Local News - January 12, 2007
FUNDING REJECTED AGAIN;
WAINFLEET'S BID FOR FUNDING FOR SEWER AND WATER REJECTED A THIRD TIME
Wainfleet will turn to other funding options for water and sewer infrastructure after striking out a third time with a federal-provincial program.
Homeowners in the Lakeshore Road area of the township have been under a boil-water advisory for several months as a result of bacterial contamination resulting from faulty septic systems leaching into wells, and, subsequently, into Lake Erie.
Mayor Barbara Henderson said she is meeting with Niagara Region's public works department today and hopes to look at a new strategy.
"Wainfleet is disappointed, but really it's what I expected given the nature of the amount of money we needed to service our population," she said.
During her election campaign, Henderson called for alternative solutions to the proposed $65-million infrastructure plan to pipe fresh water in and sewage out to Port Colborne.
"I've been working toward that and will certainly be pursuing it with the region, especially given now that we're not going to be getting this funding for this particular solution," she said.
On Wednesday, the township and Niagara Region learned their request for about $9 million from the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund had been turned down for a third time.
The rejection came even though the environmental assessment for the project was approved by the Ontario's environment minister.
"This is certainly a major disappointment," Regional Chairman Peter Partington said. "We're just going to have to reconvene. The issue still remains there and we will solve it, it's just a matter of how we go about doing it."
It was the township's last attempt to access money from the infrastructure fund, which officials had hoped would cover part of the cost of the project.
Partington said alternatives to the costly pipeline will be explored and other sources of infrastructure money will be sought. He added that the region will inquire as to why the application was once again rejected.
About 1,200 homes along the lakeshore have been under a boil-water advisory since spring 2006.
Wainfleet property owners rely on private wells or cisterns for water and septic systems for sewage disposal because the township doesn't have municipal water and sewer services.
The region proposed a plan to extend water and sewage pipes from Port Colborne to Wainfleet at an estimated cost of $65 million.
After being turned down twice by the joint federal-provincial funding program, the last application for funding called for sewer and water pipes to be installed in stages, as money became available.
With the rejection of that plan Wednesday, and money from the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund exhausted, officials must turn to other sources.
"Three strikes and you're out. It's time to look for another option," Erie-Lincoln Conservative MPP Tim Hudak said.
"The current plan is simply unaffordable to Wainfleet residents without substantial federal and provincial dollars."
Hudak said the previous Tory government pledged about $7 million toward the project through its SuperBuild program.
The dollars were never matched by the federal government or the current provincial Liberal government.
"This has dragged out for some time, waiting for the COMRIF program to come through," Hudak said. "It has not, so now it's time to look for a Plan B."
Many residents were opposed to the $65-million plan, which it was estimated could cost homeowners more than $30,000 each.
Resident Betty Konc said the funding rejection is what she was hoping would happen. "The onus on the homeowners is far too much, even with the funding," she said.
Konc said she hopes the regional government will deal individually with homeowners and figure out which ones have faulty septic systems.
The region can then apply to the province for money more readily available for such repairs, she said.
But Konc believes the region has a development agenda as it continues to seek funding.
"We could be looking at a really, really long time before we see closure on this issue."
Lakeshore Road resident John Kimber said he was in favour of the project.
"At this point, I'd like to see it move forward in one direction or the other.
"I don't want my grandkids playing in sewage in the lake."
A consortium of four companies in August proposed building in Wainfleet a small treatment plant with high-tech pipes.
The consortium claimed its plan would cost significantly less money.
THERE'S A LOT OF THE MINDS OF WAINFLEET RESIDENTS LATELY.
And Wainfleet's new mayor hopes the people of her community will feel comfortable approaching any of their elected officials to discuss them.
"I like to meet people one on one," Mayor Barb Henderson told The Tribune.
She invited the people of Wainfleet to a New Year's Levee on Saturday at township council chambers to give them the opportunity to discuss concerns and hopes for the coming year. Not long after the event began, Henderson had already "discussed the lakeshore problem" with a couple visitors.
He received unanimous support of council to amend the city's new Official Plan and create a 1.
5-kilometre buffer zone between existing settlement and new quarry ventures.
"We express opposition to development of a quarry south of Concession 2 and west of Carl Road," the mayor said.
