Pelham’s independent news source from the Heart of Niagara
The
VOICE
Vol.15 No.48
Cheating! Page 3
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Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Sports! Pages 8 & 9
Chardonnary! Page 6
Police investigating sudden death in Pelham BY SARAH MURRELL VOICE Staff As investigators wait for an autopsy report or witnesses to come forward, there is little in the way of explanation for how a 69-yearold woman ended up deceased on the side of a rural Pelham road. On Friday, Feb. 10 at approximately 8 a.m. residents of Chantler Road, west of Poth Street, discovered the deceased woman on the south side shoulder of
Chantler road and called police. Investigators from the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS) Collision Reconstruction Unit determined a 1994 grey Ford Taurus, found a short distance away in an open area off Chantler Road, belonged to the deceased woman. Investigators determined the Taurus was travelling eastbound on Chantler when it left the roadway and entered the ditch located on the south side of the road. The car came to rest in an adjacent field a
short distance from the roadway. The deceased, who was found a short distance away from the final resting position of the Ford Taurus, was a 69 year-old female resident from Welland. She was the registered owner of the car. There is no evidence to suggest that she had been ejected from the vehicle as a result of the collision. Sergeant Darrin Forbes said it appears the woman locked up her car after it left the roadway and tried to walk away.
“But I don’t know that,” he quickly pointed out, noting until the investigation is complete and police have concrete evidence, he can’t say for sure what happened.. “I’ve got a car and I’ve got an owner a short distance away” he said, adding until a post mortem proves cause of death there is little else that is known at this point. Forbess said a post mortem was being conducted on Monday morning. On Monday afternoon police had
ruled out foul play. Forbes said he has a witness who puts the car in the field at 4:30 a.m., so police know the collision occurred sometime prior to that and by Monday afternoon knew the accident occurred after 10:30 p.m. The problem, he said, is that the road is very rural, not heavily travelled, and very dark. To someone unfamiliar with the homes in the area, the car simply looked like someone left an old car in a field. Police are still appealing
to anyone who may have witnessed the collision or observed the 1994 Grey Ford Taurus station wagon in the Pelham area after 10:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9. If you have information about the collision or saw the car, call the accident reconstruction division at 905-688-4111, ext. 5500. The identity of the deceased is being withheld at the request of the family, who request their privacy at this time.
Pupo explained the water rates are set once the region has adopted and approved its rates. The region provides water flows to the town based on actual usage, however, because water usage has decreased significantly over the past three years the region has instituted a fixed component for cost recovery. The town recovers its water consumption through a 25 per cent flat rate and 75 per cent consumption rate. This ensures those who continue to conserve water pay less than those who consume more. There are other impacts on the water and wastewater rates, noted Pupo, including continued conservation
efforts, rainfall throughout the year, and loss in the system, which can result in lower actual usage than the region’s estimate for fees. The town uses a rate that better reflects the actual usage so that it can recover the cost of operating the distribution system. Pelham’s fixed rates are based on the fixed costs for Pelham and the region, divided by the number of households in the municipality. Consumption costs are calculated by dividing the estimated water costs by the forecasted waterflows. For 2012 the fixed rate for water is going up 3.5 per cent to $22.07 for most homes (it is more for homes with larger
sized water meters) and the consumption rate is increasing 4 per cent, to $1.2951 per cubic meter, an increase of five cents. Pupo pointed out the town wants to reward residents for conserving water. Increased conservation, however, results in fewer dollars
being paid into the water system. To recover all of the costs of the system the fixed rate goes up when consumption rates drop. In Pelham’s water billing, however, residents will see that 4 per cent rate hike go down as usage goes down, to about 3.8 per
cent. Pupo also pointed out the water meter replacement program is complete and the town is now capturing all water usage, including loss from leaks, etc. A report in the spring, said Pupo, will show councillors what loss there was in the system.
Water rates on the rise in Town of Pelham BY SARAH MURRELL VOICE Staff
The cost to do a load of laundry or run the dishwasher is going up. Both the monthly fixed rate and consumption rates for water and wastewater have been increased for 2012 by about 3.5 per cent. Councillors voted in favour of the increase at the Monday, Feb. 6 meeting of General Committee. The increase will be finalized by council at the Feb. 21 meeting. Treasurer Cari Pupo made a presentation to Councillors on Feb. 6, explaining how the water and sewer rates are set.
Water Rate Increases Occurrence
2011 Rates
2012 Rates
Increase Dollars
Increase Percent
Monthly Fixed (up to 19 mm) Monthly Fixed (up to 25 mm) Monthly Fixed (up to 37 mm) Monthly Fixed (up to 50 mm) Monthly Fixed (up to 75 mm) Consumption (per cubic metre)
$21.32
$22.07
$0.75
3.50 %
$42.64
$44.13
$1.49
3.50 %
$85.28
$88.26
$2.98
3.50 %
$106.60
$110.33
$0.73
3.50 %
$213.20
$220.66
$7.46
3.50 %
$1.2453
$1.2951
$0.05
4.00 %
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