?” she asked.

A copy of the policy was posted to the town’s Facebook page on Thursday. (Facebook/Town of Duck Lake)

Piche assured there are options for people who owe money. If residents call the town office and make arrangements, the order will stop.

“All they have to do is make arrangements,” she said.

If the process gets to the point where crews show up to someone house, Piche said residents just need to tell them they are going down to the town office immediately to make a payment.

“Every household got a copy of the bylaw and the policy,” Piche said.

According to a letter from the town dated March 17, the town is undertaking a number of measures in response to COVID-19. One of those measures is the closure of the town office Friday.

“Please note essential services will not be interrupted,” the letter states.

Anyone with questions or concerns can still the town office during normal working hours.

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nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell