WAINFLEET WATER and SEWER COMMITTEE



NEWS CLIPPINGS AFTER APRIL 1st , 2005



IN THE WELLAND TRIBUNE
ARTICLE BY MAGGIE RIOPELLE
MAY 02,2005

Update turns into debate
Wainfleet water-sewer meeting turns heated

A meeting held for residents here to be updated on the water-sewer situation in Wainfleet turned into a debate between a citizen’s group member and chair of the Public Advisory Committee .
On Saturday, about 50 citizens gathered at Morgan’s Point Church for an update, as well as to hear what the citizen’s group has been doing.
However, it turned into a debate between the members of the citizens group and the Public Advisory Committee (PAC), which was created by the region in order to communicate and liaise between the stakeholders.
Betty Konc is a founding member of the citizens group and is also a member of the advisory committee. Colin Pilmer, the new advisory committee chair, was shocked to hear Konc’s claims that with Pilmer as chair getting answers from the region was now difficult at best.
It was obvious from the meeting Konc and Pilmer do not see eye to eye on the issue.
“I don’t want to see a pipeline. We have to do something else other than put pipes in the ground,” Konc said. “We’ve got a problem that needs to be addressed. "
The citizens committee suggested everyone have their septic system inspected, as even the second round of sampling by the region revealed poor results.
So what does that mean? It means people in Wainfleet have septic problems, whether knowingly or unknowingly.
Konc said if everyone could have their own systems inspected and fixed, it could help to satisfy concerns from the region, the public health department, and Ministry of Environment.
“You might not be able to see the problem, but just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem,” she said.
“Septic systems are a huge responsibility. We need to take responsibility of the septic system and holding tanks in our yards.”
The proposed pipeline is estimated to cost anywhere from $50 to $72 million.
The township of Wainfleet applied for funding from the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) was it was recently announced the township did not get the funding.
There is a possibility, the township could get the funding in the next round. If Wainfleet is approved for funding, Wainfleet would receive up to two third of the projects costs, leaving the remaining third for the municipality. But residents still don’t know how much they will have to pay for the system.
There have been estimates as low as $5,000 to as high as $30,000. Residents will have the option of putting it onto their tax bills to pay over 10 or 20 years.
As well, the residents will have to pay an additional fee to hook up to the system.
Konc said the pipeline would do nothing more than bankrupt the community.
As such, she made a request from members of the public to make donations of $100 for hiring a lawyer.
“My committee disagrees with the pipeline and is asking for your help. We have a strategy but I can’t tell you because I don’t know who is in the audience and who may bring it to the powers that be,” said Konc.
Pilmer said he disagreed with Konc’s approach on this issue and while some may not support a pipeline, if the city receives government funding, he can’t see them not moving forward.
“From the testing that was conducted, 68 per cent of the wells have E-coli. They say the problem is wide spread and I tend to believe it,” Pilmer said. “I’m not going to suggest this project has been handled well. I don’t see why you want to turn a cooperative venture adversarial. Who are they going to take to court? I’m not sure what the committee hopes to achieve. Hiring a lawyer is going to slow this process down.”
When asked why the committee decided to pursue a lawyer, Konc said it seemed like the next logical step, although the residents at Saturday’s meeting didn’t seem as supportive as the citizens who had attended the Thursday meeting, she said.
There were some concerns from residents that this pipeline may result in mass new developments.
According to Pilmer, that just isn’t the case. The pipeline has been downsized to handle current and on the book developments.



