WAINFLEET NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION UP
CONSTRUCTION IN WAINFLEET IS UP WITH $8.425 MILLION IN NEW DEVELOPMENTS DURING 2007.
OF THAT TOTAL, $6,773,600 WAS RESIDENTIAL, $1,536,600 WAS AGRICULTURAL AND $115,000 WAS COMMERCIAL. THE TOWNSHIP ALSO COLLECTED $81,887 IN PERMIT FEES FOR 118 PERMITS.
THE 2007 BUILDING ACTIVITY REPORT WAS BROUGHT FORWARD TO COUNCIL DURING LAST NIGHT'S MEETING WHICH OUTLINED PERMIT AND CONSTRUCTION VALUES FOR 16 NEW SINGLE-DETACHED HOMES - BELOW THE TOWNSHIP'S AVERAGE OF 24 NEW HOMES PER YEAR.
THE NUMBER OF NEW HOUSES DECREASED FROM 2006'S 20 HOMES VALUED AT 7,469,000 BUT INCREASED FROM 2005'S 14 HOMES - THE LOWEST NUMBER IN 10 YEARS - VALUED AT $6,132,700.
TOWNSHIP PLANS E-NEWSLETTER
In an attempt to keep residents informed of activities and news occurring within the township, staff will shortly launch its first e-newsletter.
Building on the current quarterly Wainfleet Update newsletter, the electronic newsletter will be e-mailed to residents on the township's electronic mailing list on a monthly basis.
Residents who wish to receive the newsletter can send a written request to:
TOP 10 ISSUES FACING SOUTH NIAGARA
ALL FOUR SOUTH NIAGARA MUNICIPALITIES NEED TO WORK TOGETHER, TO MARKET THE ENTIRE AREA AS ONE COMMUNITY.
“IT’S ALL ABOUT MARKETING,” SAID PELHAM MAYOR DAVE AUGUSTYN. “IT’S ABOUT PROMOTING THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN NIAGARA AND THE GREAT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE SOUTHERN COMMUNITIES.”
AND COLLABORATING TO MARKET THE COMMUNITIES OF WELLAND, PORT COLBORNE, PELHAM AND WAINFLEET AND THE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES HELD THROUGHOUT SOUTH NIAGARA, WAS THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE IDENTIFIED WHEN THE MAYORS OF THE FOUR COMMUNITIES COLLABORATED ON ORGANIZING A LUNCHEON MEETING, THURSDAY AT THE DAYS INN ON NIAGARA STREET.
DURING THE MEETING, CO-SPONSORED BY THE WELLAND-PELHAM AND PORT COLBORNE-WAINFLEET CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, THE FOUR MAYORS DISCUSSED THE TOP 10 ISSUES SOUTH NIAGARA MUNICIPALITIES NEED TO ADDRESS.
DESPITE THE RANKINGS, THE MAYORS SAID THEY DID NOT INTEND TO IMPLY THAT ONE ISSUE WAS MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANOTHER.
“THEY’RE NOT NECESSARILY IN ORDER OF PREFERENCE OR IMPORTANCE,” SAID PORT COLBORNE MAYOR VANCE BADAWEY.
THE LIST, HOWEVER, IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE EFFORTS OF THE TWO COMMUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.
“BY WORKING TOGETHER, WE IN FACT CAN LEAD BY EXAMPLE,” BADAWEY SAID.
HE CALLED SOUTH NIAGARA “A JEWEL,“ AND ONE THAT PEOPLE OUTSIDE THIS AREA NEED TO KNOW ABOUT.
“WE HAVE A JEWEL HERE, IT’S SIMPLY A MATTER OF PROMOTING IT. BRINGING ATTENTION TO IT,” HE SAID.
10 – HEALTH, WELLNESS AND RECREATION
9 – SOCIAL ISSUES LIKE POVERTY AND THE AGING POPULATION.
8 – ROAD SAFETY AND EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS ON AREA ROADS
7 – DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION
6 – SUPPORT FOR SOUTH NIAGARA’S AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY
5 – ENHANCING PARTNERSHIPS WITH NIAGARA’S POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS
4 – INFRASTRUCTURE, SUCH AS WATER AND SEWER LINES IN WAINFLEET
3 – TRANSPORTATION, SUCH AS THE MID-PENINSULA HIGHWAY AND THE 406 EXPANSION
2 – BETTER COLLABORATION BETWEEN SOUTH NIAGARA COMMUNITIES
1 – COLLABORATIVE MARKETING
REGION PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
Pelham council got a glimpse of what Niagara might look like in 2031.
Niagara Region is looking for input as it plots out its development strategy for the next 20 years or more. That brought the region's associate director of comprehensive community planning to town council Monday night.
Alan Gummo said it was hard to overstate the importance of Niagara's Growth Management Study, also called Niagara 2031.
"I don't want to overstate it but this review is the most important review of the region's plan since the formation of the Niagara Region," he said.
In his presentation Gummo said the region has to prepare now to do things differently than it has in the past.
With Niagara's population expected to grow to some 549,000 by 2041, an increase of more than 138,000 from 2001, and with the high cost of expanding hard municipal services like roads, water lines and sewer pipes the time is ripe to review the upper-tier municipality's official plan.
