by Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — Councillor Charlene Jackson is very disappointed with staff and upset with council members following a discussion about OCIF funding during last night’s corporate services committee meeting for Whitewater Region Township.
The municipality is receiving almost $55,000 through the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF). However, the money can only be used on certain capital projects, including roads, bridges, culverts, water and wastewater plants.
Following a lengthy discussion, the committee agreed to put the money towards the sewer pipes that need to be repaired below Highway 17.
During another committee meeting, it was agreed to put funds towards the cast in place pipe repair project. Environmental Services manager Steve Hodson explained that there’s a procedure where the pipes can be repaired from a manhole without having to dig up the pipe.
“There are 36 spots within the pipe that are showing signs of age,” he said. “It’s like an epoxy liner .. it will bring the pipe back to its original integrity.”
The sewer pipe work is slated for Hwy. 17 between Dixon Street and just past Cowley Street, he said.
It will cost about $115,000 plus about 15 per cent for contingency expenses, Mr. Hodson said.
It’s expected work like this will have to be done every year to get the pipes up to a better standard, he said.
Duirng last night’s meeting, public works manager Bill Misener suggested this OCIF funding also go towards the sewer pipe project. He noted just over 8,000 vehicles travel that stretch of highway each day, which puts pressure on the pipes.
However, Coun. Jackson, who is also chair of this committee, noted the sewer system is a user pay system, so the money won’t benefit everyone.
“It should’t be just to the advantage of the people who are living in Cobden,” she said.”It should be to the benefit of the whole township.”
While Mr. Misener tried to explain it’s not just a Cobden problem considering the traffic, Coun. Jackson disagreed, saying it’s the users who are “solely responsible for the plant.”
Councillors Daryl McLaughlin and Chris Olmstead also spoke in favour of this project, but for two different reasons. Coun. McLaughlin said the township is struggling financially and this would help with the high cost of the project. He noted the residents are also facing a rate hike, which should be considered.
Coun. Olmstead said while it may seem like only Cobden residents benefit, he pointed out Hwy. 17 shouldn’t be their problem.
“Are you suggesting that Cobden residents should be burdened with Hwy. 17 and the fact that it deteriorates the sewer system so bad because 8,100 vehicles travelling on top of that highway every day, that that burden should be put on the taxpayers of Cobden,” he questioned.
Coun. Jackson noted the highway was constructed to handle that many vehicles, so the pipes underneath shouldn’t have been bothered by that. This is a user based project and the money could be used more to benefit residents of the whole township.
“I know if my septic system breaks down, nobody’s going to give me any OCIF grant,” she stated.
Coun. Olmstead said, “So, for $55,000, to benefit all residents of Whitewater, are we going to put a half-ton truckload of gravel on every road in Whitewater Township. I don’t see how that’s going to benefit 6,600 residents of Whitewater Township.”
Coun. Jackson noted gravel is a maintenance issue, not a capital project.
Mr. Misener also suggested there are various gravel roads in the municipality that would benefit from having extra gravel.
Reeve Terry Millar suggested it go towards road widening as the farm equipment is getting bigger and bigger.
“That would be a huge benefit to the people in the Beachburg and Westmeath areas,” he said. “There’s a lot of farmers we could call and get information from,” as to which roads should be done. “It’s something we’re going to have to deal with at some point.”
Mr. Misener noted that each time work is done on gravel roads they are widened for the larger farm equipment.
Mr. Hodson questioned if the money could go towards consulting services while Chief Administrative Officer Christine Fitzsimons noted it could go towards helping with the asset management plan.
When Mr. Hodson noted the consulting would be for the aquifer in Beachburg for the water, Coun. Jackson pointed out, again, that it’s a user pay system.
“The reason why I’m suggesting that it benefit all the township, is it’s going to come out of the tax rate,” she said, adding, “The tax rate benefits not only the village of Cobden, the village of Beachburg, Township of Westmeath, Township of Ross, it benefits all of the residents and it goes directly against a tax rate,” she said.
“I’m slightly disappointed that a project other than gravel has not been suggested,” Coun. Jackson said.
She’s hopeful in the budget there is a project that is not on the treasurer’s desk to come before council for consideration.