IN THE WELLAND TRIBUNE
ARTICLE BY COLIN PILMER
April 26,2005

TO: WAINFLEET LAKESHORE COMMUNITY

THERE ARE TWO COMMITTEES CURRENTLY ACTIVE IN REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICING PLAN FOR WAINFLEET’S LAKESHORE AREA. YOU RECENTLY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM ONE OF THEM – BETTY KONC’S ANTI-PIPELINE GROUP – REQUESTING A $100 CONTRIBUTION TOWARD HIRING A LAWYER TO FIGHT THE REGION ON YOUR BEHALF.
AS CHAIRMAN OF THE OTHER GROUP, THE PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE (PAC), I WANT TO RESPOND TO BETTY’S LETTER, AND HER RECENT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR AND VARIOUS OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS.
BOTH GROUPS SHARE THE GOAL OF ENSURING THAT THE CHOSEN SOLUTION IS THE BEST AVAILABLE; THAT IT NOT LEAD TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE EXISTING COMMUNITY THROUGH FUTURE DEVELOPMENT; AND THAT IT BE AFFORDABLE FOR ALL CONCERNED. BEYOND THAT HOWEVER WE HAVE CLEAR DIFFERENCES.
BETTY HAS DESCRIBED HER GROUP AS “A COMMUNITY COMMITTEE THAT IS OPPOSED TO THE WATER/SEWER PIPELINE PROPOSED BY THE REGION”. THE PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE IS AN IMPARTIAL GROUP WILLING TO CONSIDER ALL POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS, INCLUDING MUNICIPAL SERVICES.
THE ANTI-PIPELINE GROUP BELIEVES THAT THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN OVERSTATED – THEY REFER FREQUENTLY TO “THE FEW FAULTY SYSTEMS”, “THE FEW WHO ARE AT FAULT”, AND SO ON. IT IS DIFFICULT TO RECONCILE THIS VIEW WITH THE FACT THAT THE AVAILABLE EVIDENCE POINTS TO THE OPPOSITE CONCLUSION. FOR EXAMPLE, A RECENT FOLLOW-UP STUDY, INTENDED TO ADDRESS BETTY’S CONCERNS ABOUT ONE OF THE ORIGINAL STUDIES, AND DESIGNED WITH HER INPUT, SHOWED 68% OF THE WELLS TESTED EXCEEDED THE ALLOWABLE “TOTAL COLIFORMS” STANDARD, AND THAT 49% DID NOT MEET THE LEGAL SETBACK REQUIREMENTS BETWEEN WELLS AND SEPTIC SYSTEMS. BARRING NEW EVIDENCE TO THE CONTRARY, THE PAC CONSIDERS IT PROVEN THAT SEPTIC SYSTEM FAILURE IN OUR AREA IS BOTH COMMON AND WIDESPREAD. (THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE ABOUT “THE PROBLEM” WHICH HAS NOT, IN OUR VIEW, BEEN ADEQUATELY COMMUNICATED TO THE PUBLIC. THE NEXT NEWSLETTER WILL ADDRESS THIS.)
SIMILARLY WE DISAGREE ON 2 ISSUES RELATING TO ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS. THE FIRST IS WHETHER ALTERNATIVES WERE ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED AT THE VALUE ANALYSIS EXERCISE IN FEBRUARY. IN A RECENT LETTER TO THE EDITOR BETTY STATES:
“THE MAYOR AND THE REGION WOULD HAVE US ALL BELIEVE THAT ALTERNATIVES TO THE PIPELINE WERE LOOKED AT...NOT SO. I WAS THERE FOR 3 OF THE 5 DAYS, SO I BELIEVE I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT A MINIMAL AMOUNT OF TIME WAS SPENT ON ALTERNATIVES.”
