By Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — The Klaesi heat line has passed its final hurdle to be complete.
Paul Klaesi has been trying to install a heat line from the family farm down to his new home, both located on Government Road near Fletcher Road.
To do this, permission was required from council to trench the roadside allowance to install the line, with insulation. However, there were stipulations, such as it had to be bored under the road and there be a $5 million liability insurance placed on it.
Mr. Klaesi signed the agreement and has purchased the necessary insurance. The only concern Mr. Klaesi had was having to bore underneath a neighbour’s driveway.
Whitewater Region township public works manager Bill Misener informed the public works committee at its meeting Wednesday that everything was in place for the installation, except for boring under the driveway.
During a lengthy discussion, which is not the first one for this heat line, Mr. Misener said the culvert at this driveway needs to be replaced, and since it is council’s responsibility, it could be replaced at the same time the heat line is installed, which would mean no boring.
However, Councillor Daryl McLaughlin felt the neighbour’s should be allowed to be a part of the discussion regarding the heat line since they are the ones who are against digging up their driveway.
Councillor Joey Trimm said the neighbour’s safety concern is not justified. He said if it was a utilty service line being installed, the driveway would be dug up.
Coun. McLaughlin said the utility service would be used by more than one person.
“This is a personal gain by someone,” he said. “Only one gentlemen would benefit.”
Mr. Misener said the Klaesi farm is a business operation which is providing service to someone, even if it is someone who is part owner of the farm.
“We don’t make anyone else (as in utility companies) bore under driveways,” he said. “If we make them do this, then they will all have to do it, whether it’s bell (Bell Canada) or hydro.”
It would be difficult to bore since the pipe must be insulated as well, Coun. Trimm said.
“Let’s be honest,” he said. “The (neighbours) just don’t want the pipe put in. If the reason is safety, then it needs to be consistent for everyone. We all know that’s not the reason. It’s our property, let’s get on with the work.”
Councillor Cathy Regier said the Klaesi’s have been more than patient with this issue for three years. The neighbour’s should be advised of what has been decided.
“It’s time a decision is made and we move forward on it,” she said. “This is new technology, so certainly it’s scary to people. But, we have to move forward. The time has come that we have to start approving some of these requests that are coming through.
It was agreed that the culvert is to be replaced and to be done in conjunction with the installation of the heat line
Mr. Misener said he will talk to the neighbour’s about the decision and the reason.
Mr. Misener questioned if a policy should be developed. Mayor Jim Labow said this should be treated the same way a utility is treated.
“We could be policied to death,” ‘chief administrative officer Christine FitzSimons said. “It’s my strong feeling that a decision of this type should be left to the department head, who is very capable of making a decision.”
