Commentary_on_Sydenham_Water

Feature Article

December 4, 2003

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Commentary on Sydenham Water

South Frontenac Council is planning to go ahead with its plans to draw water from Sydenham Lake, chlorinate it, and pipe it into the 260 or so homes and businesses in Sydenham, at a cost of seven million dollars or more. Two thirds of that will be covered by the federal and provincial governments, but the remaining two and a half million dollar cost will fall to the Township, the School Board, Loughborough Housing Association (all three subsidized by your tax dollars), and the individual homes and businesses in the village. "Your property values will go up, once youre on water," they tell us, and no doubt they will. But for as long as I plan to live in my home, increased property value only means higher assessment and higher taxes. The increased value will be realized only if I sell the house, or die. Neither choice appeals to me right now. Sydenham village has a broad range of residents, some well off, others not, some young families, some retirees. We have single parent families, and single people living in their own homes, and renters. In other words, a healthy if not particularly wealthy mix, and an interesting place to live, where a trip to the post office or the store can be a lot of fun if you take time to chat with friends and acquaintances along the way. Personally, Id be sorry to see it turn into an upscale enclave for the well-heeled, most of whom commute to Kingston for jobs, so they can afford the valuable, water-serviced homes in the village. Sydenham Safe Water Association suggests there may be less costly ways to provide safe drinking water, and treat sewage. We have a new council, and a new Water Advisory Committee. Can the SSWA provide the hard facts to back up their claims? Will council sit down at the table with the SSWA, and seriously consider alternatives to a traditional water treatment system? Whatever happens, it looks like it will be pretty expensive for us villagers. What sort of financing deal will the township be able to offer - anything better than the 8% interest charges proposed earlier this year?