WELL, I WAS THERE FOR 5 OF THE 5 DAYS AND SPENT THE BETTER PART OF 3 OF THEM WORKING WITH THE 3 CONSULTANTS WHO SPENT ABOUT 4 DAYS LOOKING AT ALTERNATIVES, SO I BELIEVE I CAN SAY WITH CONFIDENCE THAT THIS ISSUE WAS ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED. OTHER MEMBERS OF THE PAC WERE ALSO PRESENT FOR 4 OR 5 DAYS; THEY TOO BELIEVE THAT ALTERNATIVES WERE SUFFICIENTLY EXPLORED.
THE ANTI-PIPELINE GROUP ALSO ARGUES THAT ON-SITE SOLUTIONS ARE APPROPRIATE AND AVAILABLE IN MOST CASES. ONCE AGAIN THE FACTS SUGGEST OTHERWISE. A SITE-BY-SITE STUDY OF ALL 1244 RESIDENTIAL LOTS IN OUR AREA SHOWS THAT 67% FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF THE ONTARIO BUILDING CODE, AND ONLY 8 ½% ARE SUITABLE IN ALL RESPECTS FOR SEPTIC SYSTEM USAGE.
FINALLY, IT IS ON THE QUESTION OF HOW TO PROCEED FROM HERE THAT THE TWO GROUPS DIFFER MOST PROFOUNDLY. THE PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ADVOCATES A CONTINUATION OF THE EXISTING COOPERATIVE EFFORT INVOLVING ALL THE CONCERNED PARTIES. MONTHLY MEETINGS BRING TOGETHER THE PAC MEMBERS, THE REGION’S PROJECT MANAGER (BOB STEELE), CHADO BRCIC (DIRECTOR, WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES DIVISION, NIAGARA REGION), WAINFLEET’S MAYOR AND TOWN PLANNER, BILL HUNTER FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND OTHERS AS REQUIRED. THE PUBLIC REPRESENTATIVES ARE FREE TO ADD AGENDA ITEMS AS THEY SEE FIT; NOTHING IS OUT OF BOUNDS. WE HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE STUDIES AND REPORTS; THE AUTHORS ARE AVAILABLE TO US FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION AND EXPLANATION. THERE IS A GREAT DEAL OF ONGOING COMMUNICATION AS WELL. ADDITIONAL STUDIES HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED IN RESPONSE TO PAC REQUESTS – 2 OF THEM ARE REFERRED TO ABOVE. OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS WE HAVE MADE REAL HEADWAY ON MOST OF THE PUBLIC CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROJECT. (I SHOULD NOTE HERE THAT WHILE I BELIEVE WE HAVE DONE A REASONABLY GOOD JOB AT REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY’S CONCERNS TO THE PROJECT TEAM, WE HAVE NOT PUT ENOUGH EFFORT INTO COMMUNICATING PROGRESS BACK TO THE COMMUNITY; THIS WILL INCREASINGLY BE OUR FOCUS OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.)
I FAIL TO SEE ANY REASON AT THIS POINT TO ABORT THE CURRENT PROCESS AND REPLACE IT WITH A CONFRONTATIONAL APPROACH. THE SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES IN WILL NOT BE RESOLVED BY TRIVIALIZING THE PROBLEM, OR BY INSISTING THAT BETTER SOLUTIONS EXIST ALTHOUGH WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY MIGHT BE, OR BY TREATING AS THE ENEMY ALL THOSE WHO ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH US TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ABOUT THIS PROJECT PLEASE CONTACT ANY MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

