Local News
Wainfleet needs a solution: Henderson
Saturday's public meeting cleared the air but it didn't establish a common ground.
Wainfleet Mayor Barb Henderson was pleased with the turnout at the meeting and the amount of discussion that took place. It did fail to alleviate residents' fears that the Big Pipe solution could be forced on residents.
"There isn't that common ground, which is unfortunate," she said after the meeting.
Mayor Henderson said the pipeline discussion is one of the most challenging issues to face the township in a long time. But both the township and Niagara Region have to deal with the problems surrounding the lakeshore community's water and wastewater woes.
"It's a difficult issue for Wainfleet, but we need a solution."
A permanent boil water advisory is not a viable solution, she said. That's what will happen so long as the lakeshore community does not have a source of potable water.
Henderson said she will wait to see the final Niagara Region staff report before making her decision on the Big Pipe solution.
But she did say the status quo is hurting Wainfleet.
Tribune Staff
Big Pipe versus alternatives costs
The Big Pipe solution, if it is supported by Niagara Region politicians, will cost a lot of money, perhaps as much as $68 million to build.
Opponents point out the lower capital costs of onsite solutions, such as composting toilets and holding tanks. Providing those services would cost less up front - only $21 million according to regional staff estimates.
But those figures don't tell the entire story of the associated costs, Wainfleet residents heard Saturday.
When life cycle costs are factored in - such things as operating and maintenance costs, disposal of residues and, in the case of onsite solutions, replacement - onsite solutions come out way behind.
Niagara region staff estimate life cycle costs for Big Pipe services at between $65 million and $83 million over a 75 year period, the estimated lifespan of municipal services; onsite solutions come in at $130 million in the calculation. There are a couple of main reasons for the higher costs residents heard.
Firstly, because they would need to be replaced every 30 years; and secondly, because onsite solutions such as holding tanks for wastewater have ongoing expenses for pumping. They also open up the possibility of illegal bypasses, or dumping effluent into ditches and streams.
Neither Wainfleet nor the public health department have the resources to police holding tank pumping, so increased enforcement costs have to be factored in to the equation.
Tribune Staff
Betty Konc prepared to fight on; Wainfleet resident doesn't want Big Pipe built
Betty Konc concedes Niagara Region staff will recommend the Big Pipe solution to Wainfleet's contaminated groundwater problem.
She hasn't, however, given up the fight to ensure it isn't built.
"It's not (regional staff) that make the decision. It's regional councillors," she said following Saturday morning's meeting public meeting with staff from the region's public works department.
Konc was one of dozens of residents who spoke at the meeting. She called on regional staff to recommend a mediated solution to the stalemate between staff and the majority of Wainfleet residents who are opposed to spending money on the Big Pipe. She's not holding out much hope for that to happen.
Expressing the concern many in the audience had, she reiterated her doubt about the reason regional staff are advocating the Big Pipe since it has been well over a year since the boil water advisory was issued.
"If it's really about public health why would you make us wait?" she asked.
"Maybe (medical officer of health) Dr. (Robin) Williams needs to step up to the plate and issue the order," to begin the pipeline work.
Doing so would put the cost squarely on regional taxpayers and not on Wainfleet lakeshore residents.
DEREK SWARTZ / Tribune Staff
Betty Konc, chair of the Wainfleet water and sewer committee, asks a question of Leo Gohier at the public information meeting. Gohier, acting director of water and wastewater services for Niagara Region, was on hand to explain why region staff prefer extending water and wastewater services to Wainfleet's lakeshore region from Port Colborne. The report will go before regional politicians Sept. 19.
Big Pipe best solution; Two hundred residents not convinced by Niagara Region staff explanation
Wainfleet residents may not want to hear it but Niagara Region has a legal responsibility to fix the water problem along the township's lakeshore community.
That was the message from Leo Gohier at a public meeting on the Wainfleet water and wastewater servicing project Saturday.
Gohier, acting director of water and wastewater services for the region, told the audience of at least 200 residents the so-called Big Pipe solution is also the most cost-effective way to deal with the contaminated drinking water woes residents face.
Extending water and sewer lines to Wainfleet from Port Colborne would cost about $68 million and an additional $15 million over the 75- year life cycle of the infrastructure according to staff estimates.
