July 8, 2015
1577
Kincardine council has decided to cuts its losses and proceed no further with the Inverhuron water and sewer project.
The $9-million infrastructure project has been in the works since approval was received in 2009 for a two-thirds grant from the federal and provincial governments through the Building Canada Fund Communities Component.
Unfortunately, extensive delays meant the project would not meet the grant-funding deadline of March, 2016, and no extension was allowed; plus a proposal to scale back the project was also rejected.
In committee-of-the-whole last night (July 8), a staff report explained the situation, and recommended council do the following:
The treasurer noted that the municipality has incurred about $1.4-million in expenses, to date, on this project.
Councillor Randy Roppel said that for some residents of Inverhuron, this decision is unfortunate, while others wanted only one service or the other or none.
"The other issue," he said, "is what are we going to do for the people if they've been turned down for a new septic system or an expansion to their existing system? We need these septic issues addressed. Council needs to have a discussion about this, and I would like it to happen at our Aug. 12 meeting."
Councillor Laura Haight agreed, but said there is a lot of information to compile, such as easements over private roads, and that won't be ready by Aug. 12. She also agreed that council must work with the people in need in Inverhuron, especially those on the sand beach.
Chief building official Michele Barr said the municipality is engaged with the property owners and trying to find solutions to septic system issues. "We can deal with each property on a case-by-case basis," she said.
Roppel said council has two choices: extend the Lake Street North water and sewer services to residents in that area, or allow septic systems to be built on road allowances.
"We would have to do some number-crunching to determine the costs to extend Lake Street services," said Barr. "That system is almost at capacity so there would be a cost to add these properties."
As for the road allowances, she would need a legal opinion about permitting septic systems there. She recommended bringing the discussion forward in September.
Haight favoured an informal meeting with the affected residents to consider the costs of a Lake Street extension.
Deputy mayor Jacqueline Faubert suggested an open house at the municipal administrative centre, but Haight said that can be problematic as residents then see the project as as done-deal.
"If we meet with the residents and find out it's an all-stop and there is no willingness to proceed, then fine, that's it," said Haight.
"I think it's a good idea to have a meeting on-site at Lake Street," said mayor Anne Eadie.
Committee-of-the-whole agreed to accept the staff recommendations as a path forward, and that was later endorsed by council.
Faubert asked how much of the $1.4-million in expenses has been covered by grant funding. The treasurer said $700,000 has been received, with another $227,000 requested, for a total of $927,000 which is the two-thirds government funding.
Written ByLiz Dadson is the founder and editor of the Kincardine Record and has been in the news business since 1986.
Related Stories