Colin Pilmer
Chairman, Public Advisory Committee

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from NIAGARA THIS WEEK
ARTICLE by MIKE STURMAN
WAINFLEET FUNDING , APRIL 1ST 2005

Decision expected shortly on Wainfleet water funding

THE WAIT IN WAINFLEET FOR A DECISION ON POSSIBLE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE PROPOSED WATER -SEWER PIPELINE IS DOWN TO JUST A FEW WEEKS.
WAINFLEET MAYOR GORD HARRY MET FACE TO FACE WITH JOHN GODFREY, THE MINISTER OF STATE INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES, FOR HALF AN HOUR IN OTTAWA LAST WEEK.
REGIONAL MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH DR. ROBIN WILLIAMS, REGIONAL CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER MIKE TROJAN AND REGIONAL COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC WORKS IAN NEVILLE JOINED THE MAYOR AND WELLAND MP JOHN MALONEY FOR THE MEETING.
"IT WENT QUITE WELL. WE WERE REALLY PLEASED," THE MAYOR SAID. "IT GAVE US AN IDEA OF WHERE WE RANK. WE BELIEVE THE TOWN AND THE REGION HAVE DONE JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE WE'RE RANKED AT THE TOP."
THE MAYOR SAID HE EXPECTS A DECISION IN TWO OR THREE WEEKS. THE TOWN IS TRYING TO GET $54-MILLION TO PUT TOWARDS THE PLANNED WATER-SEWER PIPELINE TO CONNECT 1,400 HOMES ALONG WAINFLEET'S LAKE ERIE SHORELINE WITH SEWAGE AND WATER TREATMENT PLANTS IN PORT COLBORNE.
"I'M NOT SAYING WE'LL GET WHAT WE ASKED FOR," MAYOR HARRY SAID. "IT'S CERTAIN TO BE A HIGH PRIORITY."
THE PIPELINE WAS THE SOLUTION CHOSEN BY THE REGION AS THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH WATER CONCERNS IN THE AREA, WHERE AGING AND LEAKING SEPTIC SYSTEMS ARE BEING BLAMED FOR CONTAMINATION OF THE GROUNDWATER SUPPLY.
WAINFLEET HAS NO SEWAGE TREATMENT OR WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES. PEOPLE DRINK BOTTLED WATER OR USE WELL WATER OR WATER FROM CISTERNS, WHILE SEWAGE IS DEALT WITH THROUGH INDIVIDUAL SEPTIC SYSTEMS.
THE 20-KILOMTRE PIPELINE CONNECTION TO TREATMENT PLANS WOULD RUN ALONG AN ABANDONED RAIL LINE AND IS ESTIMATED TO COST ANYWHERE FROM $52-MILLION TO $72-MILLION.
INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNER COSTS TO HOOK UP TO THE IT ARE ESTIMATED TO BE FROM $25,000 TO $35,000 OR HIGHER, DEPENDING HOW FAR AWAY THE HOME IS FROM THE HOOKUP.
"THEY HAD AN EXCELLENT PRESENTATION AND THEIR CONCERNS WERE CERTAINLY HEARD," MALONEY SAID. "THE PROJECT FITS THE PROGRAM CRITERIA PERFECTLY AND I HOPE THE SUBSTANTIAL FUNDS REQUESTED WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THEM. MINISTER GODFREY WAS ALWAYS AWARE OF THE CITIZENS' CONCERNS."

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IN THE WELLAND TRIBUNE
ARTICLE "WHAT READERS SAY"
April 30,2005