That figure is much lower than the $130 million price tag staff estimate for onsite solutions favoured by many lakeshore residents. Gohier's explanation didn't hold water with many in the audience. Speaker after speaker rose to complain about the cost of the pipeline; the perception that the Big Pipe is using public health concerns as a backdoor way to open the lakeshore to increased development; and the perceived lack of consideration given to alternative technologies, such as composting toilets and other onsite solutions.
Region staff talked one-on-one with residents for two hours at the Brethren in Christ Church prior to a one-hour question and answer session. The question and answer forum lasted much longer than the planned time.
The concern for public health did not sit well with many residents. One woman drew loud applause after saying Wainfleet residents aren't "country bumpkins" and that they are smart enough to purchase drinking water if their wells are contaminated. No one has died from drinking tainted water in the community and nobody has been sickened, she added.
During the session Gohier said he would not argue the science behind the boil water advisory. The region has spent more than $1.5 million in studies on the water problem and has concluded leaking septic systems are overwhelmingly to blame for high E.coli and coliform bacteria counts. The area has been under a boil water advisory for more than a year, and according to information from the public health department 30 per cent of sampled wells exceeded accepted levels for E.coli bacteria, 52 per cent exceeded total coliform levels. Forty-four per cent of the septic systems do not satisfy legal requirements for separation between septic tanks and drinking water wells, and 29 per cent of septic tanks are not properly maintained.
Betty Konc, chair of the Wainfleet water and sewer committee, also drew loud applause when she said residents are willing to pay to fix their water problems but that they don't want to purchase a regional asset.
"You have a room full of people telling you we don't approve of this pipeline," she said to raucous applause. "So the question is, are our intentions going to be paid attention to?"
Gohier noted staff have no vested interest and would report the level of opposition to the politicians.
While the overwhelming majority of residents in attendance were opposed to the sewer and water line project that is Niagara Region staff's preferred alternative, a few expressed support.
Lester Shoalts, of Lester Shoalts Ltd., said lakeshore residents will end up ahead of the game by having water and wastewater services installed.
"The reason you people are against this boils down to dollars and cents," Shoalts told the audience. He received a smattering of boos before continuing.
He suggested residents' properties will increase in value double the cost of installing the Big Pipe "the day this is approved."
A few minutes later Gerard Murray, who moved to the lakeshore last year, said current residents have to make up for the problems previous generations ignored.
He suggested development is not part of the servicing issue.
"Development is going to come whether we like it or not," he said, and added that if nothing is done the problem will only worsen.
dswartz@wellandtribune.ca
WHAT READERS SAY
SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW FOR WAINFLEET?
SO YET ANOTHER SUPPOSED PUBLIC MEETING HAS PASSED REGARDING THE WATER/SEWER ISSUES ALONG WAINFLEET'S LAKESHORE.
THE HYPOCRISY AND MISINFORMATION OFFERED BY THE REGION, IN SUPPORT OF THEIR PROPOSED SOLUTION, IS EVERY BIT AS QUESTIONABLE AND AGGRESSIVE AS WHEN THIS PROJECT WAS FIRST DROPPED ON THE WAINFLEET RESIDENTS, UNANNOUNCED, ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO.
ADDING INSULT TO INJURY, NOT ONLY DID THE REGION TALK DOWN TO THOSE WHO ATTENDED, THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY WHO TOTALLY OPPOSE ANY IDEA OF THE BIG PIPE EXTENSIONS FROM PORT COLBORNE, BUT TO LEAD THE ATTACK THEY BROUGHT BACK A RETIRED PUBLIC SERVICE EMPLOYEE, JUST FOR SIX MONTHS.
HAVING DELIVERED A MOST UNINSPIRED PERFORMANCE DURING THE QUESTION AND ANSWER PART OF THE MEETING, REFUSING TO ANSWER DIRECTLY ANY OF THE QUESTIONS ASKED, IT TRANSPIRED THAT THIS GENTLEMAN RETURNS TO HIS RETIREMENT IN TWO WEEKS, SO WILL HAVE NO FURTHER INTEREST IN WHAT IS THE MOST SINGULARLY IMPORTANT ISSUE TO ALL THOSE WAINFLEET RESIDENTS ATTENDING.
