BETTY'S SPEECH AT COUNCIL MEETING

MR. MAYOR, COUNCILORS

FOR THE RECORD MY NAME IS BETTY KONC AND I REPRESENT THE WAINFLEET WATER/SEWER COMMITTEE . I COME TO YOU TONIGHT TO TALK ABOUT A BETTER SOULUTION TO THE PROPOSED WATER/SEWER PIPELINE FOR THE LAKESHORE. I AM HOPEFUL THAT YOU WILL HAVE AN OPEN MIND TO WHAT WE THE WWSC (WAINFLEET WATER / SEWER COMMITTEE) ARE PROPOSEING AND MAY WANT TO WORK WITH US TO BRING IT TO FRUITION.

I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT ALL COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS BE HELD UNTIL I AM DONE SPEAKING.

IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 2 YEARS SINCE THAT INFAMOUS COMMUNITY MEETING AT THE ARENA ON AUG. 26TH 2004. IT WAS A NIGHT THAT CHANGED OUR LIVES HERE IN THIS LAKESHORE COMMUNITY. BUT THIS ISN'T A NECESSISARILY A BAD THING. IT HAS MADE SOME HOME AND COTTAGE OWNERS AWARE THAT THE SYSTEM THEY HAVE MAY NOT BE WORKING OPTIMALLY.

ACCORDING TO ALL ACCOUNTS INCLUDING THE E.A. REPORT THERE IS AND HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH WASTEWATER FOR MANY YEARS, I HAVE LIVED HERE SINCE 1988 AND THAT WAS THE FIRST TIME I HAD EVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NEVER THE LESS, AS I SAID THE MEETING AT THE ARENA WAS A WAKEUP CALL FOR MANY HOME AND COTTAGE OWNERS.

AT THIS POINT I AM GOING TO MAKE CLEAR FOR THE RECORD THE STANCE THAT WWSC HAS MADE ALL THESE MONTHS AND HAVE NOT DEVIATED FROM IT IS NO PIPE PERIOD. WE DO NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE ASSETS OF THE REGION NOR SHOULD WE.

THIS IS THE TOWNSHIPS CHANCE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND THE AFFECTED RESIDENTS, AN OPPORTUNITY TO OPEN SOME DIALOGUE WITH US WHICH HAS BEEN SADLY LACKING UNTIL NOW. WE ARE THE ONES LIVING THIS ON A DAILY BASIS AND WE ARE THE ONES THAT HAVE A WORKABLE ANSWER IF YOU WOULD JUST LISTEN WITH OPEN MINDS TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.

OUR REASONS FOR OPPOSING THE PIPELINE ARE MANY AND VARIED, THIS IS A COMPLEX MIX OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY, DEVELOPMENT ISSUESAND MOST OF ALL THE COST TO THE HOMEOWNER AND ALL ITS ATTENDENT PROBLEMS. ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN POINTED OUT TO AND TALKED ABOUT AT LENGTH WITH THE M. O. E IN TORONTO A FEW SHORT WEEKS AGO BY THE WWSC.

HAVE YOU EVER HEARD SOMETHING AND SAID TO YOURSELF , THAT JUST DOES NOT SOUND RIGHT, LAST AUG WAS ONE OF THOSE TIMES FOR ME AND SINCE THEN I HAVE TRIED VALIENTLY TO MAKE THE PROPOSED PIPELINE MAKE SENSE BUT I KEEP COMING UP AGAINST A MORE RATIONAL APPROACH TO SOLVE THE SO CALLED PROBLEM AND CAN'T FOR THE LIFE OF ME FIGURE OUT HOW THE REGION AND YOU THE TOWN COUCIL CAN'T SEE IT FOR YOURSELVES.

THIS IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT THE SOLUTION THAT WE FROM THE WWSC ARE CERTAIN WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AND COST THE REGION AND THE PROVINCE NOTHING NOT TO MENTION THE TOWNSHIP, WHICH I MIGHT POINT OUT HERE WOULD PROBABLY BE HARD PRESSED TO DO ANY OTHER CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR MANY YEARS TO COME IF THE PREFERRED SOLUTION IS FOISTED UPON US IN ITS ENTIRETY

WE NEED TO IDENTIFY THE CAUSES OF THE PROBLEM, AS WE SEE IT THERE ARE 2 MAJOR CAUSES.

