The addition to the township’s sewage lagoon was explained on June 28 to council’s satisfaction.
Council had been upset at a previous meeting because its engineering firm, R.J. Burnside and Associates, had not attended a council meeting to explain the design of the sewage lagoon that will improve effluent for the septic system.
Council had approved a debenture of $950,000 for a land purchase and expected to spend about $1.6-million on the new cell, but found it might be facing higher costs when it received an engineer’s report in June. There was no one from the firm at that meeting to answer questions about the changes.
Bob Mayberry and John Burns were on hand on June 28, as was Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) member Scott Craggs.
Burns explained there would be a site meeting off Sideroad 15, southwest of Drayton, for the contractors who hoped to bid on the job. He said he did not expect any delays, and Chief Administrative Officer Patty Sinnamon has a package and the Ministry of Environment will have “a month to look at it.”
Mayor Bruce Whale asked for an outline of the changes from the original plan.
Burns said there was “not a lot of detail,” but contractors will be able to calculate the number of cubic metres of earth to be moved, so they will be able to issue proper bids. Council had been concerned because the lagoon was suddenly changed from a proposed one cell construction to two cells.
Burns said that could mean changes to the amount of earth that needs to be moved, but the company has “told the bidders our estimate is this much. They want quantities, but they also want to know where it is.”
Mayberry also explained the sudden change to two cells. He said that in 2008, the ministry issued new guidelines for the first time in 25 years, setting a maximum cell size of eight hectares, and it would actually prefer cells smaller than that.
He said the company showed two cells in its original plans, but changed them to comply with the new rules, even though the final class environmental assessment had been done for two cells.
Mayberry said because of the maximum size and maximum depth that are now in place, the choice is to go to two cells.
“We prefer it as compact as possible. A large cell is probably not a good idea,” he said.
Councillor Mike Downey said it has always been his impression that a strong wind blowing on the lagoon is a benefit.
Mayberry replied, “It is – and it isn’t.” He explained that wave action can aerate the material, but too much “can become a problem.”
Public Works Director Larry Lynch wanted to know how fast the work can be done.
Mayberry said work would take about two to two-and-a-half months. Lynch asked if that meant the end of October, and Mayberry confirmed it would take that long.
Councillor Neil Driscoll said the changes appear to mean more cost.
Mayberry said that is true, and the company is “fine tuning” its pre-tender estimates. He said that number will likely be available by the end of the week, and, “Additional earth moving will add to the cost.”
Driscoll said, “Quite a lot.”
Mayberry said that is not necessarily so, if the material needed is already on the site. But, he agreed, it will be more material to move, and that will affect the cost.
It was councillor Andy Knetsch who raised the issue that had council so upset at the previous meeting.
“Why was no one here to explain” the changes being proposed to council?
Burns said the engineers do not normally make a habit of coming to council, but agreed that perhaps in this case someone should have attended the earlier meeting to explain the changes.
Knetsch told the engineers, “I think when a project like this is presented, somebody would be here to discuss it.”
Lynch told council the tender would go out by July 8.