THIS IS THE BEST THE REGION CAN DO TO SHOW HONEST CONCERN?
JUST TWO SMALL ITEMS, BOTH TO DO WITH COST.
THE REGION CLAIMS, WITH NO DETAILED FIGURES TO BACK THEIR CLAIM UP, THAT ON-SITE SOLUTIONS WILL COST $130,000,000.
AT THE MEETING A REPRESENTATIVE FROM A COMPANY DEALING IN ON-SITE SOLUTIONS FOR 20 YEARS AND MORE (AND A UNIT ALREADY USED AND APPROVED IN ONTARIO BY OTHER REGIONS AND MUNICIPALITIES), OFFERED TO SUPPLY EVERY PROPERTY IN THE BOIL-WATER-ADVISORY AREA FOR APPROXIMATELY $2,000 PER PROPERTY. THAT IS $2,568,000.
EVEN ACCEPTING THE REGION'S UNSUBSTANTIATED LOW LIFE CYCLE SPAN OF ONLY 25 YEARS FOR ANY ON-SITE SOLUTION, EVERY HOME COULD REPLACE, WITH NEW, THREE TIMES TO ATTAIN THE 75-YEAR TARGET.
DO THE MATH. THAT'S $7,704,000.
I GUESS THE REGION'S EXPERTS HAVE CONCLUDED THAT IT MUST COST SOMEWHERE IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF $122-MILLION TO SUPPLY SAFE DRINKING WATER TO 1,200 OR SO RESIDENTS, WHO HAVE DONE IT SUCCESSFULLY ON THEIR OWN SO FAR, ON AN ON-SITE BASIS.
CAN YOU IMAGINE THE BILLIONS OF YOUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS THEY ARE GOING TO NEED TO DO THE SAME FOR EVERY OTHER RURAL COMMUNITY IN ONTARIO?
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION THAT THE REGION TOTALLY IGNORED, AGAIN?
RESPONSIBLE LAKESHORE WAINFLEET RESIDENTS, NOT THE IGNORANT PEASANTS THE REGION WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE, ACCEPT THAT IT IS THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX, REPAIR AND REPLACE THEIR OWN ON-SITE SERVICES. IT WILL COST REGIONAL TAXPAYERS NOT A CENT.
WHY DO OUR REGIONAL UNELECTED PUBLIC SERVANTS REFUSE TO ADMIT THIS? EVEN MORE CONFUSING, WHY DO OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, SUPPOSEDLY THERE TO REPRESENT THE TAXPAYER, ALSO IGNORE THIS VERY BASIC DIFFERENCE IN COSTS?
ANDREW WATTS
WAINFLEET
WHAT READERS SAY
Development a threat to rural lifestyle
I am writing on behalf of the Lakeshore residents living around the former Lakewood Camp property and those of you who don't think you will be affected by the development proposal for the former camp.
For those of us near the site, this development of 80+ homes (35 in Phase One) on 35 acres of currently zoned Open Space, this will take away the current environmental makeup that we all bought our homes for.
I cannot speak for others but I know that we bought our home because it was not surrounded by homes on top of homes. We decided against city life because we wanted space, quiet, and a peaceful co-existence with nature.
All of nature, the trees, the beach, the view and the wildlife.
We gave up city conveniences for that. Now, these developers of the Lakewood Camp property want to take that away from all of us.
Now we will deal with the noise, the traffic, and considering how this project has been handled up to this date - the complete disregard for all of us living in this community.
As mentioned earlier, this is for those directly affected by the project as well as others who don't realize the affect that it will have on you. Those people I am now addressing are the ones along the lakeshore with any Open Space near you. This will open the doors to development beyond your imagination.
If our town council in Wainfleet approves this development of homes on space much smaller than one acre lots (what is the standard for all other development in Wainfleet - 1.6 acres to 2 acres) it will open a door to all kinds of development. And remember, development of this magnitude with a boil water advisory in effect.
This isn't to mention the Fowler toad population. The Ministry of Natural Resources told me a few years ago that the Lakewood beach frontage was one of the last sections of habitat for these toads on the northern shores of Lake Erie. An endangered species. The developers reduced the size of the habitat initially from 10 acres to eight acres and now list it as five acres. So you know what the final outcome will be.