NANCY




IN THE ST. CATHARINES STANDARD
WAINFLEET MAYOR MIFFED
ARTICLE By KALVIN REID
April 26,2005

65MIL



from THE WELLAND TRIBUNE
ARTICLE by ALLAN BENNER , April 26, 2005

No funds for Wainfleet

WAINFLEET WON’T BE GETTING UPPER-TIER GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO HELP COVER THE COST OF AN URGENTLY-NEEDED WATER AND SEWER PROJECT – AT LEAST NOT YET.
MONDAY’S ANNOUNCEMENT OF $250 MILLION IN CANADA-ONTARIO MUNICIPAL RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND (COMRIF) ALLOCATIONS DIDN’T INCLUDE THE $36 MILLION WAINFLEET APPLIED FOR TO FUND THE WATER AND SEWER PROJECT ALONG THE TOWNSHIP’S LAKE SHORE.
AND THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE THE FEDERAL AND PROVINCIAL FUNDING WON’T ARRIVE UNTIL SEPTEMBER.
“I’M VERY DISAPPOINTED,” SAID DR. ROBIN WILLIAMS, THE REGION’S MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH. “IT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE BEEN SO HELPFUL TO HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SIGNAL OF SOME FUNDING TO HELP US MOVE THIS SUBSTANTIVE PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM FORWARD.”
TESTING OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS HAS DETERMINED LEAKING SEPTIC BEDS ARE CONTAMINATING DRINKING WATER. THE REGION’S PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAS RECOMMENDED THE INSTALLATION OF WATER AND SEWER LINES ALONG THE TOWNSHIP’S LAKE SHORE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
BUT THE COST OF THE PROJECT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED TO BE AS MUCH AS $48 MILLION. WITHOUT UPPER-TIER GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE, BUILDING THE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM COULD COST PROPERTY OWNERS $30,000 EACH.
IF APPROVED, THE $36-MILLION COMRIF ALLOCATION WOULD HAVE REDUCED THE EACH PROPERTY OWNER’S SHARE TO ABOUT $5,000, SAID ERIE-LINCOLN MPP TIM HUDAK.
“IF WE HAD HEARD SOME GOOD NEWS TODAY, IT WOULD HAVE BROUGHT A LOT OF CLARITY TO THE SITUATION,” SAID COLIN PILMER, A LAKESHORE ROAD RESIDENTS AND CHAIR OF A PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE ISSUE.
“WE COULD HAVE GONE BACK TO THE PUBLIC AND SAID, ‘HERE’S THE DEAL.’ BUT NOW WE’RE IN THE POSITION OF SAYING, ‘WELL, WE STILL DON’T KNOW.’”
IN FEBRUARY, HUDAK ARRANGED A MEETING BETWEEN WAINFLEET MAYOR GORD HARRY, WILLIAMS AND ONTARIO’S INFRASTRUCTURE MINISTER DAVID CAPLAN, TO GIVE THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLAIN THE URGENCY OF THE SITUATION. THEY ALSO MET WITH FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES TO DISCUSS THE PROBLEM, WILLIAMS SAID.
“I THOUGHT THERE WAS CLEAR UNDERSTANDING BY THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY ASKED WITH RESPECT TO THE PROBLEMS FOR THIS COMMUNITY,” SHE SAID.
THROUGH THE “NUMEROUS PRESENTATIONS AND VISITS TO CABINET MINISTERS,” HARRY ALSO HOPED THE UPPER-TIER GOVERNMENTS WOULD HAVE “A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM,” HE SAID IN A PREPARED STATEMENT. THE ALLOCATIONS ANNOUNCED MONDAY REPRESENT ABOUT 40 PER CENT OF THE $596 MILLION IN TOTAL COMRIF FUNDING BEING ALLOCATED.
THE NEXT ROUND OF ALLOCATIONS IS EXPECTED TO BE ANNOUNCED IN SEPTEMBER, PILMER SAID.
OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, LOCAL REPRESENTATIVES ”WILL HAVE TO GO BACK AND FIND OUT WHY IT WASN’T RATED HIGHER AND WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THE NEXT ROUND TO MAKE SURE THAT IT GETS A FAIR HEARING,” WILLIAMS SAID.
“IT IS CERTAINLY EVIDENT THAT WAINFLEET IS POORLY-EQUIPPED TO HANDLE A PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE SINGLE-HANDEDLY, AND I HAVE THE HIGHEST OF HOPES THAT THE PROJECT WILL BE CONSIDERED MORE FAVOURABLY IN THE SECOND ROUND OF APPLICATIONS TO THE COMRIF PROGRAM,” HARRY SAID.
HE WILL “CONTINUE TO WORK DILIGENTLY ON BEHALF OF WAINFLEET RESIDENTS TO FIND AN AFFORDABLE SOLUTION TO OUR WATER AND SEWER SERVICING ISSUES.” HE’LL ALSO BE COUNTING ON LOCAL UPPER-TIER GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES FOR ASSISTANCE.
HUDAK PLEDGED HIS CONTINUING SUPPORT TO HELP WAINFLEET RESIDENTS AND SEEK SENIOR GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE TO LOWER THE COST OF THIS PROJECT “SHOULD IT MOVE FORWARD.”
“WE’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THE REGION AND THE MAYOR TO MAKE OUR WAY THROUGH THESE NEXT FEW YEARS TO COME TO A SOLUTION,” WILLIAMS SAID.
UNLESS THE PROBLEMS ARE ADDRESSED, WILLIAMS SAID THEY WILL ONLY GET WORSE.
“THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT’S GOING TO DISAPPEAR ON ITS OWN AND AS PEOPLE CONTINUE TO OVER-SATURATE, BASED ON USAGE AND THE DENSITY OF POPULATION COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS LIKE 30 YEARS AGO, YEAH, IT IS GOING TO GET WORSE.”
PROJECTS IN ST. CATHARINES, NIAGARA FALLS, NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE AND WEST LINCOLN WERE INCLUDED AMONG THE 120 COMMUNITIES WHICH RECEIVED FUNDING.