THE FIRST IS AND CONTINUES TO BE POOR PLANNING POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY BOTH THE TOWNSHIP AND THE REGION WHICH IS WHY WE FIND OURSELVES IN THIS PREDICAMENT . PIPE OR NO PIPE. LETS BE CLEAR HERE . WE HAVE BEEN LARGELY IGNORED BY THE REGION SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN THE 70S AND THE TOWNSHIP HAS HAD NO REAL IDEA OF WHAT DIRECTION IF ANY IT WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ESPECIALLY ALONG THE LAKESHORE . WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MISTAKES OF PAST MISMANAGEMENT OR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

THE SECOND AND NO LESS IMPORTANT THAN THE FIRST IS THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPT. WHO ROUTINELY CONDUCT THEIR JOBS IN A SHODDY SLIPSHOD FASHION TO THE DETRIMENT OF THIS COMMUNITY. YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKAGE 2 ACCOUNTS FROM NEW HOMEOWNERS DETAILING THEIR DEALINGS WITH INSPECTORS FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPT. THESE ARE JUST 2 OF THE MANY HORROR STORIES I HAVE BEEN TOLD OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS, NOBODY ELSE WOULD TAKE THE CHANCE ON TELLING THEIR STORIES FOR FEAR OF REPRISALS FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPT.

NOW THAT WE HAVE IDENTIFIED THE CAUSES WE FEEL ARE THE CULPRITS LETS MOVE ON TO THE SOLUTION THAT WE FEEL WILL HELP TAKE CARE OF THOSE CAUSES AND ADDRESS THE ISSUE AT HAND.

WE ARE NOT PROPOSING TO REINVENT THE WHEEL HERE , OUR SOLUTION IS:

FIX, REPLACE ,REPAIR .

SOUNDS SIMPLE . I AM SURE IT ISN'T GOING TO BE. IT WILL BE TIME CONSUMING AND TEDIOUS BUT IT WILL BE WELL WORTH THE EFFORT AND IT WILL BE COST EFFECTIVE. SLAMMING THE PIPE IN THE GROUND WOULD BE MUCH EASIER BUT IT ISN'T WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS AND THEY SUPPORT THE IDEA OF FIX, REPLACE, REPAIR . YES THERE WILL BE SOME HOME AND COTTAGE OWNERS THAT WILL RESIST THE IDEA THAT THEIR SYSTEM NEEDS UPGRADING, ALTHOUGH I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY ALMOST EVERY PROPERTY OWNER THIS IS THE ROUTE THEY PREFERR TO GO.

TESTING OF EVERY PROPERTY AND OF EVERY SYSTEM BOTH WATER AND SEPTIC OR HOLDING TANKS NEEDS TO BE DONE, CORE SAMPLES TAKEN FROM THE GROUND AROUND THE TANK AND BED AND FROM AROUND THE WELL IF THERE IS ONE. DYE TESTING ALSO NEEDS TO BE DONE..

WHEN AND IF IT IS DETERMINED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM THEN YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX IT TO BRING THE PROPERTY OWNER IN LINE,

BOTH FOR WATER AND WASTEWATER NEW BYLAWS MAY HAVE TO BE PUT IN PLACE.

THIS IS WHERE NEW TECHNOLOGY COMES INTO PLAY ADVANCE TREATMENT UNITS OR ATUS ARE READILY AVAILABLE NOW AND SOME ARE CLOSE TO BEING APPROVED, YOU WILL FIND IN YOUR PACKAGE A FEW OF THE PRODUCTS ON THE MARKET RANGING FROM COMPOSTING TOILETS WHICH COULD BE MANDATED FOR COTTAGE OWNERS TO STAND ALONE UNITS THAT TREAT THE WASTEWATER AND RECYCLE IT BACK TO THE HOUSE TO FLUSH, SHOWER AND DO DISHES WITH . THESE UNITS ARE SMALLER MORE EFFICIENT AND USE MUCH LESS LAND THEN CONVENTIONAL SEPTICS. TO PRODUCTS THAT COULD BE USED IN A COMMUNAL SITUATION.