If you, like I am against this type of development, if you want to preserve your way of life out here in Wainfleet, please show your support at the town council meeting today at 7 p.m.
Save Wainfleet's rural communities for generations to come. Don't let us become another statistic.
Lee Bott
Wainfleet
By Gord Bowes
Taxpayers have had their say and must now wait until Sept. 19 to see whether their arguments fell on deaf ears.
It was clear, of course, that the vast majority of residents in attendance at a public meeting last Saturday had no interest in a solution from the regional government to fix their water problem.
Rather than be forced to join a municipal water and sewer system, they want to implement their own solution, on-site sewage control, which they feel will be just as effective -- and a whole lot cheaper than the up to $20,000 they've heard the region's solution could cost them.
"Are our wishes going to be paid attention to?" asked Betty Konc, co-chair of Wainfleet Water and Sewer Committee citizens group, to the applause of a packed auditorium at Port Colborne Brethren in Christ Church.
"We are the ones who live with this on a daily basis. We are the ones willing to pay for our own solution."
Leo Gohier, Niagara Region's acting director of water and wastewater, said the Sept. 19 staff report to regional council will outline what they feel is the most effective way to deal with the affected area's water contamination problem.
He noted that despite what many residents feel -- some suggested the water and sewage system was geared toward future development in the area -- staff has no vested interest in the project except to propose the best solution.
"On-site solutions are really not the ones that should be implemented," said Gohier.
He said various methods, including modern septic systems and composting toilets, had been looked at in the past and discounted each time by an environmental assessment because they are not as effective or are unfeasible on some properties.
"They may work from a wastewater standpoint, but they do not work from a groundwater standpoint," Gohier said.
Wainfleet's water trouble began in 2001 when a request was made to find the source of contamination in the Long Beach area. The main source of the problem was traced to faulty septic systems in the area.
New systems would not work on half of the lots in the affected area and individual water treatment devices will not eliminate all health risks, the region has said.
A boil water advisory has been in place for about 1,300 residents of the township living along Lake Erie for more than a year now because of E. coli and coliform found during well water tests.
Several people who spoke during the 90-minute question-and-answer period said no one had ever been sick from the water supply.
"We're not stupid, obviously," said resident Lee Bott. "We're not country bumpkins, we're not dead."
Gohier said there would always be health risks if the water contamination issue was not solved and the region was legally responsible for finding a fix.
Sherri Mayne noted the portion residents will have to pay for a municipal sewer and water connection had seemingly gone from the $3,000-$7,000 they were told at a public meeting in 2004 to the $20,000 they are now hearing during a current phone survey the regional government is undertaking.
"It's just a figure that was thrown around as kind of a reference point," Gohier said of the latest number.
Whatever the final number comes to -- the current estimate is around $68 million to connect to Port Colborne's system -- there are several ways the cost can be handled to shield homeowners from a large up-front payment, including spreading it out in installments over several years, said Gohier.
He told residents concerned about cost overruns from the project that it is possible to fix the residents' portion of the bill to protect them from any problems.
Lester Shoalts, one of just two people who spoke up on the side of a pipeline solution, said the situation boiled down to "one thing -- dollars and cents."
He said whatever the cost is, it can be amortized over many years.
"At the end of the day, you're going to be ahead of the game," he said to a chorus of boos.
More than 200 people attended the Saturday morning meeting.
Andrew Watts, who volunteered to collect signatures for the Wainfleet Water and Sewer Committee citizens group petition, said the parking lot was nearly full when he arrived early in the morning.
"I think for once these idiots in here will listen to the people," he said, referring to the Niagara Region staff and councillors.
Wainfleet Mayor Barbara Henderson, who is not one of the affected residents, said she hasn't decided where she stands on the issue.
"I'm still waiting," she said. "I want to see that final document in September. My mind is still open at this time."
But there is no doubt, she said, a solution is needed for a "safe, clean source of drinking water."
The final report will come to Niagara Region council for debate on Sept. 19.
By Gord Bowes
Residents ask for cheaper solution to Wainfleet water quality problem
Taxpayers have had their say and must now wait until Sept. 19 to see whether their arguments fell on deaf ears.
It was clear, of course, that the vast majority of residents in attendance at a public meeting last Saturday had no interest in a solution from the regional government to fix their water problem.
