Feature Article August 7, 2003
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South Frontenac Councillors Remain Silent asWater Treatment Plant Opponents Hammer Away at Council Again
An overflow crowd spilled out onto the sidewalk at the South Frontenac Township Hall in Sydenham Tuesday night as four individuals presented strongly-worded condemnations of councils decision to build a water treatment plant at the expense of Sydenham ratepayers, and urge council to reconsider it.
Janet Haase presented a petition, signed by 275 people, which argued that the proposed location of the water treatment plant within the Point park on the shores of Sydenham Lake contravenes the spirit, if not the letter of the deed which granted the Park to the township in 1971.
The Park, known formally as the Loughborough Memorial and Recreation Centre was sold by the Sydenham Womens Institute and the Sydenham Board of Trade for one dollar on the condition that it remain in perpetuity and that no portion of it be sold, and that the residents of Loughborough will have access, at reasonable hours to enjoy its facilities. The deed also says the park is to be used by the Grantee as a Park for the benefit and pleasure and recreation of the residents of the Township of Loughborough.
The petition says that in the opinion of the petitioners, the proposed 3900 square foot plant, which will require maintenance and regular servicing by large trucks, will compromise the ability of the residents of Loughborough to enjoy the park with regards to noise, visual aesthetics and most importantly with regards to the safety of young children in lieu of truck traffic.
Ms. Haase also pointed out that the financial resources of many of the residents of Sydenham are such that paying the $5,000 plus they will be levied to build the plant is an undue hardship, especially on single parents and the elderly in the village.
The proposed plant is beyond the means of the elderly and the handicapped among us, she said.
Andrea Belliveau spoke next, and she made several references to the route taken by the township of Lanark Highlands in regards to water.
Although the township is liable for treatment, chlorination is not the only way to mitigate the risks to residents, she said, noting that Lanark Highlands has entered into a program of septic improvement as a means of improving water quality, and has been able to access provincial grants to do so. She also expressed her displeasure at the mayors cavalier attitude towards the entire situation.
Richard Munroe was up next, and he asked a series of questions of specific councillors. He began by addressing questions to the members from Portland District, and was interrupted by the Mayor, who said, You will ask all of your questions of me, and will submit them in writing. You will then receive a response.
When? Munroe asked. We will decide that later tonight. was Mayor Leonards response.
Undaunted Munroe continued to fire questions at council. Who will benefit from the Sydenham Water Treatment system? Will water be sold? will bottlers be allowed to buy water. If property values are increased, as is claimed by the proponents of this, will property taxes increase? Who will run the system? A township employee? A contractor?
Many councillors just looked straight ahead as if they werent being addressed, as Munroe continued to ask questions.
When David Waugh addressed council for his five minutes, he began by saying Ive found myself lying awake at 2:30 in the morning worrying about this, and I want to know if any of you councillors have been lying awake worrying about your decision?
Waugh took issue with the engineering report that underpins the decision to build the plant. The report, prepared by Tottenham Sims Hubiki, is full of errors, Waugh said, and he asked Water Committee chairman, and Loughborough Councillor Vic Pobran if he had read the report.
Pobran answered with a terse yes, the only response by a councillor to the barrage of questions and comments made by the speakers. You need to read it again, Waugh replied to Pobran.
We have a septic problem, Waugh argued, not a water problem. You are merely treating the symptom, not the disease. David Waugh also claimed that septic improvements have had a great impact on the wells within the village, and with 72% of the people in the village opposing the plan, and an engineering firm that has a vested interest in building the plant because that is how it will get paid, Why are you not awake at 2:30 in the morning worrying over these issues?
After all the comments, Mayor Leonard led council through a long agenda. There were no issues related to the Sydenham Water plant discussed by council during the open session.