from NIAGARA THIS WEEK Apr 29, 2005
OUSTED FROM COUNCIL

USING THE F-WORD TO DESCRIBE "CANADIAN THIEVES" LED TO A MAN EJECTED FROM WAINFLEET TOWNSHIP COUNCIL TUESDAY EVENING.
MAYOR GORD HARRY GRANTED THE RESIDENT--NOT REGISTERED AS A DELEGATE TO THE REGULAR MEETING OF COMMITTEE AND COUNCIL--FIVE MINUTES TO SPEAK ON WHAT THE MAN CALLED A DRAINAGE ISSUE. AS HE WALKED TO THE LECTERN TO ADDRESS COUNCIL, HE PREMISED HIS PRESENTATION BY REFERRING TO "A LIAR" WHO'D WRITTEN AN ENGINEER'S REPORT OF SOME SORT. WITH AN ACCENT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND, HE CONTINUED AFTER BEING CAUTIONED BY MAYOR HARRY TO STICK TO THE FACTS AND NOT USE DEFAMATORY LANGUAGE.
FOLLOWING FURTHER INCOMPREHENSIBLE PHRASES, THE MAN CALLED THE REPORT WRITER AND THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL THE AFOREMENTIONED TERM, NOT ONCE BUT THREE TIMES. MAYOR HARRY LEAPT FROM HIS SEAT AND ESCORTED THE MAN TO THE DOOR, DIRECTING THE CLERK TO CALL THE POLICE. COUNCILOR EVAN MAIN ROSE TO BACK UP THE MAYOR, IF NECESSARY. THE MAN SAID HE COULD TELL THE MAYOR AND OTHERS WERE NOT BORN AND RAISED IN THE NETHERLANDS, AND THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF NOT TAKING HIS SIDE ON WHATEVER ISSUE HE WAS TRYING TO CONVEY. HE LEFT THE TOWNSHIP HALL WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENT. POLICE WERE NOT NEEDED. THE SAME MAN WAS ARRESTED A FEW YEARS BACK FOR DUMPING A LOAD OF MANURE AT THE TOWNSHIP OFFICE DOOR.


