Rivers keep changing – and council here has recognized that sometimes those changes are not for the better.
Council supported councillor Andy Knetsch’s notice of motion Sept. 27 to begin studies again on how to deal with erosion in the Conestogo River that not only threatens downtown Drayton with flooding, but also presents a safety issue.
Knetsch’s motion from the Sept. 13 council meeting noted concerns have been expressed over the past few years about flooding in Drayton, as well as the deterioration of the railway abutments left by CN Railway following the removal of the railway lines through the community.
The motion stated, “It is evident that the gravel and concrete continue to build up in the riverbed in the Drayton area.”
It asked council to direct staff to arrange a meeting with the Grand River Conservation Authority, CN Railway, and township representatives to explore options for the removal of the railway abutments and to commence river dredging, from a safety and flooding concern, and also as an aesthetic remedy for the downtown area.
Knetsch brought diagrams of the river to council showing how it was edged into a bank over the course of several years. He said it is “a matter of when, not if, the Conestogo River will flood again.”
He said the last report to council on the issue came in 2009, and the GRCA reported then the river will continue to change its course.
He urged councillors to go and see for themselves. “Just walk along it. It’s going to fill up,” he said.
He said dredging the river at the north end of the abutments would “save a lot of aggravation for the people downstream.”
Plus, he said, the Mapleton Fire Department has done exercises at the problem site and there is a safety issue, too.
But, Knetsch pointed out, one of the big problems has been a lack of response from CN. He said he tried to contact the manager of CN in August and there has been no reply.
He said Mapleton’s GRCA representative, Pat Salter, is ready to take up the cause, and, “The only people who need to get on board is CN.”
Councillor Jim Curry supported Knetsch, and added there is a third issue: health. He said stagnant pools created by blocked water are a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Councillor Neil Driscoll was direct in the difficulty he sees. “Where do we get a budget of what it cost to repair?”
Dredging is not cheap, and the previous council did not do it because of the cost.
Councillor Mike Downey said the GRCA will do the calculations, and “We can’t do it without their approval.”
Mayor Bruce Whale said he recalls the way the issue was left was the GRCA was supposed to contact CN.
Knetsch noted that CN owns the abutment for the former rail bridge.
He said the diagram he already has illustrates the problem, and, “We don’t need anymore studies – just sit down collectively and resolve the issue.”
Whale said the township should resume its talks with the others involved.
Public works director Larry Lynch said he believes the Wellington County emergency management coordinator Linda Dickson should also be part of the talks.
Clerk Patty Sinnamon told council that Dickson had tried to contact CN, and “got the same response” as other officials.
Knetsch said CN Railways has an ombudsman, and perhaps that officer should be contacted to get other officials there interested.
Whale asked if Dickson should be included in the talks.
Lynch said, “Absolutely.”
He added he has talked to the GRCA’s Dwight Boyd, a water expert, and “he’s willing to come back. I’m not sure of the costs. We didn’t challenge those costs [in the 2009 report]. We said it’s way to expensive for us. We need to work with the GRCA on this.”
Downey said somehow there needs to be work to reinforce the riverbank to stop its eroding. “I think that would stop a lot of the problems.”
He added, “If you take the abutment out, you’ve got more problems.”
Lynch called contacting all involved “a starting point.”
Council then passed Knetsch’s motion unanimously.
The Wellington Advertiser attempted to talk to a representative from CN about why there had been no response.
Frank Binder said in an interview that he had not heard of any problems in the area, and was unsure why there were phone calls to CN were not being returned. Binder was going on holidays on Monday, but said he would first contact the township to start initiating talks between the affected parties.