Rather than be forced to join a municipal water and sewer system, they want to implement their own solution, on-site sewage control, which they feel will be just as effective -- and a whole lot cheaper than the up to $20,000 they've heard the region's solution could cost them.
"Are our wishes going to be paid attention to?" asked Betty Konc, co-chair of Wainfleet Water and Sewer Committee citizens group, to the applause of a packed auditorium at Port Colborne Brethren in Christ Church.
"We are the ones who live with this on a daily basis. We are the ones willing to pay for our own solution."
Leo Gohier, Niagara Region's acting director of water and wastewater, said the Sept. 19 staff report to regional council will outline what they feel is the most effective way to deal with the affected area's water contamination problem.
He noted that despite what many residents feel -- some suggested the water and sewage system was geared toward future development in the area -- staff has no vested interest in the project except to propose the best solution.
"On-site solutions are really not the ones that should be implemented," said Gohier.
He said various methods, including modern septic systems and composting toilets, had been looked at in the past and discounted each time by an environmental assessment because they are not as effective or are unfeasible on some properties.
"They may work from a wastewater standpoint, but they do not work from a groundwater standpoint," Gohier said.
Wainfleet's water trouble began in 2001 when a request was made to find the source of contamination in the Long Beach area. The main source of the problem was traced to faulty septic systems in the area.
New systems would not work on half of the lots in the affected area and individual water treatment devices will not eliminate all health risks, the region has said.
A boil water advisory has been in place for about 1,300 residents of the township living along Lake Erie for more than a year now because of E. coli and coliform found during well water tests.
Several people who spoke during the 90-minute question-and-answer period said no one had ever been sick from the water supply.
"We're not stupid, obviously," said resident Lee Bott. "We're not country bumpkins, we're not dead."
Gohier said there would always be health risks if the water contamination issue was not solved and the region was legally responsible for finding a fix.
Sherri Mayne noted the portion residents will have to pay for a municipal sewer and water connection had seemingly gone from the $3,000-$7,000 they were told at a public meeting in 2004 to the $20,000 they are now hearing during a current phone survey the regional government is undertaking.
"It's just a figure that was thrown around as kind of a reference point," Gohier said of the latest number.
Whatever the final number comes to -- the current estimate is around $68 million to connect to Port Colborne's system -- there are several ways the cost can be handled to shield homeowners from a large up-front payment, including spreading it out in installments over several years, said Gohier.
He told residents concerned about cost overruns from the project that it is possible to fix the residents' portion of the bill to protect them from any problems.
Lester Shoalts, one of just two people who spoke up on the side of a pipeline solution, said the situation boiled down to "one thing -- dollars and cents."
He said whatever the cost is, it can be amortized over many years.
"At the end of the day, you're going to be ahead of the game," he said to a chorus of boos.
More than 200 people attended the Saturday morning meeting.
Andrew Watts, who volunteered to collect signatures for the Wainfleet Water and Sewer Committee citizens group petition, said the parking lot was nearly full when he arrived early in the morning.
"I think for once these idiots in here will listen to the people," he said, referring to the Niagara Region staff and councillors.
Wainfleet Mayor Barbara Henderson, who is not one of the affected residents, said she hasn't decided where she stands on the issue.
"I'm still waiting," she said. "I want to see that final document in September. My mind is still open at this time."
But there is no doubt, she said, a solution is needed for a "safe, clean source of drinking water."
The final report will come to Niagara Region council for debate on Sept. 19.
By Michael Speck
Polarized opinions at public meeting
If there's one thing that gets Wainfleet residents excited about local politics, its waterfront development.
About 100 people attended a public meeting at Township Hall on Aug. 14 where concerns and praises were heard from current and former Wainfleet residents towards BLS Planning Associates' application for a proposed zoning change that would allow the construction of 35 condos at the old Easter Seals Lakewood Camp on Lakeshore Rd. The original application was changed so that there was a reduction in the number of units to about one per acre.
The proposal would have homes in clusters towards the lakeside of the property, with forestry stretching across most of the rest of the land towards the road.
The first person to speak was Lee Bott, the owner of a home on Lakeshore Road that is bordered by the road to the front, and the camp to the sides and back.
