ABERFOYLE – After a 3-2 vote, Puslinch Township will move ahead with a feasibility study for municipal water and wastewater services for commercial/industrial properties in the Aberfoyle area.
In a recorded vote on Dec. 5, councillors Ken Roth, John Sepulis and Jessica Goyda were in favour of the study, while Mayor James Seeley and councillor Matthew Bulmer were opposed.
A staff report outlining a feasibility study for scaled-down municipal water and wastewater services recommended council authorize the project at a cost of $29,083.
The study will be funded through the County of Wellington Business Retention and Expansion Municipal Implementation Fund ($25,000) and the township’s legal contingency discretionary reserve ($4,083).
In June, council agreed to scale back the original study which would have included both residential and commercial/industrial properties. The decision was based on an overwhelming response from residents who do not want municipal water or wastewater services.
The updated study would determine whether the scaled-back proposal is of interest to commercial/industrial operations in the Aberfoyle area – and whether such a venture is financially feasible.
Roth noted council did a feasibility study for a larger area “and none of the residents wanted this … and it was an exorbitant cost so council voted unanimously to turn it down.”
However, Roth said businesses and industries were over 60 per cent in favour of water and wastewater services, which would be paid for by users.
“If there is any cost at all to residential ratepayers, I would not be in favour of this,” said Roth. “But I think we have to … accommodate our businesses.”
He said he knows of one business which would like to expand, but cannot because of limited water/wastewater servicing.
Bulmer said, “I would not support spending any additional money on this project.” He noted a report from the county planner indicated the existing commercial/industrial area is built out.
“In many ways this would be like watering the lawn after it rained,” Bulmer said.
He explained there are policies within the official plan that allow the existing commercial/industrial areas to be developed without providing municipal water/wastewater service.
Bulmer added the study’s proposed outlet for processed wastewater was insufficient for a single user that was interested in using it.
“If we cannot accommodate that, I cannot imagine it being sufficient for an entire industrial park,” said Bulmer.
He also expressed concern that if the township accepts federal or provincial grants for the project any property the service passes by would be forced to connect.
Goyda said she is torn on the matter, in part because of the outrage the issue had caused among local residents. She said she also appreciates that in the original study there was a 60% favourable interest by commercial/industrial property owners.
However that study had costs shared among all taxpayers within the study area – “Now we are asking for a much smaller area.”
Goyda said the study refers to a workshop meeting with commercial/industrial property owners.
“If we go ahead with this, the important part of the workshop would be looking at the costs those properties’ owners would be willing to bear.”
Councillor John Sepulis supported the staff recommendation to complete the study.
Noting the high numbers of businesses/industries interested in water/wastewater services, he said, “If the numbers were that high among our residents, we would not hesitate to look at this.”
Sepulis also said it’s important to consider that 22% of the tax levy in Puslinch is derived from its commercial/industrial base.
“So it is important for us to keep them, and to encourage them to stay … and encourage more to come.”
Without those businesses, “It would be a big hit for a residents,” he noted.
Sepulis said Puslinch is in competition with other municipalities to attract industrial and commercial operations, and, “With no (municipal) services, we are at a big disadvantage.”
He mentioned the Morriston bypass, stating it “will help immensely with the revitalization of Morriston and Aberfoyle.”
He added that without the support within the commercial/industrial sector, the Morriston bypass would not have moved forward.
Sepulis agreed there are still a number of unanswered questions, “But if we don’t complete the study, there will always be ‘what-ifs’.”
His one request is that Mill Creek not be used as an outlet for processed sewage, noting, “We need to respect Mill Creek as a coldwater waterway.”
Seeley, who was not in favour of going forward, said, “I feel there is enough dry industry.”
He also said because of the township’s proximity to the GTA, “I believe there is plenty of industry willing to come into Puslinch.”
He too said he is concerned that bringing in service lines would force residential properties to connect, which “opens a whole can of worms.”
Seeley added there is no place to discharge effluent and possibly no location for a well. He said he understands the interest by the industrial sector, but considers 60% of 30 property owners low.