Mr. Misener suggested the second resurfacing of the Zion Line. The section from Westross Road to Foresters Falls Road should be redone, he noted.
“Zion Line is probably the most busiest road we have in the township,” he said. “That would come out of major road construction. Most people do travel down the Zion Line.”
Coun. Jackson wanted to know what is the worse road to be replaced, such as Snake River Line, Grants Settlement Road, Bromley Line that was turned back into gravel last year.
“There are other projects besides the Zion Line I can think of off the top of my head,” she stated.
If Zion Line isn’t continuously upgraded, the township will lose it because it will be too bad just to resurface it, Mr. Misener said.
Reeve Terry Millar questioned if there was a roads priority list and if so is Zion Line at the top.
Mr. Misener said there is a list and Zion Line is not at the top. Other high priority roads would be Snake River Line and Cornerview Road, as they have been on the list for four years to get rebuilt, he said.
Councillor Cathy Regier noted there are many roads within the township that could use those funds.
“The Zion Line is quite down the list,” Coun. Jackson said. “It’s probably number 30 compared to all the other roads.”
Coun. Regier answered, “I know where it is. It’s also going to end up, where it’s going to end up, if we don’t do something with it, because it is deteriorating every year.”
Coun. Jackson was hopeful council could just say road work, however, CAO FitzSimons said not only does the road have to be identified, but exactly where the work is going to be done.
“I have a hard time accepting Zion Line,” Coun. Jackson said.
Mr. Misener said, “So, if you don’t want to take my recommendations, you recommend what you would like to see done.”
She jumped in stating, “I would like you to look at the roads on the worse part of the list. I know that Cornerview has been on the list for quite some time.”
While Coun. McLaughlin tried to again stress the importance of the sewer project, Coun. Jackson shut him down, noting he already stated his opinion on that subject.
However, he continued, stating burdening the residents is not the way to go and that’s what will happen.
Coun. Olmstead said he agrees with Coun. McLaughlin.
“We have a project that has been identified” and again, when Coun. Jackson tried to cut him off that it wasn’t an appropriate project, he continued, stressing, “…And the only one that it’s not appropriate for is you. Where’s Cornerview? What road are we talking about right now?”
When he found out it’s a road that serves the Pentecostal camp, Coun. Olmstead questioned how that would benefit all the taxpayers in the township.
Coun. Jackson again stressed it reduces the tax rate by about two per cent, which benefits the total township.
Reeve Millar made a motion that the money go towards the pipe cast project.
Reeve Millar noted there will be times when not everyone will be happy over the next four years.
“We are going to give every corner in this township what they need as best we can in the future,” he said. “Some will fall this way and some will fall that way.
“I think we can monitor this,” he said. “Let’s just get the money in the system, help one project. Let’s decide and move on. Let’s not try and make everybody happy at what’s here. Beachburg is going to need something one day and we’re going to give it to them. Cobden is going to need something and we’re going to give it to them.
“I don’t like this,” Reeve Millar stated. “This is not what we want to do as far as drawing this community together. I know you look at it, maybe it pulls us apart, but it makes us more of one in the long run. These people trust us to do what is right, they may not get their way every night, but they’ll get their way when they need something. And they should understand that.
“The sewer project is the most logical one I’ve heard all night.
“We’re going to spend the money anyways. We have to consider the Cobden residents.”
He said if the costs keep escalating for the sewer and water plants, the residents may just quit using water and sewer becase they won’t be able to afford it..
Coun. Jackson noted a problem she has with giving this OCIF money towards the sewer plant, is that last year $70,000 was taken out of the water reserve fund to fund the rates. Now, $57,000 is going towards the sewer rates.
“If we don’t get any funding, at what point are they going to actually realize the increase to their rates,” she questioned. “It doesn’t mean we can’t borrow for that project and put that project cost over five years.”
Coun. Jackson again said she was hopeful the money would go towards a project that would help keep the tax rate down.
Reeve Millar noted the hour was getting late and there were many other items on the agenda to be discussed.
“We’re way behind,” he stated. “I’m going to make the motion that we put the money towards the project that Bill wants it for.
“We have to move on, we’re behind.”
