FINANCIAL AID PLAN SET UP BY CITY;
FUND WILL HELP WELLANDERS STRUGGLING WITH WATER BILLS
THE CITY WILL PROVIDE $1,500 A YEAR TOWARD A HARDSHIP FUND FOR STRUGGLING WELLANDERS WHO HAVE TROUBLE PAYING WATER BILLS. AFTER APPROVING AN 11.3 PER CENT HIKE ON THE 2007 COMBINED SEWER-WATER BILLS, COUNCILLORS MONDAY NIGHT GAVE THUMBS UP TO THE FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE PAID TO THE HOPE CENTRE.
BY KAESHA FORAND TRIBUNE STAFF
FUNDING FOR WAINFLEET
CONSTRUCTION ON NEW QUARRY ROAD BRIDGE EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN JULY
THE QUARRY ROAD BRIDGE WILL RECEIVE A MUCH NEEDED MAKEOVER THANKS TO A $520,000 RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE GRANT.
“THIS MEANS A LOT TO WAINFLEET. IT’S THE FIRST MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING IN 10 YEARS,” WAINFLEET MAYOR BARBARA HENDERSON SAID.
“ I WAS ECSTATIC, I COULDN’T BELIEVE WE GOT IT. ”
TOWNSHIP STAFF MADE THE RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT INITIATIVE APPLICATION IN JANUARY AND ALSO MET WITH DAVID CAPLAN, MINISTER OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE IN FEBRUARY AT THE ONTARIO GOOD ROADS/RURAL ONTARIO MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE.
AT THAT TIME, CAPLAN TOLD STAFF ONLY 20 PER CENT OF THE 358 ONTARIO MUNICIPALITIES WHO SUBMITTED REQUESTS FOR MORE THAN $300 MILLION IN FUNDING ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GRANTED.
“IT IS A MUCH NEEDED, EXPENSIVE PROJECT THAT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO DO BECAUSE OF THE FINANCIAL BURDEN IT WOULD HAVE PUT ON THE MUNICIPALITY,” SAID DEAN OSTRYHON, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS.
THE TOWNSHIP WILL ADD $130,000 TO THE $520,000 GRANT TO DEMOLISH AND REBUILD THE AGING BRIDGE WHICH HAS CRACKED AND CAVING WALLS, CRACKED ABUTMENTS AND A NARROW ROADWAY.
THE NEW BRIDGE IS CURRENTLY IN THE DESIGN PHASE AND STAFF ARE HOPING TO BEGIN THE FOUR-MONTH CONSTRUCTION PROJECT THE MIDDLE OF JULY.
WHEN THE PROJECT GETS UNDERWAY, TRAFFIC WILL BE REROUTED THROUGH THE AREA.
BY JESSICA ARCARO NEWS MAR 16, 2007
MAYORS DISCUSS DIRECTION AT QUARTERLY MAYORS' BREAKFAST
KNOWING THE DIRECTION IN WHICH YOU ARE HEADED BEFORE STARTING OUT WAS THE THEME OF BOTH WAINFLEET MAYOR BARBARA HENDERSON AND PORT COLBORNE MAYOR VANCE BADAWEY'S FIRST QUARTERLY UPDATE TO THE PORT COLBORNE-WAINFLEET CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LAST THURSDAY MORNING.
AFTER AN EARLY-MORNING CHAT OVER EGGS AND TOAST, HENDERSON TOOK THE MICROPHONE TO TALK ABOUT THE DRAFTING OF THE TOWNSHIP'S OFFICIAL PLAN.
"WE WILL AIM TO SET THE DIRECTION FOR DEVELOPMENT," SHE SAID ADDING THAT A PUBLIC MEETING IS SET FOR APRIL 10 FOR INPUT ON THE PLAN.
THE NEW DRAFT WILL ALSO SPUR THE CREATION OF A PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND A TECHNICAL STEERING COMMITTEE TO ALLOW FOR ACCOUNTABILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR PUBLIC INPUT. A TERTIARY CREATION WILL BE A NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN FOR EACH HAMLET IN THE TOWNSHIP.
THE OFFICIAL PLAN WILL ENCOMPASS THE ONGOING DISCUSSION OF LAKESHORE SERVICING AND ZONING BYLAWS WITH REGARDS TO LAND USE AND DEVELOPMENT THAT REFLECTS WHAT DIRECTION THE TOWN WISHES TO MOVE IN.
HENDERSON THEN TURNED TO A TOWN ACTIVITIES HIGHLIGHT.
"THE LIBRARY CONTINUES TO BE THE CULTURAL CENTRE OF TOWN," SHE SAID, ADDING THE LIBRARY WILL EXTENDED MEMBERSHIP TO ALL PORT COLBORNE RESIDENTS WHEN THEIR LIBRARY TEMPRARILY CLOSES IN APRIL. "DETAILS ON THIS WILL FOLLOW SOON."
