Councillor Ed Gibbons comments on the Sale of the Gold Bar Wastewater Treatment Plant
Ed Gibbons is the City Councillor for Ward 3, representing Edmonton’s N.E. side. His first term as City Councillor was in 2001 and he has been re-elected in 2004 and again in 2007. He is currently appointed to the Edmonton Salutes Board and the Executive Committee of Edmonton Northlands. As a councilor he not only represents the interests of people in his constituency, but also focuses on major issues concerning the well being of the city as a whole.
In late September, city council received a report suggesting the sale of Gold Bar wastewater treatment plant to EPCOR. On Tuesday January 27th, the decision was made and city council voted to sell government owned Gold Bar to EPCOR for 75 million dollars, with a 7-6 vote. I am fortunate to have interviewed Ed Gibbons regarding the sale of the plant and the possibilities that it entails.
For more information, please visit Gold Bar Waste Water Treatment Plant Transfer to EPCOR (PDF)
Note that the below interview is not an exact transcription of the author’s interview with Mr. Gibbons.
Q: Can you briefly describe the Gold Bar wastewater treatment plant?
A: Over the years, through upgrades and improvements Gold Bar has earned an international reputation as a leader in wastewater technology. Gold Bar is located in the North Saskatchewan River Valley where it handles requirements for 700,000 people in the greater Edmonton area. We are dedicated to keeping this reputation and can therefore see the benefits in selling the facility to EPCOR.
Q: What are the benefits of selling the facility to EPCOR?
A: First off, I want to address the fact that EPCOR is 100% owned by the City of Edmonton and is therefore a private entity of us. Emphasizing the reliability of the company, EPCOR has been named one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for nine consecutive years and was selected as one of Canada’s 10 most Earth-Friendly Employers. Other than receiving the 75 million dollar transfer fee we will also be collecting dividends, taxes and franchise fees from EPCOR. The baseline conditions were; no city employees will lose their jobs as a result of the transfer, Gold Bar’s environmental leadership and expertise in the area of wastewater treatment must be maintained, and council would maintain final approval over drainage rates. The sale of the plant also gives EPCOR a credibility boost for bids on other projects such as, Winnipeg and Victoria, resulting in an increase in profit for the company.
Q: What will be done with the 75 million dollars?
A: We won’t know the exact implementation of the dollars until sometime in March, although I would assume that it will be invested in a stabilization fund. That way on a rainy day there is still a little bit of money to fall back on.
Q: What are the customer impacts?
A: There shouldn’t be any impacts for the customers. I have worked on both sides of the spectrum; blue collared positions and white collared positions, and therefore understand the interests of others. For those who are concerned about the increase of rates, it will be the council that will be making these decisions through a vote every 3 years, after an EPCOR representative gives a report. Hence, it is the Council that will maintain the final say. The proof is in the pudding.
Q: Are there political consequences on the disposition of the Gold Bar water treatment plant?
A: The sale will make employees responsible for the wastewater management plant without the direct interference of politicians with the provision that EPCOR maintains the high standards mandated by the city council on water treatment.