As well, the provincial legislation protecting greenbelt lands from urban development and the region's own Grow South strategy area politicians have difficult choices to make in order to meet fiscal responsibility, community development and environmental goals. The growth management study will serve as an underpinning to planning decisions as decision- and policy-makers work toward a balance of public transit, public infrastructure and brownfield redevelopments over the coming decades.
Coun. John Durley said residents will have to become used to a new reality as the move toward intensification of land use on existing urban areas picks up and pushes up the price of large rural sprawl lots.
"There will be a paradigm shift. There will be some change of mindset," Coun. John Durley said.
Coun. Sharon Cook wondered how the planning model will take into account the differences in the different realities between municipalities like Pelham and St. Catharines, which face very different planning challenges.
Gummo said the strategy will be developed with input from municipalities who can provide input along the way.
Citizens can also get involved in the process by going online to www.regional.niagara.on.ca/government/initiatives/2031/Niagara-2 031.aspx and the planning simulation tool can be viewed by clicking the Niagara Quest Online link.
RESULTS UNKNOWN FOR SURVEY
LAST SUMMER THE SEASONAL AND FULL-TIME RESIDENTS ALONG THE LAKESHORE OF LAKE ERIE IN WAINFLEET TOOK PART IN A PHONE SURVEY. THAT SURVEY WAS CONDUCTED OVER ABOUT A TWO-WEEK PERIOD OF TIME AND AS I UNDERSTAND IT, MOST OF THE RESIDENTS WHO HAVE PROPERTY OUT HERE TOOK PART IN THE SURVEY.
THE SURVEY, OF COURSE, WAS FOR THE PROPOSED WATER-SEWER PIPELINE ALONG THE LAKESHORE HERE IN WAINFLEET, THAT IS SUCH A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE. THE SURVEY WAS PART OF THE "SOCIAL IMPACT" STUDY THE MINISTER OF THE ENVIRONMENT ASKED FOR AS ONE OF THE FIVE CONDITIONS IMPOSED BY HER ENDORSEMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THIS PROJECT.
THE SURVEY ITSELF WAS QUITE DETAILED AND DID ASK SOME FAIRLY PERSONAL FINANCIAL QUESTIONS. THERE WERE ABOUT 40 QUESTIONS IN ALL AND, YES, IT DID TAKE MORE THAN JUST A FEW MINUTES IN WHICH TO TAKE PART. I DO UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS JUST A PART OF THE OVERALL SOCIAL IMPACT STUDY, BUT WE WHO TOOK PART ARE NATURALLY CURIOUS ABOUT THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY.
I HAVE ASKED AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL IF THOSE RESULTS COULD BE AIRED, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEY ARE DEVELOPING A PROJECT STRUCTURE, ONCE THE FRAMEWORK HAS BEEN FORMALIZED THE PROJECT TEAM WILL BEGIN THE TASK OF COMPILING AND REVIEWING BACKGROUND DOCUMENTS.
I FOR ONE HAVE TO ASK WHAT THE HECK IS ALL THAT DOUBLE TALK ABOUT? RESULTS ARE RESULTS. DO WE NEED TIME TO TRY TO SPIN THE NUMBERS SOMEHOW? WE, THE RESIDENTS, WERE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE RAMIFICATION OF ANSWERING SOME OF THOSE QUESTIONS AND WERE ABLE TO ANSWER THEM SO THAT THEY WOULD TRULY REFLECT THE ACTUAL FEELINGS OUT HERE ON THE LAKESHORE.
IS THE REGION RELUCTANT TO RELEASE THE RESULTS BECAUSE THIS IS A DOCUMENT THAT ONCE AND FOR ALL SHOWS THAT WE, THE RESIDENTS, DO NOT WANT AND CANNOT AFFORD THIS PIPELINE? WHAT IS THE BIG SECRET HERE AND WHY CAN'T THOSE RESULTS BE RELEASED TO THOSE OF US WHO TOOK PART? THIS IS AFTER ALL ABOUT US, ISN'T IT?
I WAS TOLD BY THE LADY THAT CONDUCTED MY INTERVIEW THAT THERE WERE VERY FEW FOLKS INTERVIEWED THAT SUPPORTED THIS PIPELINE AND THAT ALL COMMENTS HAD TO BE RECORDED AS STATED.
COULD THIS BE THE DEFINING DOCUMENT THAT REALLY DOES TELL A DIFFERENT TALE THAN WHAT HAS BEEN PURPORTED BY THOSE WHO ARE PUSHING THIS ISSUE? COULD THIS POSSIBLY BE WHY THEY WON'T RELEASE THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY, BECAUSE THEY DON'T LIKE THE RESULTS AND CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT A BETTER SPIN ON THEM?
WE ALONG THE LAKESHORE HAVE BEEN STRIDENT ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR THREE YEARS NOW, FIGURING THAT THE SQUEAKY WHEEL WILL GET THE GREASE. WE ARE NOT CRAZY. WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE STRIDENT. WE HAVE DONE OUR HOMEWORK ON THIS ISSUE AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE COWED INTO CAVING IN JUST BECAUSE THE REGION HAS MORE MONEY TO FIGHT THIS THAN WE DO. RIGHT IS RIGHT AND THIS ISN'T CLOSE TO BEING RIGHT AND NEVER WAS. THERE IS A BETTER WAY.
BETTY KONC, CHAIR, WAINFLEET WATER-SEWER COMMITTEE, PORT COLBORNE
BUSY AGENDA;
REGIONAL STAFF WILL BE BEFORE PELHAM COUNCIL
Pelham town council faces a busy agenda tonight topped with presentations about regional growth projections, garbage collection and an East Fonthill business park plan.