The resolution said the extraction of aggregates on agricultural land must also include rehabilitation programs to restore the land once the extraction process is completed.
LOCAL NEWS - JANUARY 10, 2007 UPDATED
PIPELINE OPPONENTS WANT ELECTION PROMISES KEPT
WAINFLEET HOLDING COUNCIL TO PROMISES MADE DURING THE ELECTION IS THE GOAL OF A WAINFLEET RESIDENT CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROPOSED WATER AND SEWER PIPELINE THAT HAS DOMINATED NEWS IN THE RURAL TOWNSHIP.
“SO FAR, UNFORTUNATELY, THERE HAS BEEN NO SIGN OF ANYTHING OTHER THAN BUSINESS AS USUAL WITH PRESSURE FROM REGIONAL COUNCIL APPEARING TO BE OF FAR MORE IMPORTANCE THAN ANY VALID CONCERNS WAINFLEET RESIDENTS MAY HAVE ABOUT WHAT IS BEING PLANNED FOR OUR COMMUNITY,” SAID ANDREW WATTS, WHO OPPOSED THE PROPOSED PIPELINE TO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL ON TUESDAY NIGHT.
WATTS SAID HIS REASON FOR COMING BEFORE COUNCIL WAS TO “CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT (THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL) REALLY DO INTEND TO REPRESENT ALL OF US WHO VOTED FOR THEM, BASED ON ELECTION PROMISES BOTH MADE AND IMPLIED.
WATTS ALSO SAID THE REGIONAL CHAIR HAS SHOWN NO INTEREST IN WAINFLEET’S VIEWS OR CONCERNS.
“WE NOW, MORE THAN EVER, NEED A TOWNSHIP COUNCIL WHO WILL JUST SAY A RESOUNDING ‘NO’ TO THE REGION TO GIVE US ALL TIME FOR OUR ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES TO DEBATE WITH WAINFLEET RESIDENTS BEFORE AGREEING TO ANY REGIONAL DEMANDS. TO AGREE ON WHAT IS BEST FOR THE FUTURE OF WAINFLEET AND ITS RESIDENTS, BASED ON THE MANDATES I AND MANY OTHERS BELIEVE WE GAVE THIS COUNCIL IN THE LAST ELECTION.”
WATTS ENDED HIS PRESENTATION BY ASKING COUNCIL IF THEY WOULD WITHDRAW THE THIRD COMRIF (CANADA-ONTARIO MUNICIPAL AND RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE FUND) APPLICATION.
MAYOR BARBARA HENDERSON SAID COUNCIL WAS ADVISED TO SUBMIT THE COMRIF APPLICATION BASED ON LEGAL ADVICE. SHE SAID WITHDRAWING THE APPLICATION WOULD ALSO REQUIRE FURTHER LEGAL ADVICE.
“I CAN’T SEE THAT IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL AT THIS TIME TO WITHDRAW, GIVEN THE FACT THAT IF WE DID GET COMRIF IT COULD BE USED FOR A SOLUTION – NOT NECESSARILY THE BIG PIPE SOLUTION,” HENDERSON SAID.
COUNCIL ALSO RESPONDED TO A DEC. 12 DELEGATION BY BETTY KONC, WAINFLEET WATER AND SEWER COMMITTEE CHAIRWOMAN, WHO REQUESTED A MEETING WITH THE NEWLY ELECTED COUNCIL TO HAVE A FREE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND TO DISCUSS ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS TO A WATER AND SEWER PIPELINE.
HENDERSON SAID A MEETING WITH THE COMMITTEE WOULD BE “BENEFICIAL,” AND A SPECIAL MEETING OF COUNCIL WILL BE PLANNED AT A LATER DATE.
“I DON’T MIND GETTING CAUGHT UP ON CONCERNS,” SAID ALD. TED HESSELS, SUPPORTING THE MEETING.
COUNCIL WILL ALSO MEET WITH THE REGIONAL PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TODAY TO RECEIVE UPDATES ON THE LAKESHORE WATER AND SEWER ISSUE AND “TO GET THE ENTIRE COUNCIL UPDATED,” SAID HENDERSON.
