Council has deferred discussion on a proposed $3-million water tower project until a report on a peer review of the township’s wastewater capacity expansion project is completed.
At a special meeting on May 15, council was presented with a report on the water tower project from CAO Manny Baron, who requested council provide direction on the type of tower staff should focus on.
On May 8, council received information from two suppliers on possible tower designs. Three options were presented, one for glass fuse style and two for composite-style tanks.
At the May 15 meeting, council was provided with a review of the options by CIMA Canada Inc.
In his report, Baron noted a capital allocation of $3,034,000 to fund the construction of the water tower was set in the 2018 budget.
“We are nearing the engineering portion of the project and staff would like council’s direction on which model of tower we would like to move forward with,” Baron stated.
“Until we decide on a tower and get preliminary engineering, it is difficult to say what the exact cost will be, however, according to our 2018 capital budget we are planning on investing $3,034,000.”
Mayor Neil Driscoll said, “We know we have to do an elevated water tower design because our main focus or goal is to increase pressure. Our water capacity is there; it’s to gain pressure.”
Councillor Lori Woodham questioned if council should even proceed with the tower project at this time.
“Do we have to go ahead with the water tower?” she asked. “We’re struggling with our water, wastewater and what prices I’ve seen, it’s a lot of money – money that could be shifted over and let’s get our water and waste water capacity going, getting our building permits going, getting our tax revenue coming back in again and then maybe shift over and do the water tower.”
“It’s an excellent question,” said Driscoll
Baron said there are contingency plans if the water tower does not get erected.
“If there is a fire in the industrial portion there is a risk obviously,” noted public works director Sam Mattina, who added there are some areas of Drayton, including the PMD arena, where water pressure “is a little bit less than desired.”
“Does it have to be all or nothing?” asked Woodham, who wondered if there were any interim solutions council could consider.
Driscoll suggested deferring the motion entirely might be wise.
“We have a peer review for our wastewater system and I agree with you, I think that there’s some big costs possibly coming to Mapleton and we don’t know if we can afford one or the other or any,” said the mayor.
“I’d really like to know what kind of system do we have to put in for our wastewater treatment plant, because then I’d feel more comfortable as a councillor saying, ‘Okay, this is what we should do,’ because you raise a good question – maybe we can’t afford both.”
Driscoll added, “Honestly we have to find out are we going to get some grants? What are the chances of us getting in front of some (cabinet) ministers again for these projects?”
Councillor Michael Martin agreed council should wait to make the decision on the tower style.
“I, for the life of me, would like to see some numbers before we decide,” said Martin. He also lamented the lack of potential bidders for the project, regardless of which style is chosen.
“Whether it’s the composite or the glass fuse, it’s essentially one guy. We’re going to be sole sourcing it,” Martin stated.
“It’s insane to me that this kind of dollar value is thrown around and there’s no competition for the project.
Driscoll said, “I hate to pick a style before I even know if funds are available to buy anything.”
Council agreed to defer further consideration of the water tower report until after the peer review is presented, which is anticipated to occur on June 12.
On March 12 the township commissioned a peer review of planning for a project to expand capacity at Mapleton’s wastewater treatment plant (WWTP).
Council directed staff to engage CIMA Consulting Engineers to conduct a peer review of growth projections and solutions recommended in an environmental assessment by Exp Services, a consulting firm facilitating the wastewater project.
At the time, several council members expressed concern about Exp’s timeline for completing the project. Fees for the peer review will total $25,000.
