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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-03-23, Page 7Wednesday, March 23, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 7 Bluewater council debates sewage collection, $26 million sewage treatment plant t"hnessa Brown -akeshore Advance Bluewater councillors have passed three motions in order to give prop- erty owners a more detailed cost breakdown should the municipality switch from a septic sewage system to a pressure or gravity system. At a sewage collection steering committee meeting, held March 10 in Varna, Janet Smolders and Bill Boussey, both from Dillon Consulting, updated council on Bluewater's collection system environmental assessment that's part of the proposed $26 million expansion of the Grand Bend Area Sewage Treatment Facility. The meeting was not held to make any decisions on Bluewater's part in the expansion that also includes the municipalities of Lambton Shores and South Huron, But the conversation quickly turned to that project because Bluewater is considering installing a pressure system along Hwy. 21 in case they decide to send the sewage to the plant in Grand Bend it the future. 'that would include excavation for a pipeline and sewers, and would affect Bluewater residents living along the 1 Iwy. 21 north of Grand Bend to St. Joseph. The study area also includes the north side of Dashwood, I lessen - land Country Inn and Driftwood 'frailer Park. A new sewer system would cost each homeowner along that stretch of the highway about $2,000-$2,500, Boussey said. After Mayor 11111 Rowson informed members of the public that council is not ready to make any binding decisions, Coml. John Gillespie (I lay West) argued otherwise. "11 seems to me that we have a critical decision to stake right now because they're sizing that place in Grand Bend assuming that we're going to Join in," Gillespie said. Boussey reminded council that Bluewater has up to 10 years to get out of the plant once it's built, Coun. Gillespie then asked if council had to make a decision soon on the type of collection system the municipality would install. Not necessarily, Boussey said, "A sewage collection system has two entities: collection and treatment," he explained. "The two can proceed independently of each other. Once you build the plant, you are not It'5liiume SEASONAL GIFTS & /HOME DECOR 54 Ontario St. S., Grand Bend 519-238-5612 Saturday March 26th at 10:00 am Testings by Cider Keg - 11 am - 2 pm Testings by Saxon Chocolates - 2 - 4 pm Daily Draws on Saturday & Sunday Jackie invites you to drop in and sec her amazing selection of • • • Preserves • Chocolates HomelGarden Primitive Decor Ladies Accessories • and more! obligated to contribute to it." If 13luewater decides to go that route, it would keep sending its sewage to the Zurich lagoon, Boussey said, But Zurich is reaching capacity, he added. The three motions will provide ratepayers a more elaborate cost structure at the next public information centre, most likely to be held sometime this summer. At the last public meeting, held in Dashwood last August, Boussey said many people complained that the costs weren't straightforward. On this point, Boussey and two members of council disagreed at the steering committee meeting on March 10. Coun. Geordie Palmer (Bayfield) asked why Dillon Consulting hasn't yet figured out the cost breakdown of a pressure system. Boussey said they hadn't received a decision from council to price the pressure system or the gravity system. "This is the problem, this is why 1 have to have the first question answered. Now if you tell me the answers to my questions, 1 can present the information at the next public information centre," Boussey said. Palmer and Deputy Mayor Paul Klopp wanted to st'(' the costs of each system before council could decide which to go with. Dillon Consulting has recommended Bluewater install a pressure system, which uses a grinder pump on each property to break down the sewage and send it along a pipeline to the treatment plant. The first notion that carried includes a price on the grinder pumps, to be available at the next public meeting. Boussey said Lambton Shores council voted to include the installation of the pumps 00 each property in their capital costs. Bluewater opted not to follow suit. Boussey advised council that additional properties and easements would have to be purchased for the project. In its second carried motion, council advised Dillon Consulting to obtain those costs. The third motion was "that the collection costs are shown in total and also in the four phases as suggested by the engineer" to be explained at the next public information centre, 'Ihe proposed water treatment plant expansion would switch from a lagoon system to a mechanical treatment plant. It is possible to phase in sewage collection over time, Boussey saki. Luke titian il ('()NS1TRVATIi N1:;1's ✓ ite—.i GRAND BENZ) The LAKE SMITH CONSERVATIONISTS Thank You For your Donations & CONTINUED Support! IMO — — i ti i i Neel — tti — Illi i — Ili 1 A.G.Iluyter Accent hair Stylist ' Andy & Louise ('hyc Apropos 1 Aunt (lassie's Back In Time Restaurant Buille's Framing; • Rank of Montreal Bob ('ase Plumbing; ▪ Bruce Jackson Bance Stanlake t Bluewater Crop Care Consulting Bluewater Motel Bluewater Rl;/MAX Realty Century 21 1 Colonial Hotel Des,jardine Wealth Management ' Friend of the Pinery GB Posh 1 Geiser Kneule Cord McKay i Grand Bend Dental (Tint' ▪ Grand Bend Chiropractic I Grand Rend Fitness ('entre Grand Bend Heating L i i i i— Ili Grand Bend florae Hardware Grand Bend Motor Plex Grand Bend Produce Co. 1.td. Grand Bend Veterinary Clinic Grape vine Green Bucks - Dollar Store (ireene's Optical Hair Bends } 1 tk I. Forming} HMS MacLachlan Insurance [ louse of Hags 1'nt Starvin' Road House Joe Ryan Jeanette Wates Kelder's Mushroom Farm Klondyke'l'railer Park Lakeshore Advance Newspaper Mac Dermids & Associates Market Farm Equipment New Orleans Pizza New Venice Corp. Ltd. No Frills Oakwood Inn & Golf Pinedale Motor Inn Pinery Provincial Park Pizza I) light Prospers Garage Reid Burley Relouw Heating River Bend Pub RONA Building ('entre Sea Jewels Schoolhouse Restaurant Shares Realty Shoppers Drug; Mart Smith - Peat Sobeys South Bend Bar South Bend Service ('enter South West Marine Stephanie Donaldson Steve's Automotive The ('o -Op Sutton Group Realty Subway Terry Rontphf 1 ter ('o -operators The Garden (late 'the Pet Stop Tim !forums Westland (ireenhouse 7 i i tri — MOO Ili tri — i i tenni ME tti El The Lake Smith Conservationists Thanks You Again!!!