Councillors and trailer park residents seem to be at an impasse when it comes to the fate of the Harriston Trailer Park.
The park is in the floodplain of the Maitland River, and is a liability to the municipality.
A recent report to council drafted by Clerk-administrator Marsha Paley suggested a softening of an earlier recommendation regarding the phasing out of the leases to trailers.
There were a number of people in the council chambers waiting to hear the discussion.
The motion was to receive Paley’s report and to consider phasing out the park over a 10 year period, or by the end of 2020.
Further, in a review and update of existing links, the new agreements would include a clause that states that the trailers are located in the floodway and subject to significant flooding. Lease agreements would also stipulate the town will not be responsible for damages to trailers or other such property as a result of flooding, should the property remain in the floodway.
As well, the agreement recommended no new leases for new owners of trailers.
The report suggested council investigate the market value of existing trailers to consider the possibility of buying one or two of them per year over the phase out period.
Paley recommended council seek provincial or federal funds to assist in the phase-out, additional flood forecasting equipment, plus additional structural and non-structural flood plain related works.
Mayor David Anderson said Paley had distributed the MVCA?plan to the residents.
He commented on the history of the issue, stating that roughly one-third to one-half of the town is in the flood plain. “What has happened over the years is that we’ve had the odd flood. But it is the recent, more unpredictable weather patterns which have created numerous dry spells, flood spells, and mild spells. We haven’t even had a real winter yet (this year).”
One of the things the MVCA has done in due diligence is the recognize a potential disaster. A review was done of the Maitland flood plan and it indicated Harriston is at the head of the watershed.
While there have been floods, Anderson said those have not reached their potential.
He said there has been a public meeting with the residents of the trailer park. “If the town did nothing, and a situation happened, then we would be negligent, if we were aware of the potential danger. The report throws out a bunch of numbers, what if’s, and what could be’s.”
He said when the recommendation came to council, some questions were raised.
One is what happens if a resident wants to sell the trailer.
He said the residents see their trailer as a residence.
The recommendation suggests council would investigate appraising the trailers and reimbursing those costs.
He questioned if that would be the value of the trailer alone, or the value of the trailer at its current location.
Deputy-mayor Judy Dirksen said, “I think this is a really good report and I’m glad Marsha put it together for us. There is a lot of information.”
She questioned what it meant regarding the recommendation that no new leases be issued. She believes the current set of recommendations show respect for people in the trailer park.
But, she said, “Council is in a bit of a spot as well. When the trailer park was put there, it was with the best intentions, and for really good reasons. We have to work together to figure this out.”
Councillor Wayne Martin said with the information at hand, he believes more discussion is needed.
Treasurer Gord Duff agreed the general thrust of the recommendations is good, but doubted anything could be passed that night without locking council into something.
Anderson asked if only one or two from the trailer park would comment.
Evelyne Sawyer spoke on behalf of herself, and not residents. “I find if a person wants to sell their trailer and wants to move on with their life, they are really tied down. We can’t do that now. Ten years is a long time to put your life on hold.”
Sawyer said, “While the discussion is about trailers, these are our homes. They are precious to us.”
Anderson said there is an issue there, and he did not believe people moving into the park were aware of the potential dangers. That danger, he said, really appears only in the springtime.
But the study indicates the town is recognizing those dangers. “It’s for people’s safety.”
Councillors were asked how they would feel if they were told they had to leave their homes, and had nowhere to go.
Councillor Rick Hembly said it was a situation council became aware of.
“I agree, I wouldn’t want anyone to kick me out of my home either. But we have to do something,” he said.
Anderson said if council does nothing, “We would show due negligence and be liable if something happened to you or your property.”
Sawyer contended residents know of the dangers “but it is still our homes.”
Councillor Barb Burrows asked if this is an issue council needs to deal with urgently, or if it can wait for more investigation.
Fire Chief Chris Harrow said it is “our duty to make you aware of existing problems. How you deal with this is totally up to you.”
Emergency planning coordinator Linda Dickson agreed residents have been there a long time. “But we don’t know what the future holds.”
She cited other areas of the province where there have been significant rainfalls in a short period of time. “It is something you have to be aware of.”
Council deferred the matter for further investigation.
Anderson stressed that residents would kept informed as new information comes in.