Alan Gummo, the region's associate director of comprehensive community planning, is scheduled to speak on Niagara's growth management strategy.
It's called a strategy for a healthy, sustainable future to guide the region through 2031.
ELEMENTS OF THE PLAN INCLUDE A GROW SOUTH PLAN THAT WOULD DIRECT HOUSING AND OTHER DEVELOPMENT AWAY FROM ST. CATHARINES AND INTO THE SOUTH NIAGARA MUNICIPALITIES OF PELHAM, WELLAND, PORT COLBORNE, WAINFLEET AND FORT ERIE.
It also addresses transportation planning, housing variety and intensification, conservation, protection of agricultural land and social and cultural issues.
Barry Friesen, director of waste management services for Niagara Region, is similarly scheduled to outline a waste management level of service and rate study.
Among its recommendations, the study calls for moving garbage pickup to once every two weeks from weekly, increasing fees, pushing for better use of curbside recycling and food waste containers, and increasing promotion programs.
Victor Muratori, a lawyer representing developers in the East Fonthill area, has asked for time to outline concerns to council about a possible planning review of a business park area at Regional Road 20 and Rice Road.
Changes in provincial guidelines have led to the reconsideration. The area includes land owned by the town, which is a possible site for a community centre.
The issue came up at a town council general committee meeting last week. Recommendations from the committee are before council tonight. In other business, town council will receive a report from the Bradshaw Park stewardship committee, which oversees Harold S. Bradshaw Memorial Park, a nature park on Chantler Road.
The Pelham downtown beautification advisory committee will submit minutes of its meetings.
Gary Accursi, the committee's chair, will speak to town council's general committee later in the evening, encouraging it to include projects supported by the beautification committee in the town's 2008 budget.
The Pelham building department will submit its annual report.
It shows the value of construction permits reached $27.7 million in 2007. It was less than the $48.9 million in 2006, which included major projects such as the $20-million Lookout retirement complex. But it was more than $20.75 million value of construction 2005.
Town council meets at 7 p.m. in the Pelham town hall in Fonthill.
NO HEALTH RISK ?
OPEN LETTER TO: NIAGARA PUBLIC HEALTH SENIOR STAFF.
I AM NEITHER SCIENCE NOR MEDICALLY TRAINED, BUT I DO HAVE TREMENDOUS PROBLEMS IN UNDERSTANDING JUST HOW YOUR CLAIMED EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE ALLOWS YOU ALL TO MAKE SUCH APPARENTLY BIZARRE AND MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE DECISIONS THAT MAKE ABSOLUTELY NO SENSE?
ON DEC. 23 FORT ERIE SUFFERED A "WASTEWATER BYPASS EVENT." WHAT A NICE INNOCUOUS TITLE FOR THE DUMPING OF RAW AND PARTLY TREATED HUMAN WASTE DIRECTLY INTO THE ENVIRONMENT. THE STORY I READ DIDN'T ACTUALLY SPECIFY THE AMOUNT THAT WAS DUMPED. CONSIDERING THE WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER THE WHOLE OF THE REGION AT THE TIME AND THE FACT THAT FORT ERIE IS ONE OF THE FEW MUNICIPALITIES SO FAR TO COMMIT TO MAKING SUCH PUBLIC STATEMENTS ABOUT SUCH "EVENTS" ONE CAN ONLY WONDER HOW MANY OTHER REGIONAL MUNICIPALITIES WERE SIMILARLY AFFECTED?
THEN JUST A FEW DAYS AGO THERE WAS A REPORT OF 22,000 LITRES OF SEWAGE SLUDGE LEAKING OUT OF PORT WELLER'S TREATMENT PLANT BEFORE IT WAS EVEN NOTICED. SEVERAL HOURS LATER -- AND AFTER AN UNIDENTIFIED AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL TAXPAYER MONEY WILL HAVE BEEN SPENT IN OVERTIME AND WHATEVER ELSE THIS SPILLAGE WAS ALLEGEDLY CONTAINED -- THE PROBLEM SOLVED AND ANY CONTAMINATION PROBLEM CLEANED UP.
AND IN BOTH THE ABOVE SITUATIONS, DR. WILLIAMS, YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAVE NO PROBLEM IN INSISTING NEITHER COULD BE ANY PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN?
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF FLUIDS THAT CAN MOST CERTAINLY CONTAIN HARMFUL BACTERIA, INCLUDING E. COLI, BEING DUMPED DIRECTLY INTO THE ENVIRONMENT YET YOUR DEPARTMENT DO NO MORE THAN STATE BOTH SPILLAGES WERE HARMLESS! NICE TO KNOW YOU ARE ALL SO CONCERNED. THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF ARE ABLE TO RISE ABOVE THE MERE LAWS OF PHYSICS, IGNORE THEM, AND CLAIM, LIKE KING CANUTE, THAT BY SAYING THERE IS NO PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT THEN IT CANNOT EXIST IS, TO ME, A WONDER TO BEHOLD.
I'M SORRY TO HAVE TO ADMIT IT, DR. WILLIAMS, BUT I'M A WAINFLEET RESIDENT. YOU KNOW, ONE OF THOSE MINDLESS IDIOTS WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT.
