The Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission (PUC) governance will remain unchanged following a tie vote by the Chatham-Kent (CK) council.
On Monday night, the council met at a 'special' meeting to discuss switching the way the PUC is controlled, dissolving it to become a Municipal Service Corporation, directed by council.
The discussion was based on an advisory review done by consulting firm KPMG. The report suggests the change in control, as well as hiring 11 staff members at a cost of $2.2 million, be paid for by water rates. The report notes that rates would remain the same with these changes.
"I struggled with the lack of information and education we received as council, moving through to make a decision of this size," said PUC Chair and councillor Carmen McGregor.
She expressed that a lack of information regarding what a Municipal Corporation is, low community engagement, and risks of higher rates have led her to oppose the report that she motioned to be brought to council.
Councillor Lauren Anderson, who also sits on the PUC board, noted she doesn't have the same feeling as Councillor C McGregor when it comes to the changes.
"It is a big change, but sometimes we do need to make big changes that are difficult in order to get to a better place," said Anderson.
Councillor Allyson Storey also expressed her concerns, stating that the report could shift the focus to growing areas and that rural renewal would become less visible.
The motion brought before council, which included adopting the KPMG recommendations, failed with an 8 to 8 vote. Councillors Conor Allin, Michael Bondy, C McGregor, Aaron Hall, Rhonda Jubenville, Jamie McGrail, Storey, and John Wright opposed the motion.
Council instead decided to refer the recruiting of staff based on the KPMG report, as well as the PUC Master Plan, back to the PUC.