ALLAN BENNER Local News - January 08, 2007
There's a lot of the minds of Wainfleet residents, lately.
And Wainfleet's new mayor hopes the people of her community will feel comfortable approaching any of their elected officials to discuss them.
"I like to meet people one on one," Mayor Barb Henderson told The Tribune.
She invited the people of Wainfleet to a New Year's Levee, Saturday, at township council chambers to give them the opportunity to discuss their concerns and hopes for the coming year.
Not long after the event began at 1 p.m., Henderson had already "discussed the lakeshore problem" with a couple visitors.
But considering the complexity of that issue, Henderson doubts it'll be resolved in 2007.
"Nothing has happened too quickly so far," she said. "It's going to be a while down the road."
Other issues, she expected to hear a lot of discussion about during the levee were on the development planned for the former Lakewood camp, and the proposed quarry development.
Overall, she's expecting a year of continuing growth and change in the community. But whatever comes about, she's planning to make certain the people of Wainfleet are part of any decisions that are made.
"I feel really strongly about having a very open process, getting the public actively involved in the decisions that will ultimately affect them," she said.
Ald. Rudy Warkentin is eager to spend the coming year dealing with a few long-standing issues in the town.
He's hoping to find solutions to issues such as the water and sewer problems, development along the township's lakeshore, the quarry, and a couple of other issues.
Ald. Evan Main said those issues have been on the township's plate for far too long, "and we need to find a solution this term."
Thanks to the "strong team" they have at township hall, Main is confident they will be able to do it.
"I think that team approach is important."
For Ron Kramer, who's serving his first term as an alderman, 2007 will be a year of learning.
"I am learning," he said. "I find it very stimulating being on committees and learning how township government is run."
So far, he's found it quite different than other organizations he's been involved with.
Still, there are several issues that rank high on his list of priorities this year.
"I jumped into this for a couple reasons - the water and sewer lines and the quarry. And personally I'm really against the way we're being railroaded into both of them," he said.
Ted Hessels is also new to council, and he agrees that he'll be spending time getting up to speed in his new job.
But he also plans to rely on his constituents for help when it comes to making the tough decisions.
"I'd kind of like to see a good, open dialogue between us and the residents," he said.
JOHN ROBBINS / Osprey News Network
Local News - January 08, 2007
RESIDENTS AND PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS SHOULD BE INFORMED WHEN THE TOWN IS FORCED TO DUMP SEWAGE INTO LAKE ERIE AT A PRIVATE BATHING BEACH, A FORT ERIE COUNCILLOR SAYS.
"THIS SHOULD BE SEEN AS A BEST PRACTICE," SAID COUN. ANN-MARIE NOYES, WHO HAS GIVEN NOTICE TO HER FELLOW COUNCILLORS SHE INTENDS TO BRING A RESOLUTION FORWARD AT THE FIRST COUNCIL MEETING OF THE NEW YEAR REQUIRING PUBLIC NOTIFICATION.
"I KNOW THAT IF I WAS A RESIDENT OR USER OF THAT PARTICULAR BEACH ON A REGULAR BASIS I WOULD WANT TO KNOW WHEN SEWAGE IS BEING DUMPED, SO I COULD MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS REGARDING MY USAGE OF THE BEACH OR THE WATER."
ON AT LEAST 31 OCCASIONS DURING THE PAST 10 YEARS, THE TOWN PUMPED SEWAGE INTO MAY'S CREEK, A SHALLOW OUTLET TO LAKE ERIE FOR THE KRAFT DRAIN.
DUMPING OCCURS WHEN PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN OR RAPIDLY MELTING SNOW THREATENS TO OVERWHELM SANITARY SEWERS IN THE TOWN'S CRESCENT PARK NEIGHBOURHOOD CAUSING BASEMENT FLOODING.
THE PRACTICE DATES BACK MORE THAN 30 YEARS, BUT NO RECORDS OF DUMPING ARE AVAILABLE BEFORE 1996.
ON SIX OCCASIONS, SEWAGE WAS DUMPED INTO THE LAKE DURING SWIMMING SEASON, WHICH GENERALLY RUNS FROM MAY 24 TO LABOUR DAY.
THE TOWN REPORTS DUMPING INCIDENTS - WHICH ARE KNOWN AS TREATMENT BYPASS EVENTS - TO ONTARIO'S MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT.
