By Sue Tiffin
Published June 13 2017
The following are brief reports of items discussed during a June 7 meeting of Highlands East council.
Student inspectors Adam Bird and Robert Carter updated council on the progress of the septic maintenance inspection program.
Since the beginning of May 299 properties on Glamor Lake have been inspected with 203 (68 per cent) being considered low risk 60 properties (20 per cent) categorized as moderate 31 properties (10 per cent) being high risk and five (two per cent) being very high risk. Half of the properties on Billings Lake have been inspected as well.
Follow-up letters sent to homeowners after initial assessments report on the state of the septic systems and whether or not there is a need for a follow-up inspection.
“We’ve had very positive responses from homeowners and everyone on the lakes” said Bird. “So far we haven’t come across anyone that’s given us a hard time.”
After Billings Lake properties on Stormy Lake Tamarack Lake and Trooper Lake will be assessed.
“I’m amazed at how quickly you guys have moved along” said Reeve Dave Burton. “Keep up the good work.”
An application for an expansion of the Monmouth landfill has been denied by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC).
The application asked for an expansion of 40000 cubic metres but was denied due to being the second expansion asked for in the last decade which the MOECC considers lack of long-term planning. The first application was made in 2007.
“We can push back and see what we can do but it doesn’t look good” said Stewart Hurd environmental supervisor.
The denial means other options including a potential environmental screening might have to take place.
Councillor Cec Ryall asked if anything might be done to encourage more recycling and reduce waste entering the landfill.
“From what I can see” said Hurd “we’re maximizing what we can do at this time.”
Hurd and Deputy-reeve Suzanne Partridge plan to attend a Zero Waste Ontario Conference this week.
The Cardiff Water Service Project will tentatively begin before the end of the month and is projected to take three and a half months to complete. A crew from Fowler’s Construction will start replacing the infrastructure at the north end of town moving south.
Council was asked to approve a single source WSP Group Canada for project management and contract administration at a cost of $36520 and also to add a component called a wedding ring to the project to avoid leaks. The aftermarket custom part costs about $6 per unit adding approximately $1500 to the cost of the work. “A similar project was completed and experienced leaking following the completion of the project which was located at the connection of the new infrastructure and the old” wrote Hurd in his report.
Firefighting equipment older than 10 years from the date of manufacture must be retired according to the National Fire Protection Association.
“After going through inventory we found several pieces were out of date though still in good condition unfortunately” said Chris Baughman acting fire chief.
The total cost of replacing the equipment is $32557 plus tax. Baughman noted that $9820 was already budgeted for equipment leaving a remaining $22737 to cover the cost of the purchase. A new fire truck was budgeted for 2017 but Baughman’s report states that purchase will likely not happen this year and funds could be reallocated from the capital account for the gear.
Baughman said some of the retired gear could be used as training equipment if it’s clearly labelled as such. Firefighters Without Borders will also take donations of used gear to be used in Canada and internationally.