JUST AN ASIDE HERE , SEPTIC TANKS , IF MAINTAINED PROPERLY WILL LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THE 20 YEARS THE REGION IS CLAIMING,

EVEN IF A PROPERTY OWNER HAS TO REPLACE HIS TANK IT WILL LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THOSE PRODUCED IN THE PAST BECAUSE THERE IS A MUCH HIGHER STANDARD OF PRODUCTION AND A HIGHER QUALITY PRODUCT.

IT IS THE LEACHING BEDS THAT FAIL MORE OFTEN THAN NOT AND THESE ARE EASILY REMEDIATED MOST TIMES

I AM ALSO GOING TO POINT OUT HERE THAT THERE ARE SOME FUNDING PROGRAMS FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER TO ACCESS THAT COUNCIL COULD ENCOURAGE THE MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT TO PROVIDE LIKE THEY DID WHEN THE SHORELINE WAS DESTROYED IN THE MID 80S. THESE ARE LOW INTEREST LOANS MUCH LIKE FARM TILE DRAINAGE LOANS. SO THOSE WHO WOULD BE HARD PRESSED TO CARRY OUT A RETROFIT OF THEIR SYSTEM DUE TO LACK OF FINANCES WOULD BE ABLE TO. THESE ARE LOW INTERESTE LOANS AND ONLY AVAILABLE IF THE FIX ,REPAIR , REPLACE IDEA IS ADOPTED, IF THE PIPELINE IS WHAT HAPPENS THESE LOANS WOULD BE LOST TO US , SO FIX , REPLACE , REPAIR , IS A WIN WIN SITUATION FOR ALL CONCERNED.

IN YOUR PACKAGE IS A DOCUMENT FROM THE NATIONAL SMALL FLOWS CLEARING HOUSE THAT IS CALLED DECENTRALIZED WASTE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, THIS NEEDS TO BE THE BLUEPINT YOU CAN USE TO INSTITUE THE FIX,REPLACE, REPAIR AND MANAGE WITH AN INSPECTOR IDEA WE ARE PROMOTING, THESE IDEAS ARE IN USE THROUGH OUT THE STATES AND ARE QUITE EFFECTIVE. I WILL POINT OUT HERE THAT JAMES KREISSEL, ONE OF THE CONSULTANTS AT THE VALUE ANALYSIS EXERCISE HELD BY THE REGION IN FEB OF 05 IS A HUGE SUPPORTER OF THE DECENTRALIZED WASTEMANAGEMENT PROGRAMS AND HAS LED THE EPA IN THIS DIRECTION FOR ALMOST 30 YEARS, IM SURE HE WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO EXPOUND ON THIS IDEA IF CONTACTED.

ANOTHER ASIDE HERE IS THAT IN THE V. A. E. REPORT IN THE E.A. UNDER THE HEADING MAJOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE V.A STATES IN #S 13, 14, AND 17 THAT INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY MAY BE THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR CAPITOL COST SAVINGS. I AS A MEMBER OF THE PAC COMMITTEE HAVEN�T HEARD IF THE REGION IN ITS INFINITE WISDOM HAS EVEN GONE DOWN THE ROAD AT LOOKING AT WHAT WE ARE ESSENTIALLY PROPOSING WITH THE USE OF ADVANCE TREATMENT UNITS, IF THEY HAVE WHERE IS THE REPORT AND EXACTLY WHAT DID THEY LOOK AT IN TERMS OF INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY?

ONCE ALL THE PROPETIES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND ARE ALL WITHIN CODE THEN AN INSPECTOR NEEDS TO BE HIRED TO DO YEARLY OR BI-YEARLY INSPECTIONS TO MAKE SURE THAT PROPERTY OWNERS STAY IN COMPLIANCE AND ISSUE WORK ORDERS OR FINES IF THEY DON'T .

ANOTHER ASIDE HERE IF YOU TAKE THE 7 MILLION THE PROVINCE HAS ALLOCATED FOR THIS PROJECT AND HIRE AN INSPECTOR AT SAY $85 THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR, THERE WOULD BE FUNDS FOR ABOUT 81 YEARS.

