Times-Advocate, 1987-06-03, Page 3PUC and town required
to dance to same tunes
In order for everything to run
smoothly in Exeter, the right hand
7hust know what the left hand is do-
ing. The PUC and the town must
datice to the same tune. The PUC
taint know in advance which streets
are on the town's paving program,
and the town is informed of where the
PUC plans to replace old water lines
or install new ones.
A situation of mutual interest was
discussed at the regular May meeting
of the Exeter PUC. The imminent
paving of Gidley Street, originally
scheduled for 1990, has meant some
decisions on water service must be
made in the next few weeks.
The present one -inch line on Gidley
would not be adequate if the remain-
ing two lots at the eastern extremity
are developed sometime. PUC
manager Hugh Davis said a one -and -
one -half inch replacement would
serve current and future residences.
At present the high school 'area is
dependent on a sole hydrant in case
of fire. Davis reminded the commis-
sion that hydrants can become in-
operable because of factors such as
unusual weather conditions. -
Cost must also be considered. The
water account coffers are low,
because of all the water services go-
ing in. (Total value of construction in
Exeter in May was $1,000,000.1 Put-
ting in a six-inch main to accom-
modate another hydrant would cost
approximately $1.2,000, plus 83.000 for
the hydrant. while only upgrading the
service would cost "substantially"
less. Installing the larger main and
the hydrant would bring in no in-
crease in revenue.
Davis said the PUC could also con-
-sider installing another hydrant nett
year between the existing two on
Gidley. This would provide a back-up.
Shaw thought the possibility of fire
in that corner of the school was
remote, "with all that concrete". He
termed fire protection "an insurance
policy for which you pay a big
premium and hope you never
collect".
Other commissioners agreed with
Shaw's suggestion that Davis find out
how much each option would cost, and
if the disparity was not to great, the
bigger line should be seriously
considered.
The decision will be made at a
• special meeting within the next two
weeks.
Davi k warned the Commission of
more impending expenses to repair
and protect the water main along the
northern section of Main St. Samples
taken along the line from Waiper to
Thames Rd. were "horrible", confir-
ming Davis' suspicions that the soil
is very corrosive at -the northern end.
Corrosion in the section north of the
Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet and
the doughnut shop has eaten goose -
egg -sized holes in the main. The latest
-leak caused a water shut-off over six
hours while gas and telephone lines
were located.
Davis received permission to install
a $750 valve north of these businesses
so if another leak occurs the whole
area will not have to be shut off while
repairs are made. He recommended
the installation of zinc anodes to pro-
. .
sit
A COUNTRY MARCH — Jane Radley, Chris Bruxer, Trudy Archer
and Joan Mantey head for home in Wednesday's Fitness Day con-
tribution by the Exeter branch of the Bank of Montreal employees.
Stanley reeve smiles
Stanley Reeve Clarence Rau can't
stop smiling. "
He received official word this week
that the provincial government will
subsidize the extension of the Hay
water pipeline into Stanley township.
In a long-awaited letter which arriv-
ed at the municipal office on Friday,
environment minister Jim Bradley
promised to fund 71.45 percent of the
estimated cost of $2.3 million
($1,643,350) to hook into the line at the
Hay boundaryand bring a supply of
potable water along Highway 21
through Stanley as far as Bayfield.
The government had agreed earlier
to absorb the estimated $400,000 cost
of oversizing the pipeline through [lay
to allow Stanley township to hook in
later, and had previously granted Hay
a 74.9 percent subsidy on the,cost of
the line through Hay township.
Stanley councillors were awaiting
word from the province on the
Need some
Exeter's current housing and com-
mercial boom prompted Reeve Bill
Miekle to suggest on Monday that
council should have a brainstorming
sesion to take a look at the future
direction.
"We may have to take a serious
look at where we're going as a grow-
ing town,' ne said, adding that some
priorities may have to be set to ensure
that the town will sustain affordable
growth.
Mickle said there appears to be
more interest in this area as evidenc-
amount of subsidy they would be of-
fered before making a decision on
whether or 'not to go ahead with a
pipeline into Stanley.