"I stand to lose everything I bought my house for," said Bott. "The lake, the view and the privacy."
Although she participated with the camp until it was sold, Bott said that she has moved on from that period and her feelings aren't personal.
"I don't want a city in my backyard," she said.
Bott also gave council a petition with residents' signatures against the development.
Altogether, seven residents spoke against the construction of the condos. They were followed by about 10 people who spoke about the developer's willingness to work with the community and the environment, and of the economic benefits. Another factor people spoke in approval of was the developer's promise to leave the beach open to the public and to create a Fowler's Toad habitat in the southwestern corner of the property. The Fowler's Toad is a protected species.
"The project respects the environment by working co-operatively with the local and provincial governments," said Gary Bellhouse, who lives on Lakeshore Road. "The development will enhance nearby property value, and I'm 100 per cent in support for it." Council is now analyzing the comments before making a decision on amending the zoning bylaw.
KAESHA FORAND
Township experiences growing pains; Wainfleet residents split over proposal for former Lakewood Camp
Development plans at the former Easter Seals Camp have split the lakeshore community.
Lakewood Beach Properties presented a new proposal for a 56-unit development at the former camp on Lakeshore Road during a public meeting Tuesday.
"We're capitalizing on what we all know is an exceptional site," said architect Michael Kirkland, who also highlighted the "substantial reduction in houses and an increase in land per house" during his presentation.
Kirkland said developers plan on using buildings that once composed the camp, and homes will be separated by hedges.
The original proposal was for 81 single-family detached residential units which included 13 estate lots fronting Lakeshore Road and 68 beach cottages and villas.
The revised proposal would see 56 units built in two phases. The first phase would permit construction of 35 single-family detached dwellings serviced by private communal on-site water and sewer systems on 25.5 acres.
The second phase would see 21 additional units, however, the phase would be presented to council after the township completes its secondary plan.
Those who filled council chambers lined up on both sides of the issue.
Lee Bott, whose property abuts the proposed development, said she wants her community to remain rural.
"I don't want to see a city in my backyard. We are a rural agricultural community and you're taking that away from us," she said.
"This isn't a good neighbour policy."
Bott also presented council with a petition signed by about 100 Wainfleet residents opposing the development.
Lakeshore resident Mary Jane Hall asked council what assurances residents have there wouldn't be a Phase 3 or 4.
Acting township planner Steven Rivers said council couldn't "deny" the possibility of additional phases which could be decided by neighbouring property owners.
"Does it make sense? There's a horse farm to the right, a horse farm across the street and a cow farm a quarter-mile away. How does this fit into the land?" asked Terry Pracchia.
"I moved to Wainfleet for tranquility," he added.
Residents also voiced their concern with the decreasing space provided for the Fowler's Toad habitat which has been deemed a threatened species by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
They also disagreed with 1.1 house per acre which would have to be approved through a zoning bylaw amendment.
"I suppose if I could drop the gavel, I could live with 1.1 homes per acre," said Ald. Ron Kramer.
Many residents are also in favour of the proposed development and see many benefits it could bring to Wainfleet, including an increased tax base, new homes, continuing to have access to the beach and various economic benefits for local trades.
"When I look at this project I see something nice and clean with well-kept residences," said Veronica Binka.
"It's quite amazing they are leaving the beach to us. They are giving up something I feel is quite substantial."
Two former Wainfleet residents - one who lives in Fonthill and one in St. Catharines - said the development would be beneficial for the community. They both said they would consider purchasing a home in the proposed neighbourhood.
"I've reviewed the new proposal and I think these changes are positive and show consideration to our community," said Gary Bellhouse.
Tom Smart, planner with BLS Planning, said Lakewood Beach Properties have been "straightforward with the future so people know what we're doing."
Ald. Rudy Warkentin said the reduction in dwelling numbers and density was a positive step forward.
Council deferred its decision to rezone from an open space zone to a site-specific zone, pending analysis of all public comments.
kforand@wellandtribune.ca
Public meeting at in Wainfleet regarding boil water advisory Wainfleet
-WAINFLEET - The Niagara Region's public works department is having an open house about the proposed water-sewer pipe from the lakeshore to Port Colborne.