THIS COUNCIL AND EVEN THE TAXPAYERS NEED TO START DEMANDING THAT THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPT START DOING A BETTER JOB OUT HERE IN THE RURAL AREAS. TOO MANY TIMES INSPECTORS TURN A BLIND EYE TO HOME AND COTTAGE OWNERS THAT CONTRAVENE THE ACT THAT CONTROLS WHERE GREY WATER IS DISCHARGED TO AND IT ISN'T DIRECTLY IN THE DITCH IN FRONT OF THEIR PROPERTIES THESE INSPECTORS HAVE GOT TO START FOLLOWING THROUGH ON WORK ORDERS THAT ARE ISSUED AND START ISSUING WORK ORDERS TO MAKE HOME AND COTTAGE OWNERS COMPLY.

THE FINAL COMPONENT TO THE FIX,REPLACE.REPAIR IDEA IS EDUCATION. WE AS HOME AND COTTAGE OWNERS NEED TO BE REMINDED AT LEAST ONCE PER YEAR AT ABOUT THIS TIME OF THE YEAR ON THE INS AND OUTS OF USING A SEPTIC AND OR HOLDING TANK SYSTEM. WHAT TO DO WHAT NOT TO DO AND OF COURSE THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON WATER TREATMENT, DOS AND DON'TS.

THE MAYOR ASSURED THE PAC AT OUR LAST MEETING THAT THE REGION HAS ALL SORTS OF THESE TYPES OF INFORMATION BROCHURES AT THE REGIONAL OFFICES BUT THEY DON'T DO ANY GOOD SITTING IN THOROLD , THEY NEED TO BE IN THE HANDS OF THE RURAL RESIDENTS. OUR MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH STATED RECENTLY THAT HER STAFF IS CONSTANTLY OUT IN THE FIELD EDUCATING PEOPLE BUT I HAVE YET TO SEE HER OR HER STAFF ON MY ROAD DOING ANY OF THIS EDUCATING SO YOU THE LOCAL COUNCIL NEED TO PICK UP THE SLACK HERE AND MAKE SURE THE REGION GETS THE INFORMATION INTO THE HANDS OF THE PUBLIC.IF FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN TO BRING THE CITY SLICKERS WHO PURCHASE COTTAGES FOR THE FIRST TIME OR MOVE FROM THE CITY TO THE COUNTRY UP TO SPEED WITH HOW A SEPTIC OR HOLDING TANK WORKS . AND HOW TO TREAT THE WATER THEY HAVE BE IT FROM A WELL OR CISTERN.

YOU HAVE LISTENED TO THE REGION MAKE ANOTHER PITCH TO YOU FOR BEING ABLE TO PUT PIPE IN THE GROUND , I SAY TO YOU THAT YOU CANNOT FIX A RURAL PROBLEM WITH AN URBAN SOLUTION . Dr. JEF REUTTER OF THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY AND DIRECTOR OF THE CENTRE FOR LAKE ERIE AREA RESEARCH IS OF THE SAME OPINION. WHEN I SPOKE TO HIS AIDE TO CLARIFY THE STATEMENT HE MADE TO THE U.S. SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL & PUBLIC WORKS , IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT HIS STATEMENT IN EFFECT IS THAT WE HAVE TO STOP PUTTING SEWERS IN THE GROUND AND GO BACK TO SEPTIC TYPE TECHNOLOGY IN ORDER TO SAVE THE LAKE FROM HAVING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF EFFLUENT DUMPED INTO THE WATER FROM OVERBURDENED SEWER SYSTEMS, THEREBY CREATING ALGAE BLOOMS IN THE LAKE FROM TOO MUCH NITRATE.
THIS TIES IN WITH THE REPORT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PACKAGE GENERATED BY THE REGION REQUESTED BY WWSC OF ALL THE WASTEWATER BYPASSES IN 2005 BY ALL THE CITIES IN THE REGION. TAKE NOTE THAT THE VOLUMES ARE IN 1000 CUBIC METERS PORT COLBORNE ALONE DUMPED 76.6 1000 CUBIC METERS OF CRAP INTO THE NEAREST BODY OF WATER ONE CUBIC METER CONVERTED TO GALLONS IS 219 GALLONS .

