Wainfleet has long wish list of projects ;
If the government invests money into municipalities to help stimulate the economy, it wouldn't be hard for the Township of Wainfleet to create a long wish list of projects to complete.
With about 250 kilometres of gravel roads and seven aging bridges, any money would be welcome.
"It's really important upper levels of government recognize small towns like Wainfleet.
"With 500 kilometres of roads, 50 per cent are paved and 50 per cent are gravel," said Mayor Barbara Henderson.
She said as upper levels of government plan on doling out money to municipalities she'd like to see it in the form of grant programs that would not require cost-sharing for the projects.
"Ideally I'd like to see an infrastructure funding increase. We have a small tax base, not a large industrial and commercial tax base."
At about $20,000 to pave one kilometre of road, the township would be able to complete work that otherwise wouldn't be a priority.
Another item on the wish list, depending on funds, would be to revitalize paved roads, because they're more expensive to maintain and repave. Wainfleet operations director Greg Wuisman said bridges in need of repair are about 60 years old and include bridges on Millrace, Mallowany, Hoag, Misener, Gents, Builing and Perry roads, the last being the oldest, built in 1935. The concrete is showing signs of fatigue in addition to rusting steel beams.
"Between bridges and roads, we can spend all the money they give us," Wuisman said, noting it would cost about $500,000 to replace them with a concrete box culvert bridge.
"It would be positive for us, especially here in Niagara.
"There are so many people out of work, it would be key to put infrastructure dollars into the community," Henderson said.
CAO Scott Luey said the township would support Canada going into the red for the 2009 budget.
Using their economic power, the government should stimulate the economy and recover the funds spent during a future economic boom.
"The idea of a deficit when you need it or surplus when you can would be supported by us."
If money was to be doled out to municipalities such as Wainfleet, the extra work would not only benefit the municipality's infrastructure, it would also support local construction companies, quarries and gravel companies to name but some.
"Any kind of stimulation will help in more than one way, since roads could be done without increases in property taxes," Luey said.
Township of Wainfleet Update – September 2008
To: Mayor Barbara Henderson, writing on behalf of Council
You have chosen, yet again, to answer questions in depth for which you are totally unqualified to answer, leading to the only inescapable conclusion that you and Council are again repeating answers that have been dictated to you by Regional Staff.
The answers make no more sense now than they ever have and continue to raise more questions and offer no single sensible solution.
You have stated recently on more than one occasion that you totally accept the ‘scientific basis’ on which the decision was made by the Region that the Lakeshore Servicing Project is the only solution?
I wonder where you all learned your science?
The most basic flaw the most obvious. Science is not based on supposition it is based on known facts. Without inspecting every septic system and sampling every well there can be no scientific conclusion. And as none of your consultants or scientific experts can even confirm the whereabouts of a substantial number of the allegedly contaminated wells basing any of their findings on science is just not credible. Even worse, with the water samples that were taken and the septic systems that were inspected, not one single test or cross match was made to verify that water contamination was caused by anything other than leaching septic systems and that conclusion, pure supposition. Wainfleet is an agricultural area, our farmland and beaches are crowded with Canada Geese and other fowl for months of the year. It is a known fact that municipalities contaminate the environment and Lake Erie with raw sewage on a regular basis. All these are well recognised and well documented causes of groundwater contamination. Yet not a single test was carried out to match the alleged leaching of eColi and coliform from the failing septic systems with the eColi and coliform identified in the allegedly contaminated wells. The expert scientists did not even attempt to confirm if those wells were contaminated by human or by animal. Hardly scientific!
There’s a Canadian named Dr.David Suzuki, you may have heard of him? He recently published a report regarding contamination into the oceans around BC from wastewater discharge that was being blamed for the increasing plankton bloom appearing around Vancouver Island and area. He concluded that human waste, even untreated, was just not concentrated enough to be a major factor, but suggested it was centuries of animal and agricultural runoff that were the primary cause. Interestingly enough he went on to make a comparison between contamination into the oceans and into the Great Lakes. He suggested that any algae bloom in the Great Lakes was likely to be caused in exactly the same way. As you may know, BC does not have wastewater plants and dumps raw sewage directly into the ocean? If Dr.Suzuki has any credibility and just might be correct in his findings, can any of you imagine just how many failing septic systems it would require to even register as a ‘scientific’ identifiable lake, groundwater or even well contaminant?
There is a BWA covering the whole of Wainfleet’s Lakeshore and an area up to the Walking Trail, this, we are told is because of Public Health concerns for all Residents within this area. In addition we have been told this BWA will continue until such time as a solution to the Wainfleet Lakeshore alleged contamination issue has been agreed on and is in place.
The following are quotes from your answers:
‘..55% of the local septic systems have reached, or are quickly approaching, the end of their operational lives..’
‘More than half of the approximately 1270 lots along Lakeshore were considered too small to allow private septic systems to be properly repaired or replaced in accordance with provincial standards.’
‘..most Lakeshore area properties are too small to meet minimum provincial lot size requirements for conventional septic tank and leaching bed systems.’
‘..most of the larger lots that currently satisfy the OBC requirements are situated in areas where contamination is already at unacceptable levels.