BUT I DO HAVE TO ASK ... YOU HAVE SINGLE HANDED BRANDED WAINFLEET'S 14 KILOMETRES OF LAKESHORE AS A "WALKERTON WAITING TO HAPPEN." UNCONTROLLED CONTAMINATION FROM ALL THOSE ALLEGED AGEING AND FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND CONTAMINATED WELLS? THE FACT THAT EVEN WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT YOUR EXPERTS DID NOT INSPECT OR TEST INDIVIDUAL SEPTIC SYSTEMS AND STILL CANNOT LOCATE ALL THE WELLS THEY CLAIM "MAY" BE CONTAMINATED CANNOT BE PRETTY READING FOR ANYONE CLAIMING TO BE MAKING DECISIONS BASED ON REAL SCIENCE!
I REALLY WOULD LIKE YOU, SOMEONE IN YOUR DEPARTMENT OR ANY OF THE "EXPERTS" THE REGION HAVE SPENT MY TAXPAYER DOLLARS ON, TO EXPLAIN TO ME, IN SIMPLE TERMS, HOW THE MOST DECREPIT, FAILING, ON-SITE SEPTIC SYSTEM CAN LEAK RAW SEWAGE FROM THE SEPTIC TANK, THROUGH THE TILE BEDS INTO THE BEDROCK, UNDER THE GROUND AND THE BEACHES AND INTO LAKE ERIE FROM THE WHOLE 14 KILOMETRES OF WAINFLEET LAKESHORE AND STILL COME CLOSE TO THE WHOLESALE CONTAMINATION OF OUR ENVIRONMENT, BY OUR REGIONAL MUNICIPAL SERVICES, THAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF HAVE NO PROBLEM IN CLAIMING ARE NOT ANY SORT OF PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERN.
AND THE WAINFLEET/WALKERTON COMPARISON? DO YOU REALLY MEAN THIS? THE COMPARISON IS NOT ONLY RIDICULOUS, BUT DISHONEST.
WALKERTON WAS A MUNICIPAL WATER SERVICE, PROBABLY OLD AND DETERIORATING LIKE MOST OF ONTARIO'S. WHAT YOU AND YOUR STAFF ARE ADVOCATING IS TO FORCE EXACTLY THAT SORT OF MUNICIPAL SERVICE ON WAINFLEET'S LAKESHORE.
PLEASE ASSURE ME THAT CONNECTING TO AN AGING AND FAILING PORT COLBORNE MUNICIPAL WATER SERVICE THAT IS KNOWN TO LEAK AT LEAST 30% OF THE WATER IT PRODUCES BEFORE IT REACHES THE CONSUMER CAN BE SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN TO BE ANY SAFER THAN WALKERTON? IF NO ONE KNOWS WHERE THAT WATER LEAKS OUT FROM HOW CAN ANYONE CLAIM CONTAMINATION CAN'T LEAK INTO THE WATER SYSTEM? AND YOU MUST ALREADY BE AWARE THAT PORT COLBORNE HAS TO OVER-CHLORINATE THEIR WATER TO MAKE IT FIT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION? AND IT STILL TASTES LOUSY!
CAN YOU OR ANY OF YOUR STAFF GIVE ME A SINGLE POSITIVE REASON HOW CONNECTING TO THE KNOWN OLD AND NON-SUSTAINABLE MUNICIPAL SERVICES THAT PORT COLBORNE HAS CAN POSSIBLY BENEFIT WAINFLEET IN ANY SINGLE PUBLIC HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL OR FINANCIAL WAY?
Andrew Watts
Wainfleet
MAKE IT ROUTINE;
PUBLIC SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY BE NOTIFIED OF SEWAGE OVERFLOWS
REGIONAL NIAGARA DESERVES SOME CREDIT FOR BEING FAIRLY QUICK OFF THE MARK IN NOTIFYING THE PUBLIC LAST FRIDAY OF A SEWAGE SLUDGE SPILL AT THE PORT WELLER TREATMENT PLANT NEAR MUNICIPAL BEACH IN ST. CATHARINES.
A PIPE AND ITS EMERGENCY BACKUP CLOGGED AT THE PLANT ON LAKE ONTARIO, SPILLING AN ESTIMATED 22,000 LITRES OF SEWAGE SLUDGE FROM THE DIGESTER - THAT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AS ENOUGH TO FILL A MEDIUM-SIZED TANKER TRUCK.
AND BY A STROKE OF LUCK, ICE AND THE EFFORTS OF PLANT WORKERS KEPT MOST OF THE SEWAGE ON PLANT PROPERTY.
REGIONAL EMPLOYEES WERE ALSO ABLE TO CONTAIN ABOUT 75 PER CENT OF THE SPILL ON PLANT PROPERTY, THE REMAINDER ENDED UP IN A NEARBY PARKING LOT AND SOME OOZED DOWN ONTO SOME ICE, WHERE CREWS WERE ABLE TO VACUUM IT UP.
IT DOESN'T APPEAR THAT IT WAS PARTICULARLY DIFFICULT FOR THE REGION TO ISSUE A MEDIA RELEASE FOR THIS SPILL. AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE PUBLIC BE NOTIFIED.
AND THAT BRINGS US TO THE DELAY AT THE REGION WHEN IT COMES TO NOTIFYING THE PUBLIC WHEN OVERFLOW SEWAGE IS DISCHARGED INTO NIAGARA'S WATERWAYS.
