It doesn’t look like Erin’s water shop will be moving any time soon.
On Aug. 13, councillors supported a recommendation to keep the water department located at 1 Shamrock Rd, Erin following a report to council by Frank Smedley.
Smedley estimated relocating would cost the town roughly $200,000. He noted the water department had used the current location since 2001.
“This location works well for the water department’s needs.”
He noted Mayor Lou Maieron’s suggestion was to relocate the department to the cold storage building behind the roads shop to allow a proposed reuse centre to proceed.
Smedley provided estimates of some costs involved in moving the department to that location, adding, “If there is any thought of moving ahead with this initiative more accurate estimates should be obtained before a final decision is made.”
Smedley said the water shop and roads cold storage building are both currently full of equipment, tools and supplies.
There is no room for everything within the cold storage building and another building would need to be constructed at an estimated cost of $120,000.
Further, if the cold storage building use was changed, it would need to have a washroom and septic system which could cost $30,000.
However having a septic system nearby would also reduce the amount of outside storage that is currently used around the building.
Smedley suspected there would be a significant cost to install a gas heating system for the building – about $20,000.
Additionally, the building is not insulated and Smedley estimated the cost to insulate it at $10,000
The interior walls of the building are not sheeted which would cost another $10,000.
He pegged the cost of upgrading electrical service and building wiring at $15,000.
Relocating all the water and roads department’s racking, equipment and supplies would cost another $5,000.
Smedley noted that the Shamrock Road location is used to house winter operations equipment and supplies during the winter months to reduce response times for winter maintenance in the village.
He suggested the overall financial impact would be around $210,000 though additional costs could be incurred if the building required a vehicle exhaust ventilation system, floor drains, unisex accessible washrooms, site excavation or regradinq. This could significantly increase the cost, he explained
He added that if a new structure is being proposed, a long-term site plan needs to be established to take into account increased future requirements.
In a later interview with the Wellington Advertiser, Maieron said he had hoped to have the reuse centre delegation at the July meeting, but a timeslot was not available.
Instead the group made their presentation in August.
“They made a good pitch.”
In advance, Maieron had prepared a resolution, which stated council supported the group and would investigate how to move the water department up to the municipal building.
Such a move would require the reuse centre group being able to get an acceptable lease by Dec. 31.
The mayor also reviewed current water department reserves.
He explained, following the Watson and Associates study, water rates were increased because the water department had been covering operational costs through the department reserves.
“The piggy bank in the stand alone water department is in pretty good shape.”
Maieron said when no one on council appeared willing to support his resolution on behalf of the group, the mayor then asked how much rent the water department pays for the building.
“The answer was nothing.”
Maieron did not know whether the department had full use of the building.
“A water department should be a stand alone operation. That means it should have its own building or facility.”
He claimed that ratepayers not connected to the water system, appear to be subsidizing this because no rent is being paid.
He said there is the perception that the former hydro building should belong to the water department.
Maieron felt there was confusion in voting whether to defer or approve the motion.
Maieron said council asked for additional information within an amended resolution for the water department to remain on Shamrock Road.
Maieron had hoped to get support from the county or other grants to pay for a long-term lease as opposed to getting nothing from the water department.
“We’ve really looked elsewhere for a location [for a reuse centre]. If we could find another building and not inconvenience the town we would go for it.”
Maieron said the group still wants the project to go forward.
“It doesn’t have to be that building, but it is ideal.”
He added the reuse centre still intends to make a presentation to Wellington County’s solid waste services committee with the concept.
He contended the water department has $600,000 in reserves and the moving costs are only $200,000 to move to the municipal offices site there should be no problem.
“From the mayor’s point of view having everybody at the same location would make it work better.”