THIS REPORT IS IN 1000 CUBIC METERS, YOU

DO THE MATH THAT IS A LOT OF EFFLUENT GOING INTO THE LAKE, OR CANAL AND THIS IS JUST PORT COLBORNE. WE ARE TALKING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF GALLONS OF EFFLUENT BY THE WHOLE REGION. SURELY YOU CAN SEE THAT EVEN IF ALL OF THE 1400 PROPERTIES ALONG THE LAKESHORE WERE FAULTY THEY WOULD NOT PRODUCE THIS KIND OF POLLUTION, WHAT IS ACTUALLY GETTING INTO THE LAKE FROM THE PROPERTIES THAT DO HAVE SYSTEMS THAT ARE FAULTY IS MINISCULE IN COMPARISON TO THESE NUMBERS. THE $72 MILLION DOLLARS TO DO THIS PIPELINE NEEDS TO BE SPENT, TO UPGRADE AND REPLACE INFRASTRUCTURE ALREADY IN PLACE IN PORT COLBORNE NOT ADDING TO IT.

LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST IS THE FACT THAT THIS IS NOT JUST A WAINFLEET LAKESHORE PROBLEM. ANY WATERFRONT COMMUNITY IN THE PROVINCE IS FACED WITH THE SAME ISSUE AND WE ARE BEING WATCHED TO SEE JUST HOW WE DEAL WITH IT. YOU HAVE A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY HERE TO BE LEADERS NOT FOLLOWERS A LEGACY CAN BE LEFT FOR OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN, ONE OF RESPONSIBLE HOMEOWNERSHIP AND CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT. LETS TAKE THE PATH RARELY FOLLOWED AND BLAZE A NEW TRAIL OF UTILIZING ADVANCE TREATMENT UNITS AND PUTTING IN PLACE STRICT PLANNING POLICIES AND FOLLOWING THEM . THE MECHANISMS ARE ALREADY IN PLACE WE JUST HAVE TO UTILIZE THEM BETTER

ONE LAST THING BEFORE I WRAP UP . WE CANNOT BE COMPARED TO WALKERTON UNLESS THIS PIPE GOES IN THE GROUND . THEY HAVE A MUNICIPAL SYSTEM . THERE CAN NOT POSSIBLY BE A HUGE OUTBREAK OF SICKNESS FROM INDIVIDUAL WELLS . IF THERE EVER WAS REPORTED ILLNESS IT WOULD BE CONTAINED TO JUST THE FAMILY THAT IS USING THAT WELL . THE RATIONALE FOR THE COMPARISON OF OUR SITUATION TO WALKERTON IS IDIOTIC AND NEEDS TO STOP.

DON'T BE FOOLED INTO DOING THE EASY THING JUST BECAUSE IT IS THERE, DO THE RIGHT THING BECAUSE YOU CAN AND SHOULD.

I URGE YOU TO TELL THE REGION THAT THEIR COMRIF IDEA IS NOT ONE YOU CARE TO PURSUE AND THAT A BETTER IDEA HAS COME ALONG THAT IS LESS INVASIVE, LESS COSTLY, AND A BETTER FIT FOR THIS COMMUNITY , INDICATING IN THE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WE PREFER WAINFLEET JUST AS IT IS WITH ALL ITS WONDERFUL RURAL CHARM AND NONE OF THE BIG CITY ACCOUTREMONTS.

THERE YOU HAVE IT A LOGICAL, REASONABLE AND SIMPLE SOLUTION THAT ADDRESSES ALL THE ISSUES AT HAND IT HAS THE APPROVAL OF THE LAKESHORE COMMUNITY AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN CONSULTING FEES TO GET IT

THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK AS CHAIR OF THE WWSC AND ON BEHALF OF THE LAKESHORE PROPERTY OWNERS. I HOPE THAT I HAVE GIVEN YOU ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE ON THIS PROPOSAL AND LOOK FORWARD TO DISCUSSING IT AT LENGTH WITH ANY ONE OR ALL OF YOU.

