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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-08-28, Page 3Wednesday, August 28, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 3 Waiting more details from STF CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 1 In a letter to the municipali- ties this week Lambton Shores and Bluewater were told that the BCF -CC Joint Secretariat has approved the Building Canada Funding scope change for the Grand Bend rea Sewage Treatment Fuca - Project. The original plans for the plant had been changed- the original plant was to be much bigger, more expensive and would service more of Lamb - ton Shores. It was decided by the two municipalites they should look at a less expensive project and so the scope changed. Since under the terms and conditions of the program, any proposed changes to the scope of work for an approved project is sub- ject to the consideration and approval of the federal and provincial governments, the request for the change had to go back for approval. That request was in the fall of 2012. BCF said the reason for the delay was that the Munic- ipality's proposed scope change is considered signifi- cant and was being carefully assessed to ensure it falls within their terms and condi- tions of the program. A scope change application was necessary as the Munici- palities of Lambton Shores and South Huron chose a phased plan for the construc- tion of the facility. The change in scope for the project required an "Adden- dum" to be filed with the Min- •ustry of the Environment nder the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process for Municipal Water and Wastewater Projects (Municipal Engineer's Associ- ation, June 2007), and the partner municipalities await the Ministry's approval. Min- istry pf Environment staff has confirmed that the file is pro- ceeding through the Ministry's normal review process. At this time the specific details related to the new funding agreement are not available. Weber said they are glad this process is moving forward and they will now wait for the details so they can provide more inforrnation to the public. 'Ihe partner municipalities were successful in acquiring $15.9 million in grants for this The current lagoons on Mollard Line protect ($14.9 million from the Build Canada Program, and $1.0 million from the Green Municipal Fund) as well as a $10 million low interest loan. This amount represents 2/3 of the cost of the original design. The last date to make claims under the funding program is March 31, 2016 and this repre- sents the date by which the project will need to be com- pleted to qualify for funding. SINCE 2006... The lagoons were built on Mollard Line in the late 1970s. The Grand Bend STF (sewage treatment facility) is jointly owned between the Munici- palities of Lambton Shores and South Huron. As a result of limited capacity in the exist- ing lagoon system a long-term sanitary servicing scheme was sought for Grand Bend and the surrounding area. The Municipalities of Bluewater, South Huron and Lambton Shores partnered to complete a sanitary servicing master plan in 2006. The master plan was com- pleted by Dillon Consulting and recommended that a mechanical treatment plant using oxidation -ditch (specifi- cally the Orhal' technology) was the preferred option. After the master plan was agreed upon an environmental study report was completed and filed with the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) in March 2009. The three municipal partners authorized the project to proceed to final design. Completion of the final design portion of the project was delayed midway through the process when the three part- ner municipalities entered into a lengthy mediation process in January 2010 over- seen by the Ontario Municipal Board (0M13). '1'o this point in the project the partners had governed the project though an ad-hoc "Tri -Municipal Com- mittee". A concern was raised that the committee did not operate through the guidance of an operating agreement, and the OMB was involved to assist the part- ners to come w a resolution of their dispute. In December 2011 Bluewater council opted out, for now, of the multi-million dollar Grand Bend sewage treatment plant expansion and relieves the munici- pality from paying any capital or annual ownership costs. In a six- minute meeting at the end of January 2012, Lambton Shores council voted 6-3 to scrap the sewage treatment plant as is. Councilor Lorie Scott made a motion that, "At this time I would like to move that Lambton Shores council reconsider the December 2011 resolu- tion to proceed with the building of the a full build double train Orbal sewage SIMON DESJARDINE CFP, CLU, RHU, EPC Certified Financial Planner. Chartered l.1/, Underwriter 519-238-6399 55 Ontario St. N. (;rand Bend • Investment Funds • RRSP's • Insurance • Mortgages • Yn !Winn% .Since Year NI()/), Our paua,n n pour cuccrse" treatment plant and direct our Tri Munic- ipal Board reps to propose a new resolu- tion to Bluewater and South Huron that the technical committee for the Tri - Municipal Board be charged with seek- ing out more cost effective solutions to those proposed in the mediated agree- ment or any amendment to that agree- ment thereof with regards to treating. In December 2012, with the change in scope in mind it was reported by Lamb - ton Shores staff that the public consulta- tion period had ended on November 26, 2012, with two letters sent to the Ministry of the Environment in support of the proposed design and implementation changes recommended for the project, and 13 Part II order requests for an indi- vidual environmental assessment to be conducted." Staff said the Part II order requestors made comments regarding the proposed change in the project: • Lack of communication with prop- erty owners in Zone 3/Zone 4 respecting their preferred alternative and their desire to be serviced by sanitary sewers. CLEAilhEAK CLEANING COMPANY • FURNACE AND DUCT CLEANING • CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY STEAM CLEANING • COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL • WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION • STRUCTURAL DRYING .NNIS and NAou Immo lolled ITSX iirgoce 1 iNllf I:a1104 2.1 I1011n EMERGENCY SERVICE Locally Owned & Operated by Kevin Fritz chem 519.955.5822 kavinttcleanlreakcleanulg.cam Lynda Hillman-Rapley • Lack of available cost projections for the cost to construct the future phases of the sewage treatment facility, for the cost to property owners, and lack of a cost benefit analysis to compare the alternatives. • Lack of sufficient treatment capacity for long term future growth, and lack of sufficient treatment capacity to service properties that currently have septic sys- tems. The Ministry of the Environment administers the Part II order process. "Your Full Service Home & Carden Centre" • Garden & Landscaping Supplies Asphalt Paving • Retaining Walls Concrete • Fencing • Trees • Irrigation PREF QUOTES 510-524-2645 166 Bennett St. E., Goderich f www: artslandscapincr Tin: Rotary Club of Grand Bit d Annual "Charity Toll Road" will be held from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday August 31, 2013, and 'Sunday September 1, 2013, at the intersection of Highways #21 and 1181. All monies raised will be used to help Local Community Needs including Youth and Literacy Please give generously.