City administration directed to prepare report on options for restructuring CUI

The future of Chestermere Utilities Inc. (CUI) came one step closer to being known Nov. 6.
Council directed city administration, at the regular meeting of council, to prepare an analysis and report on providing additional details and implementation options for three possible options for the restructuring and potential dissolution of the company.
On Oct. 22, council was presented five possible options for restructuring or dissolving CUI by consultants KPMG, and MacMillan LLP.
Council has narrowed the options down to: Municipalization, Retain CUI as a shell to hold the company’s debt while operations are brought back into the city, and Partnership or Outsourcing.
In the resolution, council asked for the option of municipalization to include details for both the option of all activities being brought back into the municipality and the option of having some of the services outsourced.
In the course of their deliberation, council agreed that the preference is for CUI to ultimately be dissolved.
“My understanding is we don’t want CUI in existence anymore,” said Councillor Cathy Burness.
With the resolution, city administration can begin gathering the details and implementation information that council needs to make and informed decision on the future of CUI.
No timeline was set for when administration was to present the implementation report to city council.