BATY WILL SEEK SECOND TERM AT REGION
SECTION: REGIONAL NEWS
PELHAM -- Brian Baty, Pelham's first directly elected regional councillor, has announced he will be seeking a second term in office. Baty is a retired secondary school principal who last served as the principal of E. L. Crossley Secondary School in Pelham from September 2000 until June 2003. "I retired on June 30, 2003 and started campaigning for office on July 1," says Baty, reflecting on the five months of "job-shadowing" he did by attending all meetings of Regional council and standing committees prior to the 2003 election.
"That provided me with a solid base of experience to get to know the staff, other councillors and the issues." The commitment was recognized by his peers as Baty was elected vice-chair of the Public Health Committee at the inaugural meeting. In the last three years, Baty has served on the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, Public Health and Social Services Committee, Planning and Public Works Committee, Greater Niagara Circle Route Committee, Regional Niagara Bicycling Committee
Published: 06/23/06

PARTINGTON TO SEEK RE-ELECTION
PAUL FORSYTH
JUL 14, 2006
THOROLD -- Saying he wants to continue to push for major transportation projects in Niagara and battle alarming obesity rates in the peninsula, Peter Partington is running in St. Catharines for re-election as Regional councillor.
The St. Catharines lawyer filed his nomination papers Monday for November's municipal election, tossing in his hat for one of six St. Catharines seats on council. Once the election is over, the Region's elected officials will then vote in the next head of council and Parting said he plans to seek the post.
Partington has represented St. Catharines on Regional council since 1994 and was elected Chairman by his peers in 2003.
He has actively pursued economic development opportunities in Niagara, taking part in trade missions to Asia in the hopes of wooing foreign investment in the peninsula. Partington has also pushed the province hard for major transportation projects, such as the expansion of Hwy. 406 and the creation of a Niagara-GTA corridor, which could include anything from a new mid-peninsula highway to the expansion of rail or GO Transit services to the region.
In addition to vital transportation projects, Partington said Niagara faces challenges such as the increasing cost to local taxpayers of provincially-mandated programs, and rising obesity rates in Niagara which experts say will lead to premature illness and death.

SEWERS FOR WAINFLEET HOMES CHEAPER:
LAKESHORE RESIDENTS WANT AGING SEPTIC SYSTEMS REPAIRED OR REPLACED
PAUL FORSYTH
JUL 7, 2006

THOROLD -- Wainfleet residents fighting tooth and nail against a plan to install new water and sewer lines along the lakeshore to address the issue of contaminated drinking water supplies could actually save tens of thousands of dollars if the work goes ahead, say officials with the Region.
Residents living on a 15-kilometre stretch along the lakeshore have been under a boil water advisory since April after tests showed unacceptably high levels of E.coli in drinking water.
E.coli is a nasty bacterium in sewage which releases a powerful toxin. E.coli contamination of the drinking water supply in Walkerton killed seven people and left hundreds sick six years ago.
But many in Wainfleet are adamantly opposed to a plan to spend more than $60-million for the pipe installations linking the area to existing lines from Port Colborne, fearing they could be on the hook for tens of thousands of dollars apiece.
For instance, Betty Konc, a Wainfleet resident who spoke at a meeting last week in which Regional politicians were given various scenarios on how to deal with the water contamination situation, said she expects it would cost more than $20,000 for the hookup to her home.
The lakeshore stretch in Wainfleet is served by a series of wells and aging, deteriorating septic systems which tests show are leaking contaminants. Konc said residents prefer to have existing septic systems repaired or replaced, and a qualified inspector hired for ongoing water quality inspections.
"Slamming a pipe in the ground would be much easier, but this isn't what the community wants," she said.
But Regional staff said in a report that on-site treatment of sewage would actually be more expensive, and it's impossible to know which septic tanks are leaking because some are buried beneath homes.
Bob Steele of the Region's public works department said, over 25 years, it could cost $58.5-million for onsite sewage disposal and $40.4-million to have water trucked in to homes without the pipelines. That would mean a $98.99-million cost to homeowners, or $82,500 per household, he said.
Wainfleet, which would have to share the cost of the projects with the Region, has applied twice to the Canada-Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund, designed for infrastructure improvements such as bridges and water pipes. Both times it was turned down because of the high cost for a relatively small number of homes, and because the money wouldn't promote growth.
The township is once again applying for COMRIF funding -- this time for a more modest $9.2-million rather than the $30-million requested before -- but this time with the caveat that the funding could allow up to 500 new lots to be created over a period of years.
Regional councillors Bill Smeaton of Niagara Falls and Dave Eke of Niagara-on-the-Lake questioned if alternative technologies such as onsite, low-gravity sewage treatment have been explored. Steele said such systems could actually cost more money than pipelines.
Steele said allowing the status quo to continue won't do, because Wainfleet has received legal advice that it is legally obligated to find a solution to the public health risk faced by residents in the lakeshore area.
He said later the new COMRIF application will be in by early September, with a decision on whether the funding request is approved early in the new year.
Betty Konc, chair of the Wainfleet Water and Sewer Committee, has led the charge against a proposal to hook up properties along the lakeshore to municipal water and sewer services.

