Council here has approved a 20-year debenture to purchase land to expand its sewage lagoon for Moorefield and Drayton.
Council passed a debenture bylaw on June 14 for $950,000 over the next 20 years. The money will purchase land to add an extra cell to the wastewater treatment plant, located off Sideroad 15, southwest of Drayton.
The township applied for the debenture from the Ontario Infrastructure Projects Corporation. Normally, council would use Wellington County’s borrowing power and top credit rating for such a loan, but council learned a few months ago the county is not borrowing money this year.
But while councillors had no difficulty in approving the debenture, they were less than happy with R.J. Burnside and Associates, the township’s engineers for the project.
Director of Pubic Works Larry Lynch told council he had received a report from the engineers four days earlier, but learned they could not meet with council before its next meeting on June 28.
Councillor Neil Driscoll questioned a proposal for two cells instead of one in the lagoon.
Lynch said he had learned the system “operates better split in two like that.” He said the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) and the engineers agree on that.
But Lynch said he plans to ask Burnside “to defend that” and noted that is because the number of berms needed will increase.
Driscoll asked about the quantities of fill needed for the berms.
Lynch said work on the tenders is not yet completed. “I assume they will provide at least an amount of material to be moved,” he said.
Driscoll said the report also stated the township will have to do its own test holes, and can’t use the ones the engineering firm did.
Lynch said it will lower the costs if there is enough clay in the soil. The township had planned to add a single cell to the three already on site.
Councillor Mike Downey was not amused by the News and that no representative from Burnside attended the council meeting.
He said the project has been on the go for two years, and should have been ready in January.
“Burnside should be put on notice,” he said
Lynch said he will make sure representatives attend the next council meeting, and noted he has questions about financing.
Councillor Andy Knetsch said, “I’m not impressed with Burnside not being here tonight.”
Councillor Jim Curry wondered if the engineers should be asked to attend special council meeting of June 21 for council to debate its comments to the province for the wind turbines. He said that would take about two hours and then the engineers could answer questions.
But Chief Administrative Officer Patty Sinnamon said “The wind turbines will take more than two hours.” (She was correct. Council spent over 3.5 hours on that topic – after meeting in closed session all morning.)
Mayor Bruce Whale said it would be helpful if OCWA representatives would also be on hand for the council meeting on June 28.
Lynch said OCWA staff “want to be part of that discussion.”
Downey said that like Driscoll, he wonders how the project suddenly went from one cell to two.
Whale said council has not talked about design yet, having been concerned mainly about capacity.
Lynch said he had received the report only recently, but OCWA agrees with the two-cell proposal.