NIAGARA FALLS AND FORT ERIE HAVE ADOPTED POLICIES WHERE THE PUBLIC IS NOTIFIED ONCE OVERFLOW SEWAGE IS DISCHARGED INTO AREA WATERWAYS. WE THINK THE REST OF NIAGARA SHOULD BE TREATED THE SAME WAY.
WHAT'S SURPRISING IS THAT THE SPILL AT THE PORT WELLER PLANT WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE PUBLIC WHEN, IN THE OVERALL SCHEME OF THINGS, IT'S A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF SEWAGE (ALTHOUGH IN A MORE CONCENTRATED FORM).
IT HAS BEEN ESTIMATED THAT ONE PER CENT OF THE SEWAGE HEADED FOR TREATMENT BYPASSES REGIONAL SEWAGE TREATMENT AND IS PUMPED INTO LOCAL WATERWAYS.
IN SOME OF THE BYPASS INCIDENTS MILLIONS OF LITRES OF SEWAGE HAVE BYPASSED TREATMENT PLANTS AND BEEN PUMPED INTO RIVERS AND CREEKS.
THE 22,000 LITRES THAT ESCAPED IN FRIDAY'S INCIDENT WAS A PROVERBIAL DROP IN THE BUCKET IN COMPARISON TO THE SEWAGE THAT ROUTINELY MAKES ITS WAY TO WATERWAYS IN BYPASS SITUATIONS.
IF THE REGION CAN ISSUE TIMELY NOTIFICATIONS TO THE PUBLIC WHEN A SEWAGE SPILL OCCURS AT ONE OF ITS PLANTS, THERE IS NOTHING STOPPING IT FROM DOING THE SAME WHEN, AS A MATTER OF ROUTINE, SEWAGE IS DUMPED BECAUSE PLANTS CAN'T HANDLE THE VOLUME.
BADAWEY ON JOINT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
FOR WAINFLEET SERVICING PROJECT
Mayor Vance Badawey has been appointed to serve on the joint advisory committee responsible for the next phase of the Wainfleet servicing project.
Badawey volunteered to serve on the committee given his past involvement on the controversial file.
"We are stewards of our future," Badawey said. "It is incumbent on us to be involved."
BADAWEY SAID THE WAINFLEET SERVICING PROJECT WILL AFFECT WAINFLEET, PORT COLBORNE AND THE ENTIRE REGION.
BADAWEY SAID HE HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE PROJECT SINCE DAY 1 AS PUBLIC WORKS CHAIR AT THE REGION.
He said the process needs to be respected, but there must be "a lot more balance" going forward.
"I DON'T LIKE THE IDEA OF RAMMING THIS DOWN PEOPLE'S THROATS," he said.
"We need to be inclusive and walk down this road together. I don't agree with the cost and I can't see that happening - and as long as I'm on regional council it won't happen."
The joint advisory committee will report to regional council throughout the next phase of the Wainfleet Servicing Project on such key topics as servicing options, delivery mechanisms, cost and financing options.
The committee is composed of Badawey, Regional Coun. Debbie Zimmerman (Grimsby), Regional Coun. Shirley Cordiner (Fort Erie), Fort Erie Mayor Doug Martin, Regional Coun. Barbara Greenwood (Niagara Falls), Regional Coun. Bill Smeaton (Niagara Falls), Regional Coun. Norm Puttick (Niagara Falls), Regional Coun. Tim Rigby (St. Catharines) and Wainfleet Mayor Barb Henderson.
Regional staff members on the committee include Ken Brothers, commissioner of public works; John Bergsma, commissioner of corporate services; and Dr. Robin Williams, medical health officer for the region. The committee will meet for the first time on Feb. 7.
Sal Iannello, director of operations for the City of Port Colborne, has been appointed to the project team for the Wainfleet servicing project.
The region also looking for citizens to serve on an eight-member public liaison committee.
The region hopes to have the Wainfleet servicing project PLC in place by March.
Bob Steele, of the region's public works department, said the citizen members will have to apply for the eight seats and will be selected by the joint advisory committee.
WELLAND TRIBUNE JAN. 16 / 08
ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES MAY EASE WAINFLEET WATER WOES
A RECENT STUDY TO SATISFY THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT INDICATES THAT A TWO-BEDROOM HOUSE NEEDS A SEPTIC SYSTEM WITH A CAPACITY OF 1,100 LITRES PER DAY.
TWO ADULTS LIVE AT THIS LOCATION AND WITH APPLIANCES THAT ARE VERY EFFICIENT, WE CALCULATE OUR SEPTIC SYSTEM IS ACTUALLY RECEIVING A MAXIMUM OF 300 LITRES PER DAY.
WE INSTALLED A SIX-LITRE FLUSH TOILET, A WATER-SAVING SHOWERHEAD, A FRONT-LOAD WASHER AND AN ENERGY-EFFICIENT DISHWASHER.
IF FOUR PEOPLE LIVED HERE, THAT OUTPUT MIGHT DOUBLE TO 600 LITRES PER DAY.
IF WAINFLEET TOWNSHIP MADE UPGRADING TO ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES LIKE THE ABOVE MANDATORY (POSSIBLY OFFERING INCENTIVES) THE LOAD ON EXISTING SEWAGE DISPOSAL SYSTEMS COULD BE REDUCED BY HALF OR MORE.