LASTLY, HENDERSON ANNOUNCED THE RENAMING OF A PORTION OF THE TRANS-CANADA TRAIL AS A DEDICATION TO THE LATE FORMER MAYOR GORD HARRY.
"GORD SERVED HIS COMMUNITY IN MANY WAYS," HENDERSON SAID. "WE WANT TO CELEBRATE HIS LIFE OF CONTRIBUTION."
FOLLOWING HENDERSON, BADAWEY OPENED HIS UPDATE WITH DISCUSSION OF SIMILAR PLANNING BEING CONDUCTED BY THE CITY.
HE REPORTED THAT A TWO-DAY STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION WAS CONDUCTED FOR COUNCIL TO HEAR FROM THE CHAMBER, THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION (BIA) AND THE GATEWAY ASSOCIATION. TOPICS ON THE TABLE INCLUDED FINANCE, WATER AND SEWER, STORM WATER MANAGEMENT, FACILITIES MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW COMMUNITY CENTRE.
BADAWEY SAID STRATEGIC PLANNING CONTINUES BECAUSE IT IS COUNCIL'S INTENTION TO ADDRESS ALL MATERIAL BROUGHT FORTH IN ITS HEARING IN AS DECISIVE MANNER AS POSSIBLE.
"WE WILL ATTEMPT TO IDENTIFY ALL OPTIONS," HE SAID. "WE WILL ATTACH ACTION PLANS AND FOLLOW UP WITH DIALOGUE."
HE ALSO ANNOUNCED THE REACQUISITION OF NICKEL BEACH AND THE CITY'S INTENTION TO IMPROVE THE PUBLIC'S USE OF THE BEACH. "WHATEVER WATERFRONT WE DO HAVE LEFT WE WANT TO ENSURE YOU CAN GET TO IT."
AFTER HIS QUICK UPDATE BADAWEY GOT DOWN TO BUSINESS WITH THE MORE THAN 45 CHAMBER MEMBERS AT THE QUARTERLY MAYOR'S BREAKFAST. "THE BOTTOM LINE IS: WE'RE THERE, WE'RE BEGINNING AND WE'RE WALKING THE TALK."
DEREK SWARTZ MARCH 15, 2007
WAINFLEET RESIDENTS DON'T WANT TO BE DICTATED TO
WHILE NIAGARA REGION STAFF PREPARE TO EVALUATE ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES TO ADDRESS WAINFLEET'S LAKESHORE WATER WOES, POLITICIANS MADE A STARTLING DISCOVERY - WAINFLEET RESIDENTS DON'T WANT TO BE DICTATED TO.
NIAGARA'S PUBLIC WORKS AND PLANNING COMMITTEE MET WEDNESDAY AND HEARD THE TOWNSHIP'S RESIDENTS AND COUNCIL DO NOT WANT MUNICIPAL WATER AND WASTEWATER SERVICES EXTENDED INTO THEIR MUNICIPALITY.
MAYOR BARBARA HENDERSON SAID WATER AND WASTEWATER LINES, THE SO-CALLED BIG PIPE SOLUTION PROMOTED BY REGIONAL STAFF, AREN'T SUPPORTED BY HER COMMUNITY.
"WAINFLEET COUNCIL AND RESIDENTS ARE NOT SUPPORTIVE OF A BIG PIPE. WHAT WE NEED IS AN AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTION THAT WILL ALLOW US TO MAINTAIN OUR RURAL CHARACTER," HENDERSON TOLD THE COMMITTEE.
ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES ARE BEING EXAMINED TO LESSEN THE COST OF FIXING THE TOWNSHIP'S LAKESHORE WATER QUALITY PROBLEM FOLLOWING A THIRD UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT AT SECURING FUNDING FROM THE PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS.
BUT THE BIG PIPE IS NOT OFF THE TABLE.
THE PROVINCIAL MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT HAS GIVEN THE REGION APPROVAL TO EXTEND WATER AND WASTE WATER SERVICES INTO WAINFLEET FROM PORT COLBORNE. THE REGION IS CARRYING OUT STUDIES TO MEET THE PROVINCE'S ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT.
NIAGARA'S PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUED A BOIL WATER ADVISORY LAST APRIL BECAUSE OF FEARS THE GROUNDWATER HAS SIGNIFICANT BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION DUE TO OLD AND LEAKING SEPTIC SYSTEMS.
THE ADVISORY COVERS RESIDENTS LIVING SOUTH OF THE TRANS-CANADA TRAIL.
THE AFFECTED AREA EXTENDS FROM CEMENT PLANT ROAD TO THE TOWNSHIP'S WESTERN BOUNDARY AND FROM THE LAKESHORE TO ROUGHLY 500 METRES SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 3.
