Chilliwack council decided Monday it couldn't forgive a massive water bill the owners of the Empress Hotel racked up due to faulty plumbing.

Councillors voted unanimously against waiving a portion of the bill totalling $31,079.36, which had been recommended by staff.

The underground water leak, which has since been repaired, actually predates the hotel's current owners, Slipstream Developments.

They purchased the property almost two years ago, according to the letter to council from Empress owners Tom Mool, Roop Virk and Don Yates.

"We feel that we have more than done our part in working as a team with the city on this project, and feel that considering the above that it is unfair that we be asked to pay the entire water bill, for water that did not go into the sewer/storm sewer systems, but instead leaked onto and went into the ground," they wrote.

They asked council to consider the time, money and effort spent trying to get the plumbing problem fixed, the property redeveloped, and the impact of closing down the rented room section of the hotel.

The city was asked to take responsibility for 75 per cent of the sewer fees.

The underground leak led to a metred utility bill of $66,927.55, over the past 20 months. Since most of the water didn't make it to the sewer, those sewer costs should be waived, said the owners.

But city councillors were not in any way convinced.

"I didn't find their reasoning and rationale convincing," said Coun. Chuck Stam. "My worry was from a precedent perspective. How is it any different from any other property owner or any other taxpayer who has a bill to pay?

"The new owners bought with their eyes wide open."

If the request had been part of a comprehensive development plan, offering some incentive for the downtown, "it would have been more supportable," Stam added. "But the way it sits with nothing happening on the site, it's a no-go for me."

Coun. Diane Janzen agreed it was a case of not setting bad precedent.

"I can't speak for anyone else, but to my own thinking, it's an outstanding bill, just like anyone else would have to pay," she said.

The owners also argued that some discussions about waiving part of the bill had taken place with the previous council administration.

"I do understand that. It's no secret the Empress has had its challenges, now and in past years. But council was pretty unequivocal at the meeting. This is not the direction we want to take with individual business or home owners."

jfeinberg@theprogress.com