THIS COULD RESOLVE MUCH OF THE EXISTING PROBLEMS WITH SEWAGE SYSTEMS. THEN, DO TESTING TO DETERMINE WHICH SYSTEMS ARE CREATING PROBLEMS AND FORCE THE NECESSARY UPGRADES. IF NECESSARY, PROVIDE SOME MONETARY ASSISTANCE.
IN ADDITION, LET US REMEMBER THAT QUITE A NUMBER OF PREMISES ARE USED ONLY IN THE SUMMER.
ABSENTEE LANDLORDS SHOULD ALSO BE FACTORED IN THIS DECISION-MAKING PROCESS.
BERNIE CUSACK
PORT COLBORNE
REGION FORMING DEVELOPMENT CHARGES ADVISORY GROUP
Niagara Region is forming a public advisory group on development charges, the municipality stated in a new release Thursday.
Individuals and members of representatives from organizations, "especially those associated the building industry," according to the website release (available at www.regional.niagara.on.ca/news) are encouraged to apply to join the group.
The region is reviewing its development charges bylaws and related policies. The announcement notes prospective group members must have a willingness to pursue practical financial solutions for providing the region's services.
Interested parties have until Friday, Jan. 25 to make known their interest. Inquiries should be sent to the following address: The Chair, Development Charges Task Force, c/o The Regional Clerk, 2201 St. David's Road, P.O. Box 1042, Thorold, ON, L2V 4T7.
NIAGARA THIS WEEK By Michael Speck, SPECKulations Columns OCT. 12 , 2007
MEETING TAME DESPITE RESULTS
I went to Wainfleet council on Tuesday expecting yet another emotionally charged evening of residents lashing out at The Man for pushing The Pipe, or whatever other urban development that might cross the agenda.
But instead I got a rather informative evening full of relevant information, and although things went exactly as they should in a council chamber, I was somewhat disappointed.
The night started out promising enough, with protestors outside, waving signs claiming that The Big Pipe Has A Big Leak. But the arrival of a police officer, as well as Wainfleet Mayor Barbara Henderson letting it be known early that anyone acting out of order wouldn't be tolerated, made for a calm and productive meeting.
Henderson even kicked someone out, slamming her gavel in the dark of a regional staff Powerpoint presentation. I jumped about three feet in the air.
But don't think I enjoy shenanigans at the expense of elected officials, at least not anymore than the next person. I'm just a man of routine, and after heated public meetings and presentations by well-organized citizen's committees, a regular night of discussion and voting doesn't quite cut it.
When I first arrived at The Leader on my summer internship, I remember volunteering for Wainfleet council because I thought it'd be an easy start. I'd only visited the township to frequent Long Beach before, having no idea of the literal political sewage that was directly beneath the sand.
But between a disabled children's camp turned condominium and an Ontario Municipal Board appeal, I began thinking I was in over my head, considering I really had only two months of real job experience at the time. Luckily for me, Fleeter resilience is contagious.
I ran into Alderman Evan Main at the Port Colborne Farmer's Market last Friday, and while discussing the potential scenarios of last Tuesday's meeting, he reminisced on the simpler days of council with Mayor Stan.
"Reporters used to hate coming to Wainfleet council," he said. "Because it was really long and they had to search for things to write about."
We both agreed that now, it has everything a writer could ask for. Multi-million dollar projects and citizen action committees are pretty good achievements for a rural township.
And although it might not always be easy, at least it's always entertaining.
EDITORIAL ALL WRONG ;
RE. 'IMPOSING REGION WAS WISE MOVE,' OCT. 19 EDITORIAL:
IS WHOEVER WROTE THIS SERIOUS? ( SEE BELOW )
I WONDER IF YOU ACTUALLY LIVE WITHIN THE NIAGARA REGION AND WILL BE ONE OF THOSE TAXPAYERS HAPPY TO HELP OUT THEIR POOR, SUFFERING AND ENDANGERED WAINFLEET NEIGHBOURS? BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU ASK FOR AS I DON'T THINK ANY NEWSPAPER HAS EVER GIVEN A SECOND'S SERIOUS THOUGHT TO JUST WHAT THE REGION'S SOLUTION TO WAINFLEET'S ALLEGED PROBLEMS WILL ACTUALLY COST EVERYONE IN THE WHOLE OF THE NIAGARA REGION.
AND WHEN YOU'VE SO GENEROUSLY HELPED WAINFLEET, WHAT ABOUT THE NEXT RURAL COMMUNITY TARGETED FOR REGIONALLY INSPIRED DEVELOPMENT? YOU DON'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH DIGGING EVEN DEEPER IN YOUR POCKET TO HELP THEM AS WELL?
IF THE REGION'S SOLUTION MADE ANY SENSE AT ALL THERE WOULD BE CREDIBLE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT IT. IT DOESN'T, AND THERE ISN'T!
IF YOUR EDITORIAL WRITER HAD BOTHERED TO READ NUMEROUS, REGIONALLY-INSPIRED ARTICLES, PUBLISHED OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, INDICATING THE ABYSMAL AND NEGLECTED STATE OF THE REGION'S WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURES, SURELY HE, OR SHE, MIGHT HAVE ASKED THE QUESTION OF OUR REGIONAL GOVERNMENT -- 'WHY WOULD ANY SANE PERSON WANT TO EXTEND SYSTEMS THAT ARE PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED TO RATE NO BETTER THAN A 'C' GRADE?
