Niverville town council has increased the town's development fee. Council has approved an immediate increase of $700 per lot which brings the fee to $5,000. A further increase of $750 will take effect next January. Mayor Myron Dyck explains why.

"As we look at things that development fees normally go towards, water, sewer and capital infrastructure, we are looking at how do we get some of these things paid for. For instance, we see in the next ten-year plan and beyond, or perhaps sooner, the need for a new town office and the need for a new fire hall. And so, how do we pay for that? So we have asked developers to meet with us. We have been having discussions with them. We value them highly but development fees are something that go toward these types of projects."

Dyck says the increased funds will be tied to specific projects in the future. He adds, in response to suggestions from developers, they have also agreed to increase marketing of the town.

"They asked if we could somehow increase our marketing of our community to assist our developers. So what council agreed is that it would take $500 of these development fees per lot and that would go toward the town's marketing budget to further sell the community and help out our developers in that way."

Dyck notes council is also planning further increases in the development fee of $750 dollars and $1,000 respectively in 2020 and 2021 which would bring the fee to $8,000 per lot.