DESPITE PUBLIC HEALTH CONCERNS, COMMITTEE CO-CHAIR BILL SMEATON OF NIAGARA FALLS SUPPORTED HENDERSON'S STANCE.
SMEATON ACKNOWLEDGED THE REGION HAS AN OBLIGATION TO PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAID IN HIS OPINION IT IS "WALKING A LEGAL TIGHTROPE" BY NOT ORDERING RESIDENTS TO ADDRESS THEIR WATER PROBLEMS.
BUT HE SAID THE REGION CANNOT RIDE ROUGHSHOD OVER THE TOWNSHIP'S RESIDENTS' DESIRES TO REMAIN A RURAL MUNICIPALITY.
"THEY DON'T WANT SUBDIVISIONS AT THIS POINT IN TIME. WE CONTINUE TO IGNORE IT. WE CAN'T LOOK AT THIS FROM AN ENGINEERING POINT OF VIEW ONLY," HE SAID.
WELLAND MAYOR DAMIAN GOULBOURNE PICKED UP ON SMEATON'S COMMENTS.
HE ACCUSED THE PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF NOT DOING A GOOD ENOUGH JOB IN TAKING RESIDENTS' CONCERNS INTO ACCOUNT.
"THERE HAVE BEEN MOMENTS DURING THIS PROCESS WHEN THE FEELINGS OF THE TOWNSHIP HAVE NOT BEEN TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION," HE SAID.
ST. CATHARINES COUNCILLOR BRUCE TIMMS, WHO CO-CHAIRS THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE, WAS NEXT TO SPEAK. HE MOVED DEFERRAL OF THE REPORT SO THE COMMITTEE COULD DISCUSS UNSPECIFIED LEGAL ISSUES BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
FROM AN INITIAL LIST OF 22, REGIONAL STAFF HAVE IDENTIFIED EIGHT ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGY PROVIDERS THAT MIGHT PLAY A PART IN SOLVING WAINFLEET'S WATER PROBLEM BY REDUCING CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATING COSTS OR IMPROVING PERFORMANCE.
A TECHNICAL REVIEW COMMITTEE WILL EXAMINE THE TECHNOLOGIES.
THOSE EIGHT PROPOSALS WILL BE PRESENTED TO THE TOWNSHIP'S PLANNING ADVISORY COMMITTEE AT A WORKSHOP, APRIL 24 TO 27.
A REPORT WILL RETURN TO THE REGION, LIKELY IN MAY.
FINANCIAL AID PLAN SET UP BY CITY;
FUND WILL HELP WELLANDERS STRUGGLING WITH WATER BILLS
THE CITY WILL PROVIDE $1,500 A YEAR TOWARD A HARDSHIP FUND FOR STRUGGLING WELLANDERS WHO HAVE TROUBLE PAYING WATER BILLS. AFTER APPROVING AN 11.3 PER CENT HIKE ON THE 2007 COMBINED SEWER-WATER BILLS, COUNCILLORS MONDAY NIGHT GAVE THUMBS UP TO THE FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES AN ADMINISTRATIVE FEE PAID TO THE HOPE CENTRE.
HOPE CENTRE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ASSESSING ELIGIBILITY.
SIMILAR ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS ARE IN EFFECT FOR ENBRIDGE GAS AND WELLAND HYDRO.
CITY FUNDING WILL BE PROVIDED EACH OF THE NEXT THREE YEARS, AT WHICH POINT IT WILL BE REVIEWED. THE CITY WILL NOT SEEK A REFUND OF MONEYS UNUSED AT THE END OF EACH YEAR, INSTEAD MAKING IT AVAILABLE TO HOPE CENTRE'S GENERAL NEEDS.
HARDSHIP FUNDING IS NOT INTENDED TO BE A SUSTAINABLE SOURCE OF FUNDING FOR ANY ONE WATER ACCOUNT HOLDER, WHO STILL WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY ALL ARREARS.
NEW QUARTERLY WATER BILLS FOR FLAT-RATE CUSTOMERS CLIMB TO $215.91 AS OF APRIL 1.
Water bills to climb 11.3 per cent
Despite staff warnings about pushing the city's ability to borrow money to the limit, politicians last night agreed to go $2 million in debt this year to reduce quarterly flat water rates had been poised to climb $46.20 a quarter.
Council's decision to debenture instead will see bills climb by $22 every three months.
That's a combined sewer-water bill hike of 11.3 per cent, down from a staff-recommended 23.
8 per cent increase, one which despite being even higher in January for the first time Tuesday drew a packed gallery of ratepaying opponents.
Under the rates set by councillors during a late-running meeting, flat-rate consumers, or those using about 71 cubic metres of water every quarter, will start paying $215.91 each billing period, up from $193.91.