LATEST FLYER FROM WWSC

WAINFLEET WATER/SEWER COMMITTEE

THE REGION IS AT IT AGAIN !! THIS TIME WE CAN FIGHT BACK WITH YOUR INFORMATION
AFTER PRESENTING TO THE REGIONAL PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE ON JUNE 28TH, WE FEEL THERE MAY BE SOME HOPE THAT WE HAVE A CHANCE TO STOP THIS WITH YOUR HELP.
THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP YOURSELF!!
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* BRING US THE TEST RESULTS AS SOON AS YOU GET THEM, SO WE CAN INCLUDE THEM IN OUR NEXT PRESENTATION TO THE REGIONAL COUNCIL, ON JULY 19TH AT 1 PM. PLEASE COME TO THIS MEETING TO SUPPORT US DURING OUR NEXT PRESENTATION.
* IF YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE THIS SINCE THE BOIL WATER ADVISORY PLEASE GET US A COPY OF YOUR LATEST RESULTS ALONG WITH A NOTE TELLING US IF YOU HAVE A TREATMENT SYSTEM AND WHAT KIND OF SYSTEM YOU HAVE.
* WE ALSO NEED TO KNOW THE NUMBER OF CISTERN OWNERS, PLEASE DROP US A NOTE TELLING US WITH THIS INFO AT BETTY�S OR HELEN�S MAILBOX.
* DROP TEST RESULTS AND NOTES TO 10L51 LAKESHORE RD (HOUSE WITH THE BIG SIGN) OR HELEN�S 12154 GALLENGER RD.
* INFORMATION THAT IS NEEDED FOR ALL HOME / COTTAGE OWNERS : NAME, ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, COMPLETE OFF SEASON HOME ADDRESS, HOME PHONE NUMBER AND EMAIL CONTACT INFORMATION.
INFORMATION IS POWER, THE MORE WE HAVE THE FAIRER THE FIGHT

BETTY 10L51 LAKESHORE RD. 905 834 1143
HELEN 12154 GALLENGER RD (behind Lion Club) 905-899-1803

Mayor Gord Harry
PHONE: (905) 899-2625

EMAIL: gharry@township.wainfleet.on.ca

Alderman Evan Main
PHONE: (905) 899-2633 or (905) 899-1250
EMAIL: emain@township.wainfleet.on.ca

Alderman Patrick Robson
EMAIL: probson@township.wainfleet.on.ca

Alderwoman Barbara Henderson
PHONE: (905) 386-0977
EMAIL: bhenderson@township.wainfleet.on.ca


Alderman Rudy Warkentin
PHONE: (905) 899-1358
EMAIL: rwarkentin@township.wainfleet.on.ca



MPP -ERIE-LINCOLN
TIM HUDAK , MPP
PHONE: (905) 382-0322
FAX : (905) 382-0315
EMAIL: timhudak@niagara.net



MPP JOHN MALONEY
PHONE: (905) 788-2204
FAX : (905) 788-0071
EMAIL: malonj@parl.gc.ca



PROJECT MANAGER , Regional Niagara
BOB STEELE
EMAIL: bob.steele@regional.niagara.on.ca

 
They are listening and know we aren't going away!
Here's hoping for some changes to the problems . 

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