On Aug. 11, from 9 a.m.-noon, at the Port Colborne Brethren in Christ church on Highway 3 near Hard Rock paving company. The first two hours will be open discussion at information booths with experts, and the final hour will be a question and answer period.
For more information, call Leo Gohier at the regional office at 905-685-1571 extension 3640.
More than 50 lakeshore residents attended the public meeting at Port Colborne city hall this week to discuss reconstruction of the Bearss Drain. The drain was originally constructed in 1928 and runs between two cottages on Firelane 10. The cost of reconstruction has been estimated at $210,000.
Photo: Mark Tayti / Staff
MARK TAYTI
Bearss Drain report adopted by council
Lakeshore residents filled council chambers Monday when the long-awaited engineer's report for the Bearss Drain came up for debate.
Repairs to the drain have been under review for the past five years, ever since it was determined the pipe running under Firelane 10 was structurally unsound. Concerns the pipe would collapse and lead to major flooding upstream prompted the city to hire K. Smart Associates in 2003 to prepare a report under the drainage act.
The report notes the area is subject to extensive flooding during snow melts and during high-intensity storms.
John Kuntze, senior project engineer for K. Smart Associates, presented his report to council and about 50 lakeshore residents during a mandatory public meeting held prior to Monday's regular council meeting.
Kuntze said the preferred option is to reconstruct the pipe that currently runs through 3249 Firelane 10, a property owned by the Larkin Family.
The estimated cost of the project is $210,000 and the cost will be assessed to property owners who benefit from the drain.
A breakdown of the estimated cost show $151,924 will be assessed to private lands, $58,076 will be assessed to the city for the Friendship Trail, $56,586 will be assessed to Silver Bay Road and $1,127 will be assessed to Locust Street.
Joe Larkin, who spoke on behalf of his family, said the engineer's report was full of "errors and omissions."
Larkin also felt the report was biased.
"I believe we have only heard one option," Larkin said, adding, "The report is misleading."
Larkin said the report needed to be "redirected back to engineering" before council adopted any recommendations.
He also asked about a peer review of the information by a third-party referee.
Kuntze said any land owner can undertake a formal review process, but such a review would take place in a courtroom. He recommended Larkin hire a lawyer if he chooses to go down that road.
John Dorfman said residents living along Silver Bay are worried about pollution being discharged from the pipe.
"Over the years, lake levels have dropped and effluent is trapped where people swim," he said . "Should anybody get sick, there will be problems."
Dorfman suggested putting the discharge pipe further into the lake. The pipe currently discharges on the beach near the water line.
His comments were supported by Dudley West.
"When you read the report, you come away with a bias," he said. "You can't dismiss water quality issues from drainage issues."
Maggie Wahl said the drain has historically been located at its present location - even before the Larkin cottage was built.
Kuntze said fixing the drain should be done sooner than later. He said the new pipe should increase drainage capacity as much as 10 times and will be "slightly less obtrusive."
"I certainly can't support relocating the drain to disperse the pollution problem," Kuntze added. "The drain has the potential to be a serious problem in the future if it fails. The work that is required is essential."
Rene Landry, drainage superintendent for the city, said residents have 40 days to appeal assessments with the Court of Revision.
Appellants who are not satisfied with the report can appeal to the Drainage Tribunal.
Landry said Larkin raised some "valid concerns" about construction of the new drain but contractors have stated the issues can be "easily addressed."
"It's not a huge concern," Landry said Wednesday when asked about the report.
"People do have the right to appeal if they feel strongly that they have grounds," Landry said. "It's a democratic process."
Landry would like to begin work on the drain in the or early winter. He said the plan is to do the work in the off-season to minimize any disruption to landowners. The actual construction phase of the project will take about two weeks.
Landry said the engineering report has taken longer than normal because of the residential make-up of the area.
"I would rather see more public meetings," he said. "In most cases you get a consensus, but we didn't get one in this instance."
mtayti@wellandtribune.ca
Editorial
MAYOR FLIP-FLOPS WHILE IGNORING AFFORDABLE BIG PIPE ALTERNATIVES
THE SIMPLE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT LAST YEAR WHEN BARB HENDERSON WHO WAS RUNNING FOR THE OFFICE OF MAYOR APPEARED AT OUR DOOR SEEKING OUR VOTE AND WAS ASKED DIRECTLY WHERE SHE STOOD ON THE "BIG PIPE" ISSUE, SHE ANSWERED UNEQUIVOCALLY SHE WAS AGAINST IT. NOW, A FEW SHORT MONTHS LATER, SHE HAS DONE THE OLD POLITICAL FLIP-FLOP, CITING THE REGIONAL GOVERNMENT'S PARTY LINE CHAPTER AND VERSE, FORGETTING WHOSE VOTES PUT HER IN OFFICE.