If the Council believes what you write in their name how in all conscience can any single one of you vote to approve any building permit whilst the BWA remains in place? On the grounds of Public Health alone you have the authority to stop any and all future development. To do otherwise is to ignore any due diligence in your actions as elected representatives and must come close to criminal negligence where your Residents Public Health and Safety are concerned?
And one of the above comments is worthy of further discussion, namely ‘..conventional septic tank and leaching bed systems.’
This Council has never made a single independent investigation into any alternative septic systems for properties large or small along Lakeshore. You have depended entirely on believing everything you have been told by Regional Staff. If you did carry out such investigations I believe you would find perfectly acceptable alternative septic systems for the majority of existing lots, even the smaller ones. Lots big enough for leaching or tile beds are no longer a necessity and the byproduct of some modern septic systems is a liquid purer than the water produced by Port Colborne’s Municipal water system.
And it does you little credit to attempt yet again to frighten your Residents by emphasising you are referring only to septic issues and as you write it ‘..not water..’
You were at the Mayor’s Breakfast last week as I was. Perhaps you did not hear, or chose to ignore, Mayor Badaway’s admission that Port Colborne’s water infrastructure still has wooden pipes as a part of it? Wainfleet and Niagara Region do not have enough taxpayer money to spare for your chosen
3
Lakeshore Servicing Plan and in spite of your continued insistence that you will seek provincial and/or federal ‘funding’(more tax dollars), it is unlikely they will be forthcoming. The reports following the Walkerton enquiry concluded that it would take tens of billions of dollars to bring Ontario’s water and wastewater infrastructures, ‘.. neglected and badly maintained for decades..’ up to an acceptable standard to permit any further extension. The recent ‘funding’ for infrastructure does not come close to affording this and I challenge any one of you to guarantee that whatever money comes to the Region, to Port Colborne, or even to Wainfleet, will actually be spent on water/wastewater infrastructures?
In a recent Newsletter you stated that any discussions on ‘alternatives’ was now over and we should move forward.
In this one you state that ‘..an enforcement strategy focussed on individual properties is not a viable solution..’
It seems to me that you and Council have already made up your minds and that you are 100% behind the Region’s Lakeshore Servicing Project? This, in spite of the fact that as recently as the last Council Meeting you again attempted to sit on the fence in public and pretend you are still not committed and haven’t yet finally voted on the issue?
Regardless of that I do have a final question or two:
If no acceptable alternative solution exists, as you have claimed, and if an enforcement strategy focussed on individual properties is not a viable solution, as you have also stated, then what is your ‘exit strategy’? What happens when the Regional Cost Analysis comes up with the inevitable price tag of $100m, when the additional costs to your own electorate, the individual property owner, becomes too much, when federal and provincial governments refuse to foot the multi-million $ price tag on a project that effects such a small number of rural dwellers? What will be your solution then?
And finally, as a Council who claim to be working for the interests of all Wainfleet Residents and who further claim that you have their support how about the next Newsletter being turned over to letters from all those Wainfleet Residents who support what this Council has done since the last election?
Andrew Watts
10810 Rathfon Road
Wainfleet L3K 5V4
905 834 2278
NO TIMELINE IN PLACE
FOR BIG PIPE PROJECT IN WAINFLEET
Betty Konc was surprised by the lack of new information presented on the Wainfleet servicing project to Wainfleet council. Regional staff and township CAO Scott Luey delivered an update on the project on Tuesday night.
Konc, the chair of the Wainfleet Ratepayers Association, felt the update provided very little detail on the project. The association opposes the Wainfleet servicing project, a project that could see water and wastewater services built on Wainfleet's lakeshore.
Township council and about 50 people in attendance heard that the servicing project has a new project manager, Mary Lou Tanner.
There is still no timeline in place for the project. Betty Matthews- Malone answered Ald. Evan Main's question about a timeline on the project by saying there were too many variables and to "stay tuned."
"I was disappointed by that. ... Stay tuned is not a timeline," Konc said.
Council also heard that work on the five conditions set out by the ministry of the environment is ongoing. Matthews-Malone noted the condition requiring an archeological assessment will be done in the vicinity of proposed pumping stations.
"They're playing a game and they are doing the bare minimum to convince the ministry that they've done their due diligence."
During the presentation, Matthews-Malone said it was proper to move ahead slowly because of the magnitude of the project.
Any decision on development along the lakeshore will determine the size of the pipes that are ultimately put in the ground, if the project proceeds. While the project has conditional approval, there is no financing plan in place for the estimated $83 million project.
During the past year, the region has set up a public liaison committee.
With the Big Pipe update and the Lakewood camp official plan amendment on the agenda Konc thought the meeting was an important one to record.
Wainfleet council meetings are not broadcast on Cogeco TV because the cable service is not available throughout the township.
"That should've been recorded somehow. I'm surprised (council) did not see the wisdom in doing so. ... On the other hand, it wasn't surprising."
Wainfleet OKs communal wastewater
LAKEWOOD CAMP DEVELOPMENT GRANTED EXEMPTION
There isn't approval to build yet, but the Lakewood Beach Properties will have wastewater services if that approval is granted.