It had been set to climb to $240.11
City staff had pushed for the higher increase to shift financing of sewer and water projects onto rates, instead of by debt.
While last night's move to debenture projects may have reduced this years water rate increase, consumers were warned as a result they can expect a similar double-digit hike in 2008.
Debenturing $2 million this year means an automatic 3.5 per cent hike in 2008 in order to start repaying that debt over five years, city treasurer Bruno Silvestri said.
Welland is some $65 million behind where it should be on infrastructure spending, city engineer Dave Shantz told councillors. Welland will spend $4.1 million this year - an investment of 1.4 per cent of its asset value. Sewer projects total $2.4 million, water-related work $1.7 million.
WELLS ARE NOT THE SOURCE OF PROVINCE'S WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS
RE: JAMES WALLACE'S COLUMN, PROVINCE NEGLECTS WELL WATER QUALITY, THE TRIBUNE, FEB. 5.
IT GETS INCREASINGLY MORE DIFFICULT TO SEE ANY IMPARTIALITY IN MUCH OF THE MEDIA'S REPORTING.
IT OFTEN APPEARS THAT SOME, PARTICULARLY POLITICAL COMMENTATORS, MERELY CALL A LOCAL PUBLIC SECTOR OFFICE TO ASK FOR INSTRUCTIONS AS TO WHAT TO WRITE. JAMES WALLACE'S ARTICLE ON WELL WATER QUALITY A GOOD EXAMPLE.
THE EXPERTS HE QUOTES ARE PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH EXERTING EVEN MORE GOVERNMENT CONTROL OVER EVERY CITIZEN'S DAILY LIFE, YET HE DOES NOTHING TO ASK A SINGLE QUESTION ABOUT HOW THE PROVINCE'S WATER QUALITY BECAME A CAUSE FOR CONCERN IN THE FIRST PLACE?
THE ANSWER TO THAT OF COURSE IS DECADES OF NEGLECT IN MAINTAINING THE PROVINCE'S WATER AND WASTEWATER INFRASTRUCTURE, TO THE EXTENT THAT THOSE SAME INFRASTRUCTURES ARE CAUSING AS MUCH CONTAMINATION, AND MORE, THAN THE ALLEGED PROBLEMS WITH WELLS.
IN FACT THE PROVINCE'S INFRASTRUCTURES ARE SO BAD THAT LOCAL AUTHORITIES WITHIN THE PROVINCE APPROVE THE DUMPING OF RAW AND UNTREATED HUMAN WASTE DIRECTLY INTO OUR ENVIRONMENT BECAUSE THEIR SYSTEMS ARE SO OLD AND NEGLECTED THEY CAN NO LONGER FUNCTION EFFICIENTLY.
THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT SUGGESTS IT WILL COST TENS OF BILLIONS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO BRING THESE SYSTEMS UP TO AN ACCEPTABLE STANDARD.
THE EXPERTS JAMES WALLACE QUOTES SHOULD ALL BE AWARE OF THIS. IT WAS A PART OF THEIR WATER QUALITY REPORTS.
I DON'T KNOW IF MR. WALLACE READS THIS NEWSPAPER.
CAN HE RECALL JUST HOW MANY BOIL WATER ADVISORIES HAVE BEEN IMPOSED PROVINCE-WIDE OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS?
ALL BY MUNICIPALITIES INCAPABLE OF GUARANTEEING THE QUALITY OF THEIR MUNICIPALLY-SUPPLIED WATER.
AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, HE INSISTS ON USING WALKERTON AS A REASON FOR MUNICIPALITIES TO SUPPLY MORE WATER.
THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE DOING ISN'T IT, WHICH CAUSED THOSE DEATHS AND ILLNESS?
IT MOST CERTAINLY WASN'T WELLS. I WONDER HOW MANY DEATHS MR. WALLACE CAN SHOW, FROM HIS RESEARCH, WERE CAUSED BY CONTAMINATED WELLS?
THERE IS A GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION PROBLEM, MR. WALLACE.
THERE ARE ALSO MANY NEW TECHNOLOGIES AVAILABLE TO MAINTAIN EFFICIENT WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS ON AN INDIVIDUAL RESIDENCE BASIS FAR MORE SUITABLE FOR RURAL AREAS.
THE HISTORY OF ONTARIO'S DILAPIDATED INFRASTRUCTURE IS BY FAR THE BEST ARGUMENT OF ALL TO KEEP GOVERNMENT AND THE PUBLIC SECTOR AS FAR AWAY FROM IMPOSING THESE SORT OF DECISIONS AS POSSIBLE.
ANDREW WATTS WAINFLEET
They are listening and know we aren't going away!
Here's hoping for some changes to the problems .