HOWEVER, ONTARIO LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE MUNICIPALITIES TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OR THE REGIONAL MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH WHEN THE EXCESS SEWAGE - ESSENTIALLY STORM WATER MIXED WITH HUMAN AND HOUSEHOLD WASTE - IS RELEASED INTO SURFACE WATERS.
NOYES, A COUNCILLOR FOR NINE YEARS, SAID MOST RESIDENTS PROBABLY AREN'T AWARE THE TOWN OCCASIONALLY DUMPS SEWAGE INTO MAY'S CREEK, WHICH FLOWS INTO LAKE ERIE NEAR KRAFT ROAD.
NOYES SAID SHE HERSELF WASN'T AWARE OF THE FREQUENCY OF DUMPING OR QUANTITY OF SEWAGE BEING PUMPED INTO THE LAKE UNTIL SHE READ ABOUT IT IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES PUBLISHED DURING THE PAST TWO MONTHS.
WARNING PEOPLE IS ONLY ONE REASON WHY NOYES WANTS RESIDENTS INFORMED WHEN SEWAGE IS DISCHARGED.
"NO ONE WANTS SEWAGE BACKING INTO BASEMENTS, BUT DUMPING IT INTO THE LAKE CAN'T BE THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE," SAID NOYES. "I'M HOPING (NOTIFYING THE PUBLIC) WILL SHINE A SPOTLIGHT ON THIS PRACTICE ... AND LEADS TO A REAL SOLUTION."
NOYES' MOTION IS SCHEDULED FOR DEBATE AT COUNCIL'S JAN. 15 MEETING. RON TRIPP, THE TOWN'S DIRECTOR OF INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES, SAID HE HAS YET TO FORMULATE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COUNCIL ON THIS ISSUE.
HOWEVER, TRIPP SAID HE BELIEVES ANY POLICY THAT INVOLVES NOTIFYING RESIDENTS AND THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT SHOULD BE CO-ORDINATED WITH REGIONAL NIAGARA AND OTHER NIAGARA MUNICIPALITIES, WHICH DISCHARGE SEWAGE INTO WATERCOURSES.
Mayor Vance Badawey fired a warning shot Monday at potential quarry developer looking for new digs near Concession 2.
He received unanimous support of council to amend the city's new Official Plan and create a 1.5-kilometre buffer zone between existing settlement and new quarry ventures.
"We express opposition to development of a quarry south of Concession 2 and west of Carl Road," the mayor said.
The resolution, read by Badawey, said the extraction of aggregates on agricultural land must also include rehabilitation programs to restore the land once the extraction process is completed. Ward 4 Coun. Kate Leigh was first to support the resolution.
"We have plans for the community and this is not it," she said in response to rumours the land will be sold to an aggregate company to serve as another quarry.
"The last thing Bethel residents want to see is a hole in their front or back yard," Ward 4 Coun. Barb Butters added. "It would destroy that community. We need to do every single thing we can to protect that community."
Coun. Gary Bruno referred to the quarry rumour as a "time bomb" that will have negative affects on land values even if a quarry is not developed.
Area resident John Bisson, who has lived near the rumoured site for the past 15 years, said even the hint of a quarry has begun to impact land values in the neighbourhood.
"If we keep depleting the farm land, all we are going to have left is holes in the ground," Bisson said.
Bisson said residents of Port Colborne would be shocked if they knew how much land in the city is dedicated to quarries. He said existing quarry agreements are not being followed to the letter.
"If we can't control what is happening now, what will be done with another quarry," Bisson said.
The mayor put forward a second resolution that called for the creation of a Public Liaison Committee to monitor quarry activity in Port Colborne.
Staff will now work on providing council with terms of reference for the new PLC. The city will then advertise for citizen participation on the committee.
Both Butters and Leigh expressed interest in serving as council representatives on the new PLC. Tim Stuart, director of operational, planning and development services, said he will be looking in to how much power a PLC will have and what role it might play in the future.
"We need to step up to the plate and be better at what we do," Leigh said. "We need to be better watch dogs."
They are listening and know we aren't going away!
Here's hoping for some changes to the problems .