from NIAGARA THIS WEEK Apr 29, 2005

Wainfleet asks why no COMRIF
ARTICLE By Gail Todd

NOT ONLY IS MAYOR GORD HARRY EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED, HE IS PERPLEXED. THE TOWNSHIP'S FUNDING APPLICATION FOR THE MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR WATER-SEWER SERVICING INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT WAS REJECTED MONDAY BY THE CANADA-ONTARIO MUNICIPAL RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND.
"I JUST DON'T KNOW WHY," HE SAID DEJECTEDLY IN WAINFLEET COUNCIL'S REGULAR MEETING TUESDAY.
"I'VE BEEN SECOND-GUESSING MYSELF FOR DAYS AS TO WHY WE DIDN'T GET PICKED, THINKING WHAT DID WE MISS, COULD IT BE BECAUSE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT WASN'T COMPLETE, OR ANY OTHER REASON? I WANT TO KNOW WHY. I WANT TO KNOW THOSE ANSWERS AND I THINK WE ALL DESERVE TO KNOW."
MUNICIPAL WATER AND SEWER SERVICES DO NOT EXIST IN THE TOWNSHIP OF WAINFLEET.
WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LONG BEACH AREA, ALL COMMUNITIES RELY ON PRIVATE WATER WELLS AND INDIVIDUAL ON-SITE SEPTIC SYSTEMS FOR SEWAGE DISPOSAL. STUDIES CONDUCTED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS BY NIAGARA REGION AND THE MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT CONCLUDED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PRIVATE WELLS ARE CONTAMINATED WITH WATER-BORNE BACTERIA.
AS A RESULT, THE REGION REPORTS RESIDENTS USING RAW GROUNDWATER RESOURCES ARE POTENTIALLY AT SIGNIFICANT HEALTH RISK DUE TO CONTAMINATION. THE STUDIES ALSO CONCLUDED FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS ARE HAVING A DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON GROUNDWATER SUPPLIES AND LAKE ERIE ITSELF.
"I HAD HOPED THE PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS HAD A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THE SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM THAT EXISTS IN WAINFLEET," MAYOR HARRY SAID, "BASED ON THE WELL DOCUMENTED PUBLIC HEALTH RISKS BECAUSE OF THE NUMEROUS PRESENTATIONS AND VISITS TO CABINET MINISTERS.
THERE ARE TWO REMAINING COMRIF APPLICATION FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE NEXT 18 MONTHS OR SO, AND MAYOR HARRY SAID WAINFLEET INTENDS TO APPLY AGAIN FOR FUNDING. THE PROJECT, TO HOOK UP WAINFLEET RESIDENTS ALONG LAKE ERIE BY WATER-SEWER PIPES AND PUMPS TO PORT COLBORNE, WAS FIRST ESTIMATED TO COST ABOUT $48-MILLION, BUT HAS SINCE BEEN ESTIMATED AS HIGH AS $70-MILLION. "IT IS CERTAINLY EVIDENT WAINFLEET IS POORLY EQUIPPED TO HANDLE A PROBLEM OF THIS MAGNITUDE SINGLE-HANDEDLY, AND I HAVE THE HIGHEST OF HOPES THAT THE PROJECT WILL BE CONSIDERED MORE FAVOURABLY IN THE SECOND ROUND OF APPLICATIONS TO THE COMRIF PROGRAM.
"I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK DILIGENTLY ON BEHALF OF WAINFLEET RESIDENTS TO FIND AN AFFORDABLE SOLUTION TO OUR WATER AND SEWER SERVICING ISSUES," THE MAYOR SAID. WITHOUT SENIOR GOVERNMENT CASH SUPPORT, THE WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM MAY COST INDIVIDUAL HOMEOWNERS NEARLY $30,000 EACH.
THE COMRIF FUNDING WAS EXPECTED TO BRING THE COST PER HOMEOWNER TO ABOUT $5,000.



