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Olds town council gave third and final reading to the water and wastewater bylaw yesterday, transferring all future tenant accounts into the names of landlords.

The new bylaw will only apply to new tenants. Existing tenants who currently pay their own accounts will continue to do so until they move or the account becomes delinquent. When new tenants move in, the accounts would be transferred to the owners of the properties.

Norm McInnis, the town’s chief administrative officer, said following the vote that the change will be implemented in about the next three months. He said the town’s main objective in transferring the utility responsibility to owners was to protect the town from not being able to collect on delinquent accounts after a tenant moves.

"There’s been a considerable amount of write-down on our utility accounts. That won’t happen anymore," he said.

Coun. Harvey Walsh said he thought administration did a good job after first reading on this bylaw and deserved council’s congratulations, taking into account all the public feedback and then balancing that with the reality that the town faces with delinquent accounts.

Mayor Judy Dahl concurred.

"Hopefully this will work for the community," she said.

The town has had to write off $55,226 in utility accounts going back to 2000.