PERHAPS YOU THINK THAT THAT IS ALL US WAINFLEET PEASANTS DESERVE?
AND AS FOR CITING DR. ROBIN WILLIAMS AS YOUR POSTER GIRL, WHY WOULD YOU?
SHE IS ON RECORD AS RECOGNIZING A CONTAMINATION PROBLEM ALONG WAINFLEET'S LAKESHORE SINCE 1997, ALTHOUGH IN THOSE DAYS 'ALLEGED FAILING SEPTIC SYSTEMS' WERE NOT CONSIDERED THE MAIN PROBLEM, INDEED JUST DIDN'T APPEAR IN THE PROVINCIAL REPORTS OF THE DAY AS AN ISSUE. IT'S ONLY SINCE THE RECENT AND BADLY-FLAWED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT THAT ALL THE BLAME HAS BEEN PUT ON SEPTIC SYSTEMS.
BUT REGARDLESS OF THAT, THIS CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH APPARENTLY HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE 'THREAT' TO WAINFLEET RESIDENTS GOING BACK 10 YEARS NOW! YET YOU STILL APPLAUD HER FOR WANTING TO PROTECT US?
AND FINALLY, HER BOIL WATER ADVISORY, IMPOSED ON AN ADDITIONAL 10 SQUARE KILOMETRES OF POTENTIALLY PRIME BUILDING LAND WITH NO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, INDEED NO RECOGNIZED PROTOCOL AT ALL AND ONLY A VOLUNTARY WATER TESTING OVER THAT AREA THAT SHOWED A SINGLE RESIDENCE WITH CONTAMINATED WELL WATER. AND THIS IN AN AREA WHERE REGIONAL 'EXPERTS' TOLD ME TO MY FACE, THERE WERE NO CONTAMINATION PROBLEMS.
PLEASE, PLEASE, FIND ME ONE SINGLE INTELLIGENT REASON WHY ANYTHING THE REGION HAS DONE REGARDING WAINFLEET, AND THEIR FUTURE AGENDA FOR THE TOWNSHIP, SHOULD BE SEEN AS WISE IN ANY WAY AT ALL.
Andrew Watts
Wainfleet
NIAGARA THIS WEEK EDITORIAL Oct 19, 2007
IMPOSING REGION WAS WISE MOVE
The issue of contaminated drinking water in Wainfleet highlights the wisdom of the province, nearly 40 years ago, to impose a regional level of government in Niagara.
The region has been kicked around a lot over the years, amid allegations of duplication and waste. But there can be no disputing that it is playing a vital role in public health issues, as Niagara's board of health, that literally can be life-and-death.
Nowhere is that more true than in Wainfleet, where some 1,200 cottages and homes clustered along the lakeshore area have been under a boil water advisory issued by Dr. Robin Williams, the region's chief medical officer of health, since the spring of last year.
A number of studies have revealed there is widespread contamination of drinking water in the area, which relies on wells and septic systems. It's believed aging, crumbling septic systems are leaking E. coli bacteria into the fractured bedrock, possibly even contributing to the contamination that regularly closes beaches due to high E. coli levels.
E. coli can be deadly: in Walkerton, seven people died and hundreds more were made sick -- some with probable life-long kidney damage -- when that town's water supply became contaminated in 2000.
Now the region is looking at cost sharing what could end up being a $72-million project with Wainfleet to hook up the affected area to the Port Colborne water and sewer treatment plants.
It's something Wainfleet, with a small annual town budget of only a few million dollars, simply could not afford on its own.
That's precisely why it's so important to have a regional level of government, in which the 12 municipalities band together to help each other in times of need. Almost exactly a year ago, when Fort Erie was paralyzed by a freak snow storm that dumped several feet of heavy snow on it, ripping down trees and power lines, other municipalities such as St. Catharines leaped to their aid with crews and equipment, and staff with the region went door-to-door, working with various agencies to make sure, with temperatures outside below freezing, seniors without power were being taken care of.
Many people in Wainfleet are wary of the region's motives in the E. coli contamination, fearing it's a ruse to open up their quaint area to unprecedented development. And it's true that having the area serviced by water and sewer pipes will undoubtedly increase development pressure.
But first and foremost, the contamination problem must be addressed before someone gets deathly ill or dies.
LUCKILY FOR WAINFLEET, PROPERTY TAXPAYERS FROM ACROSS NIAGARA WILL BE THERE TO HELP THEM IN THEIR TIME OF NEED.
ASHAMED OF PROTEST
FLEETERS, WE SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF OURSELVES.
Regional representatives attending the recent Wainfleet council meeting must have laughed at the seven pickets in front of township hall.
Did Wainfleet officials realize that the reps would have to ask the pickets how to get into the meeting?
Apparently council forgot to tell them where the entrance was.
The two Niagara Regional Police officers sent out could have better spent their time investigating crime, since the protest was nearly over when they arrived. When they saw seven pickets instead of "hundreds" they must have laughed.
Since the region and council were going to go ahead with their plans regardless, I guess it didn't matter if there were seven or 700 of us.
We just wanted to make our own statement, not break any laws.
Eleanor L. Hatt,
Wainfleet
NIAGARA THIS WEEK LETTERS Nov 03, 2006
RIGHT BACK AT YOU
In the Oct. 27 issue of this newspaper the managing editor was on a rant about politicking. In it she took some cheap shots of her own that I just have to respond to.
