Water shut-offs starting
Water shut-offs are starting in the community, after a prolonged grace period for the $59 annual water fee that community members pay to the Mohawk Council of Kahnawake (MCK).
Community members who haven’t paid their annual fee will receive a letter from the MCK reminding them to pay. If they still don’t pay after being notified, their water will be turned off, and they will have to pay an additional fee of $10 to reconnect.
“Community members have a long time to pay,” said Martin Morris, director of MCK’s public works department, who added that the initial deadline was at the end of March, but that those who haven’t paid have still had since then to pay the bill without penalty.
The fee itself goes towards offsetting the cost of running water and sewer services in the community annually, which costs the MCK approximately $1,250,000 per year. Morris said that works out to around $600 per home, making the $59 fee a reasonable amount to ensure that services run smoothly.
“It’s only $59, but we can make arrangements if someone is having so many problems (that they can’t pay just now),” he said.
Right now, reminders are being posted to community members’ doors reminding them to call and make arrangements to pay, and shut-offs will likely start next week for those who still haven’t paid, in order to give households a few days to meet the final notice.
Community members are encouraged to verify with family members that they’ve sent their payment to avoid shut-offs. If households experience shut-offs, they should pay by visiting the cashier at the Kahnawake Office Complex between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. – water will be reactivated upon payment, and community members should notify public works once their payment has been made.
