HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-05-26, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 26, 2016.
Tanker repair necessary due to Blyth water shortage
The lack of water reserves and
pressure revealed in a previous issue
of The Citizen was raised by Fire
Chief David Sparling when he
explained why the municipality
needed to spend $13,000 on a
vehicle repair for the department.
Fire Tanker 8, a truck that has been
in service since prior to the
dissolution of the Blyth Fire Board,
has been plagued by problems
according to Sparling. Recently, the
inside of the vehicle's tank had
began flaking which could cause
significant damage to the
department's pumper trucks.
Tanker 8, which is one of two
tankers necessary at the Blyth
station, will cost approximately
$13,000 to repair, over $5,000 more
than Sparling had set aside for it in
the budget, however the repair was
non-negotiable as far as the safety of
the municipality is concerned
according to Sparling.
"The reality is we've had a fire
truck that, since the day we've got it,
has been a problem," he said. "It has
been striped down, -rewired and had
significant work done and it's only
five years old."
Sparling explained the wiring on
the vehicle has been an ongoing
issue where crucial systems,
including the firefighter's radio,
would cut out due to problems.
Now, the interior of the tank
was starting to flake off and
could damage other equipment.
The repair, which will involve
replacing the existing lining of the
tank with a more durable, longer -
lasting epoxy, should get the vehicle
to the end of its 20 -year life -cycle,
Sparling said, or at least another 12
years, though he said he couldn't
promise there wouldn't be more
work involved with it.
Among the numerous questions
North Huron Council had when
Sparling reported the repair during
council's May 16 meeting, was why
the second tanker was needed.
"It's a fair question," Sparling
said, acknowledging most similar -
sized departments would only use
one tanker. `Blyth runs two tankers
at this point in time. We require the
tankers for in -town work as well as
in the country. If and when Blyth's
water supply system gets up to a
higher standard, we might not have
to look for a replacement, however
at this point we need it for both in -
town and out-of-town calls."
Sparling, prompted by another
question from Councillor Trevor
Seip, said there were two problems
with the water service in Blyth from
a firefighting perspective; the
amount of water available and how
fast it flows.
"One problem is how many
gallons [of water flowing] per
minute and the other is how long it
can be sustained," he said. "Right
IPM road to be improved but not paved
Upgrades of Walton's Canada
Company Road will go ahead as
planned, despite several delegations
from residents suggesting paving as
the preferred option.
Director of Public Works Barry
Mills made a detailed presentation to
Huron East Council at its May 17
meeting, outlining his initial
proposal, what it would accomplish
and the costs associated if council
wished to go another way and after
hearing residents' two presentations
in recent weeks.
Mills said that not only would
paving cost the municipality
hundreds of thousands of dollars for
a road with very low traffic counts,
but it would also push more urgent
resurfacing projects further down
the line, opening Huron East up to
liability concerns.
The traffic count on Canada
Company Road west of North Line
is just under 50 vehicles per day,
while running east of North Line, the
traffic county jumps slightly to just
under 70 vehicles per day.
Mills' proposal to build up and
widen the road, but not to pave it,
totalled $65,000, which did not
include Huron East staff time, which
Mills estimated was worth $10,000.
If council were to decide to pave
the road, however, it would cost
between $250,000 and $280,000 for
Obituaries
two kilometres of road. With the
original proposal from Canada
Company Road residents to pave the
first two blocks of the road, those
costs would be doubled.
With current financial pressures,
Mills stated in his report there was
no way he could recommend paving
the road with its current traffic
counts and the effect it would have
on the municipality's asset
Continued on page 18
MURRAY ALLAN
MACFARLANE
Murray MacFarlane of Lucan and
formerly of Bluevale, passed away at
London Health Sciences Centre on
Thursday, May 19, 2016. He was 77.
Murray was the beloved husband
of Helen (McGee) MacFarlane,
Lucan and the cherished father of
Scott MacFarlane and Francine
Dimelow and Jennifer and Tim
Buck. He was the loving grandfather
of Justine MacFarlane and Macy and
Maverick Buck. Murray was the
brother of Joan Brewer, Bluevale
and the brother-in-law of John and
Helen McGee, London. Murray was
predeceased by his parents Mungo
and Laura MacFarlane and brother-
in-law Cliff Brewer (2008).
Friends were received at Bluevale
United Church on Monday, May 23.
Memorial donations to Bluevale
United Church or Myeloma Canada
would be appreciated as expressions
of sympathy.
Online condolences may be left at
www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com
SANDRA LOUISE THOMPSON
Sandra Thompson of Milverton
and formerly of Bluevale passed
away at her residence on Tuesday,
May 17, 2016. She was 47.
Sandra was the loving companion
of Jay Schultz, Milverton and
cherished daughter of Dorothy
Thompson, Bluevale. She was the
dear sister of Ken Thompson,
Wingham and will be lovingly
remembered by Jay's family, Emily,
Matt and Jessica and their son
Logan and Jake and Jessika and
their son Jack. Sandra was
predeceased by her father Jim
Thompson (2000) and sister Donna
Thompson (1980).
Visitation was held at McBurney
Funeral Home, Wingham on
Saturday, May 21. A celebration of
Sandra's life was held at the Royal
Canadian Legion on Saturday
evening. Mr. Shawn Shaw officiated.
Memorial donations to Ronald
McDonald House, London would be
appreciated as expressions of
sympathy.
Online condolences may be left at
www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com
now, the challenge is on both sides.
The new pump will address flow,
but, until we have a reservoir, we
can't sustain a large enough flow for
a lot of the structures in the town."
Sparling said a reservoir, similar to
the Wingham water tower, would
need to be built for the department to
be able to run a single tanker
because, while the new pump will
help, the amount of water is still an
issue.
Council approved the repair with
no further discussion regarding the
water issue in Blyth.
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