Wainfleet council passed an amendment to the township's official plan at its Tuesday night meeting.
The amendment allows a developer to build a communal wastewater collection and treatment system to service the proposed 35-home development on the former Lakewood camp site.
The amendment angered many of the 50 or more township residents who were at the meeting because communal water and wastewater systems are not being considered as a solution to the lakeshore water contamination problem.
The Lakewood development has its water and wastewater approval, but it does not yet have approval to proceed with building houses on the former camp for disabled children.
The development is tied up in an Ontario Municipal Board process that is expected to continue in the new year.
Lee Bott, whose 0.4-hectare property abuts the Lakewood camp, urged council to not grant the amendment. A summer time water capacity test at the site caused her well level to drop 4.2 metres in a matter of days, she told council.
Development may be allowed to proceed if a number of conditions are met concerning the preservation of the Fowler's toad, a threatened species whose range includes much of the north shore of Lake Erie, including the proposed development site. Other conditions the OMB wants addressed pertain to the development not adversely affecting the water supply of nearby residents.
Bott has yet to receive the results of that test, despite clear direction from the OMB that she is to, she told council.
Tom Smart, a planner with BLS Planning, did not address Bott's concerns about well water levels. He noted that the Ministry of Natural Resources, which tracks the toad's range, does not have an objection to the proposed development.
There are, however, six conditions that MNR wants fulfilled to ensure the toad's survival in the Lakewood area.
If the region's water and wastewater servicing project proposed for the lakeshore area becomes a reality, the Lakewood development would hook into that system and dismantle its own, Smart said.
Ald. Ted Hessels wondered that if by approving the amendment the township wouldn't set a precedent that could introduce confusion into another hot-button topic in the township -the Wainfleet servicing project.
"If we say this is a good system here, could we not say this is a good system for the entire lakeshore?" he wondered.
His musing generated a round of applause from the audience.
Township planner Chuck Miller said that it is true the system could work. But the province's environmental assessment has identified a pipeline connection as the preferred option rather than an assortment of communal systems potentially running beneath municipal roads and possibly connecting to a municipal treatment plant.
Mayor Barb Henderson picked up that thread: "It's not really a precedent because it is on one property and it's one system."
In a recorded vote, Hessels was the only councillor to vote against the amendment.
No taping for Konc
Betty Konc's directing debut will have to wait.
Her bid to tape Wainfleet township's council meeting was not allowed Tuesday night.
At the outset of the meeting, Mayor Barb Henderson noted the township's procedural bylaw that does not mention recording meetings. To permit recording a resolution of council would be required.
Ald. Evan Main brought forward a motion. No other councillor offered to second the motion, meaning it could not be discussed.
Konc could not be reached for comment following the meeting.
Posted By MAGGIE RIOPELLE AND MARYANNE FIRTH, TRIBUNE STAFF ; NOV. 25 /08 Resident can't tape council meeting
A Wainfleet resident's request to video record a public council meeting has been denied but Betty Konc hopes to change that tonight.
Konc said she contacted the township to ask if she could record tonight's meeting as two items of interest, the fate of Lakewood Camp and an update on the Big Pipe plans from the Niagara Region, are on the agenda.
Unlike other communities, Wainfleet's council meetings are not aired on cable, she said. She e-mailed the township clerk to ensure it was cleared with the township and that her video recording the meeting wouldn't come as a shock, said Konc.
"There are some important decisions being made at the meeting," she said. "Only Wainfleet and West Lincoln don't record their council meetings because they don't have access to cable. There are times when council should be recorded."
But the township's clerk, however, informed Konc that she would have to have a resolution of council and that there were "legalities" involved with taping the meeting.
Konc said if media are able to use audio recorders and most public council meetings in the region are video taped, she has trouble understanding why her request would be denied.
"I have no idea why they would say no," said Konc. "I don't think I'm being unreasonable. I was really surprised they would say no."
If the township does have concerns, Konc said she has no intentions of posting the video online or any interest in altering the video and would be willing to provide a copy to the township.
In hopes of gaining support, Konc has already e-mailed Wainfleet aldermen and fully intends to make a formal request at tonight's meeting.
Chief administrative officer Scott Luey said council has a procedural bylaw that it must abide by.
The bylaw does not mention recording council, he said, which is why staff were unable to grant approval for Konc's request.
If not included in the bylaw, council must set its own rules about what goes on in the council chambers, he said.
"Staff can't say yes or no -council decides."
Luey said it's not a matter of prevention, but a matter of being given the right authority.
Konc's request will be the first item on the agenda tonight, he said, and if passed she'll be allowed to immediately set up her recording equipment.
Council has a duty to make sure meetings are accurately recorded, he said, as the minutes are permanently recorded by the township clerk.
He said staff don't object to Konc recording the meeting, or believe she'll put the recording to bad use, her request just needed to be put through the proper procedure before it could be approved.
In the future, the township may look into having their own video recordings of the meetings that can be shared on their Internet site, he said.
They are listening and know we aren't going away!
Here's hoping for some changes to the problems .