I am one of the authors of the flyer that she talked about. I'm sorry that our grammar offended you Miss Gail but we are not professional writers, we speak what we think and that flyer was looked at by no less than four pairs of eyes to pick out mistakes.
The WWSC is a small group of volunteers fighting the Regional government with little or no dollars, we don't have editors that can pick out grammatical errors or spelling, so again if our flyer offends you, (you who don't live on the lakeshore in Wainfleet or Wainfleet period) that's tough, we made our point and stand by it grammar and all.
Albert Guiler was the clerk for the last 10 years of Stan's tenure as mayor, and for six years of our present mayor so that makes all of 16 years, a far cry from 4,000.
It doesn't give you the right to criticize my choice of candidate. Mr. Guiler may have made the kind of money working as a civil servant you referred to, working in Wainfleet Township for the last 16 years but I doubt it.
You are inferring that he made $ 195,000 per year, hard to believe that Wainfleet would have that kind of money to pay a civil servant. He is retired now and running for the low paying privilege of possibly becoming mayor. A job that is thankless and stressful and I would imagine 24/7.
What does his past employment wages have to do with anything, other than you the press making exaggerated statements that are meaningless?
Were you having a bad day trying to find inspiration on something to fill your column? There are so many other issues that you as the editor could have written about.
I'm just a little disappointed that you would chose to belittle a group that is trying hard to make a difference in our local world the best way we know how. If you have any other constructive criticisms, I would be more than receptive to listening rather than seeing them in print with no idea why we are being taken to task.
Betty Konc, chair
Wainfleet Water Sewer Committee
RR2 Port Colborne
******
GOT ME
Well, you got me on a couple of items, that's for sure. Grammartized isnt a word. That was supposed to be funny. But before I used grammartized, I used bloviate, one of many words for the day emailed to me by readers who challenge me to use them in a column or editorial. Sadly--and I blame the proofer's darn spellcheck software--bloviate (to write or orate windily) was changed to boviate, which, not to be confused with obviate, may have roots in bovine, which brings to mind Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), or Mad Cow Disease, and not my descriptive intent. Words sure can be tricky.
The former CAO's Sunshine List earnings are a matter of public record. As for disliking or belittling or taking to task, I do and did no such thing--I simply commented on one issue and observed another.
Gail Todd, editor
WELLAND TRIBUNE Letters Dec 09, 2005
ARE THE PEOPLE STUPID?
I READ THE ARTICLE IN THIS WEEK'S NIAGARA THIS WEEK REGARDING THE SO-CALLED WATER CRISIS IN WAINFLEET THAT THE MAYOR SAYS EXITS. TO COMPARE OUR PROBLEM TO ANOTHER AREA'S PROBLEM IS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE THE FACTS ARE NOT THE SAME.
HOW ABOUT COMPARING THE PROBLEM TO WALKERTON OR ANY NUMBER OF TOWNS THAT HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TREATED WATER THAT IS SUPPOSEDLY SAFE. PROBLEMS CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE ANYTIME, BUT FORCING PEOPLE TO RELY ON POLITICIANS TO HELP US IS PARAMOUNT TO PUTTING A GUN TO THEIR HEAD.
WE ALL KNOW THAT MOST WHAT POLITICIANS WANT IS GLORY AND TO HELP THEIR FINANCIAL SUPPORTERS PILLAGE THE COMMON PERSON. IF THE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE GOES THROUGH THEN THE LITTLE PERSON WHO CANNOT AFFORD THE HOOKUP FEES WILL BE BOUGHT OUT BY THE POLITICIAN'S CRONIES WHO WILL DEMOLISH THE COTTAGE OR HOUSE AND PUT UP LARGE MONSTROSITIES THAT PEOPLE CALL COTTAGES.
IS THIS WHAT THE PEOPLE OF WAINFLEET WANT? THE PEOPLE I HAVE TALKED TO SAY NO.
WE CANNOT BABYSIT PEOPLE THAT DRINK WATER THAT THEY KNOW IS TAINTED. THE QUESTION THAT COMES TO MIND IS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE REALLY DRINKING THE TAINTED WATER?
ACCORDING TO THE MAYOR, EVERYONE THAT HAS TAINTED WATER IS. I HAVE NOT READ OF ANY CASES IN WAINFLEET OF PEOPLE BEING RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH E.COLI POISONING. ARE WE NOT IN CONTROL OF OR LIVES ANYMORE OR IS IT THAT WHAT THE POLITICIAN SAYS IS REALITY?
WE THE PEOPLE SHOULD FORCE THE ISSUE BY CALLING FOR A VOTE ON THE SITUATION OR IS IT THAT THE POLITICIANS DON'T THINK WE ARE SMART ENOUGH TO BE ABLE UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION.
EVERYONE IN CANADA WILL BE PAYING FOR THE SO-CALLED FIX. THE PEOPLE IN NIAGARA WILL BE PAYING THE MOST FOR SURE.
ALL I CAN REALLY SAY IS PUT IT TO A VOTE MAYOR , AND LET THE TAXPAYERS SAY WHAT THEY WANT TO BE DONE.
DALE ROBERTSON
WAINFLEET
NIAGARA REGIONAL WATER REPORT FOR WAINFLEET
TO CHECK on WHAT PEOPLE SAY / about WAINFLEET
from NIAGARA THIS WEEK CLICK HERE
They are listening and know we aren't going away!
Here's hoping for some changes to the problems .