Protect Great Lakes water from diversion: Region

ATICLE BY Doug Draper


NIAGARA'S REGIONAL COUNCIL IS CALLING ON SENIOR LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO PREVENT THE DIVERSION OF ANY GREAT LAKES WATER TO THIRSTY REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE COUNCIL'S CALL COMES FOLLOWING A RECENT PRESENTATION BY THE NIAGARA CHAPTER OF THE COUNCIL OF CANADIANS -- A NATIONWIDE CITIZENS' GROUP THAT HAS MADE PRESERVING NATURAL WATER BODIES AND COMBATING ANY EFFORTS TO PRIVATIZE THEM A PRIORITY ISSUE IN RECENT YEARS.
AN AGREEMENT THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT IS NOW IN THE PROCESS OF NEGOTIATING WITH EIGHT U.S. STATES AROUND THE GREAT LAKES MAY NOT BE STRONG ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE DRAINING AWAY OF WATER FROM THE LAKES," WARNED RENNI PISCITELLI. IT MAY EVEN MAKE IT EASIER FOR WATER FROM THE LAKES TO BE DIVERTED, SHE SAID. FRANK FOHR, ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE CHAPTER WHO HAS ATTENDED PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE AGREEMENT IN TORONTO, TOLD REGIONAL COUNCIL TO URGE CANADA'S FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO GET MORE INVOLVED IN THE NEGOTIATIONS. AS IT STANDS NOW, HE SAID, TWO PROVINCES -- ONTARIO AND QUEBEC --ARE BEING OUTGUNNED AT THE NEGOTIATING TABLE BY EIGHT STATES BORDERING ONE OR MORE OF THE GREAT LAKES.
NIAGARA FALLS REGIONAL COUNCILOR BILL SMEATON SAID COUNCIL MUST RAISE A VOICE BECAUSE THE IMPACT ON THE NIAGARA AREA OF DRAINING AWAY GREAT LAKES WATER COULD BE TREMENDOUS. EVERYTHING FROM A MAJOR MARINE SHIPPING INDUSTRY TO THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF WATER FOR HYDRO GENERATION AND DRINKING COULD BE PLACED AT RISK IF WATER LEVELS IN THE LAKES DECLINE, HE SAID.
"THE RAMIFICATIONS ARE HUGE," SAID SMEATON, "AND IT WILL BE OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WHO WILL SUFFER IF WE TAKE THE LARGEST SOURCE OF FRESH WATER IN THE WORLD AND PUT IT TO RISK."
JILL HILDRETH, A REGIONAL COUNCILOR FOR LINCOLN, ADDED THAT THE PROBLEMS IN SOUTHWESTERN STATES LIKE NEVADA, WHERE THE POPULATION IS GROWING BEYOND THE CAPACITY OF THE WATER NOW AVAILABLE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM ARE "MAN-MADE" AND IT SHOULD NOT BE UP TO GREAT LAKES REGIONS TO SOLVE THEM.
NEW YORK, MICHIGAN AND OTHER STATES AROUND THE GREAT LAKES SHOULD BE JUST AS CONCERNED AS REGIONS IN ONTARIO ABOUT ANY LOSS OF WATER FROM THE LAKES, SAID ST. CATHARINES REGIONAL COUNCILLOR JAMIE ALMAS, ADDING THAT CANADIAN GOVERNMENTS SHOULD MAKE STRONGER APPEALS TO THEM TO OPPOSE ANY OF THE WATER BEING DRAWN AWAY.
CONCERN OVER THE POSSIBLE SIPHONING OFF OF GREAT LAKES WATER HAS GROWN OVER THE PAST DECADE AS A RESULT OF OFF-AND-ON TALK BY GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE COMPANIES ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPORTING SOME OF IT AWAY, NOT ONLY TO DRIER REGIONS OF THE U.S., BUT TO DRIER REGIONS OF THE WORLD.
ONTARIO AND QUEBEC ARE NOW IN THE FINAL STAGES OF DRAFTING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNCIL OF GREAT LAKES GOVERNORS, AN ORGANIZATION THAT INCLUDES THE EIGHT U.S. STATES AROUND THE LAKES, TO ADDRESS WATER DIVERSION. THE AGREEMENT COULD BE SIGNED BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

Mayor Gord Harry
PHONE: (905) 899-2625

EMAIL: gharry@township.wainfleet.on.ca

Alderman Evan Main
PHONE: (905) 899-2633 or (905) 899-1250
EMAIL: emain@township.wainfleet.on.ca

Alderman Patrick Robson
EMAIL: probson@township.wainfleet.on.ca

Alderwoman Barbara Henderson
PHONE: (905) 386-0977
EMAIL: bhenderson@township.wainfleet.on.ca


Alderman Rudy Warkentin
PHONE: (905) 899-1358
EMAIL: rwarkentin@township.wainfleet.on.ca



MPP -ERIE-LINCOLN
TIM HUDAK , MPP
PHONE: (905) 382-0322
FAX : (905) 382-0315
EMAIL: timhudak@niagara.net



MPP JOHN MALONEY
PHONE: (905) 788-2204
FAX : (905) 788-0071
EMAIL: malonj@parl.gc.ca



PROJECT MANAGER , Regional Niagara
BOB STEELE
EMAIL: bob.steele@regional.niagara.on.ca

 
They are listening and know we aren't going away!
Here's hoping for some changes to the problems .
 

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