When some of us offered alternate solutions, her reply was we the people cannot be trusted to inspect, police and keep our wells/septic systems operable and safe and that approved treatment systems can fail.
Well, yes, that can happen. But so do government-run systems, such as the one at Walkerton which, when it failed, killed people.
Meanwhile, we have had no deaths out here in Wainfleet from drinking our well water, in spite of all our "leaking" and "faulty" septic systems. And we are not the ones dumping all that raw untreated sewage into the rivers and lakes after heavy rainfalls.
The mayor's argument, in a nutshell, exemplifies the type of "logic" used by governments to erode our free will and replace it with the will of the state.
That "argument" in effect tells us the people that we can't take care of ourselves and that Big Brother can do a much better job of that, "for our own good."
It seems to me that it wouldn't take all that much to set up a mandatory inspection and enforcement protocol for all water treatment systems within the township.
Furthermore, I feel the majority of the people, through education as to the necessity of such maintenance and upkeep/repair, would be more than willing to comply. Instead of the region spending millions on the big pipe, if some of that money were granted to homeowners as an incentive program to install, update, repair and maintain approved water treatment systems, this would further ensure compliance.
After all, it is for our own good.
As far as the argument that the problems of septic systems in areas where the soil is too thin or whatever (and those comprise only a moderate percentage of the total affected lakefront area homes), again there are solutions which are more effective and cost much less than the big pipe.
For example, soil at the weeping bed can be replaced with "media" sand and a "media bed" installed. The Regional Health Unit approved just such a system a few years back at a couple of homes here on Harbourview Road and these systems work very well. If at some time the media bed gets too contaminated, it can be changed with fresh sand etc., at an affordable cost.
This is do-able. In extreme cases, alternate solutions proposed by some companies which Betty Konc contacted and brought to the township's and the region's attention could be implemented, with some fiscal help from the local and regional governments. Again, a mandatory inspection and enforcement protocol could be set up and applied.
All it takes is the will of the township council and the regional government to start doing their jobs of policing and enforcement (that they should have been doing all along) to ensure safe drinking water treatment and septic system upkeep.
This could be done at a cost far below any big pipe project.
Andre G. Germain
Port Colborne
WHAT READERS SAY
WHERE IS WAINFLEET'S LEADERSHIP ON THE WATER ISSUE?
ON TUESDAY, JUNE 26, I ATTENDED A WAINFLEET COUNCIL MEETING
MAYOR HENDERSON MADE THE STATEMENT THAT SHE WAS "COMMITTED TO GETTING THE RESIDENTS THE BEST AFFORDABLE PRICE POSSIBLE. "
THE MAYOR MADE THIS STATEMENT WITH THE MOST CONVICTION IN HER VOICE I HAVE HEARD SINCE HER INCEPTION INTO OFFICE. THIS STATEMENT SHE MADE CREATED MY NEXT QUESTION AND CONCERN FOR THE RESIDENTS OF WAINFLEET.
- IF MAYOR HENDERSON IS SO SURE THAT SHE HAS THE POWER TO GET THE BEST PRICE POSSIBLE (OF WHICH COULD STILL BE HIGH), THEN WHY DOES SHE NOT HAVE THE SAME POWER TO GET OR FIGHT FOR THE BEST SOLUTION - A SOLUTION THAT WILL NOT ONLY BE BEST FOR THE REGION AND WAINFLEET COUNCIL, BUT A SOLUTION THAT WILL BE BEST FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE MUNICIPALITY OF NIAGARA AS A WHOLE AND THE FUTURE GENERATIONS TO LIVE ALONG THE AFFECTED AREA ALONG THE LAKESHORE?
JULI KONC
FORT ERIE
They are listening and know we aren't going away!
Here's hoping for some changes to the problems .
