Residents of a neighborhood in Breslau, Ontario, were taken aback by a recent letter instructing them to pay nearly $14,000 per household for water and sewer upgrades completed on their streets ten years ago. The letter, dated October 27 and issued by Woolwich Township, was sent to twenty-five properties along Scheifele Place, Woolwich Street South, Dolman Street, and Joseph Street. Each household is being charged $13,950.19 to cover the total project cost of $348,754.75.
Kayla Jager, a resident of Woolwich Street since 2018, expressed her shock at the substantial amount, stating, “I was in complete shock. It’s such a huge amount.” Jager and her neighbors had not been informed of any potential charges until receiving the letter. The communication from the township, outlined in the letter, disclosed that the township council had passed a bylaw on October 7 to shift the project costs to property owners benefiting from the municipal servicing works.
Residents are given until December 12 to settle the bill or have the option to spread payments over 20 years by adding it to their tax bill with annual installments of $1,286.25. Jager raised concerns about the fairness of the charges, particularly for residents like her who do not utilize the municipal services due to having a septic tank and well.
Michael Lamb, a real estate lawyer, advised residents to check if they have title insurance, which may cover such unexpected charges related to property ownership. Jared Puppe, Woolwich’s director of infrastructure services, admitted that the township had failed to effectively communicate the charges with residents, noting an oversight in considering property ownership changes throughout the process.
Acknowledging the financial burden on residents, Puppe emphasized the importance of contacting the township’s finance department to discuss payment options. The township extended the deadline for full payment to May 2026 and offered flexibility for residents facing financial hardships. Puppe assured that steps would be taken to prevent similar situations in the future, emphasizing the need for improved communication with affected residents.