-
Rau figures that when the 100 per-
cent funding of oversizing the pipeline
in Hay to accommodate Stanley is
taken into consideration, Stanley's
total subsidy will compare favourably
with that of their neighbour.
Word of the subsidy was the%
culmination of over six years of effort
by Stanley councils to obtain financial
assistance fora much-needed new
source of decent water.
• "I'm relieved and grateful we have
finally got what we wanted", Rau
said.
Although Stanley councillors will
not officially consider acceptance of
the subsidy and authorization of con-
struction of a pipeline until their next
meeting on June 9, Rau is certain the
line will be approved unanimously.
brainstorm
ed by the housing and commercial
projects and increased interest from
industrial sources as well.
"There's•a need for council to get
ahead of the flow of what's happen-
ing," he opined, noting that some pro-
blems that can occur with fast growth
are quite often left to the point where
they become "pressure points."
He received positive response from
others around the table and the
brainstorming is expected in the near
future, although no dates have been
set.
Minor groups affluent?
Exeter's minor sports groups may
be affluent enough that it will save
Exeter ratepayers a few dollars this
year.
All the groups were to have made
presentations to council represen-
tatives for proposed funding this year.
but Gaylen Josephson reported this
week that only the precision skating
team had met the deadline.
Josephson speculated that the other
groups may be "relatively affluent"
but urged that the time limit be ex-
tended for presentations.
If there is no response by the new
limit, it will require no financial com-
mitment being made by the town.
Department rating hiked
The Exeter and Area Fire Depart-
ment has recently received a "Class
A" rating by the Underwriters
Association. •
In making that announceme t to.
council, Monday, Reeve Bill fickle
said such a high rating is eldom
given to volunteer brigades apt] usual-
ly only in larger centres with full-time
departments.
"Congratulations in receiving this
has to be given to the firemen for the
excellence they have provided," he
added.
He also explained that the current
fire agreement with Exeter and the
three neighboring townships will stay
in effect until further discussion. The
target date for new terms has been
set for August and will be preceded by
a couple of joint meetings to discuss
changes' requested by two of the
member municipalities. .
Mickle said he hoped that nothing
in the new agreement would result in
diminishing the rating given the
department.
tett the area south of the valve, and
warned that the northern section will
have to be replaced soon, although it
is not much more than 20 years old.
At one time galvanized services-.
acted as sacrificial anodes, protecting
the main lines. Now that those are
gone, thepipes are being directly at-
tacked by corrosion. Davis said many
utilities face the same problem, and
a consenus is forming that there is a
link between highways and formation
of corrosive soil.
The monthly balance in the -hydro
account is also down because of large
capital expenditures. Davis gave as
a typical example the cost of primary
copper underground cable to service
one of the subdivisions - $4,900 for 500
meters. Aluminum secondary added
an additional $6,000 to the hill.
Davis reported the overhaul of -the -
substation at the library had been
completed, with only one complica-
tion. The giant crane blew a brake
line, throwing out a surprising
amount of oil. A PUC work crew
came to the rescue with hags of highly
absorbent kitty litter.
PUC crews installed five
•
underground hydro services in two
days, The new EMA store is now con-
nected. Work will begin in the Veri
subdivision this week, and the Darl-
_,.it1g_subdivision is next in line.
A streetlight - will be relocated to ac-
commodate the Hasti-Market. The re-
questing party will be billed the
estimated 81,500 cost. The town is
stuck with the cost of replacing the
concrete street light standard damag-
ed by an unknown motorist.
Quotes for work on the Hicks well
were opened on Friday.
Davis has not yet received word on
whether or not the PUC is receiving
a grant to cover part of the cost.
Davis was informed by Steve Burns
of the Burns Ross engineering firm
that provincial grants are available
to assist municipalities in determin-
ing the present condition of their
water systems. More money to help
correct inadequacies may be
available later, and Burns believes
that utilities which have completed
stage one would be prime candidates
for further assistance. Davis was
given permission to begin the
assessment.
Times -Advocate, June 3, 1987
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