A Nestlé Waters spokesman was vague last week about what is delaying the installation of traffic lights at the the intersection of Brock and Gilmour Roads, although one Puslinch councillor suggested money alone is holding up the project.
“I would suggest Nestlé just cough up some more money … It’s a safety issue,” councillor Dick Visser told John Challinor, the company’s director of corporate affairs.
About 16 months ago, Nestlé agreed, in principle, to fund the installation of traffic lights in conjunction with the realignment of the company’s driveway with Gilmour Road in Aberfoyle.
The original understanding was that Nestlé would pay the cost up front and receive a partial refund through its development charges.
“It’s in the county’s court, not ours,” Challinor said on March 4, noting Nestlé has provided the county with comments and is awaiting a response. The company has “some issues” with the agreement, he added.
Councillor Matthew Bulmer, who brought up the delay, asked if Challinor could elaborate, but Challinor simply replied, “No.”
That’s when Visser suggested the delay was about the cost of the project. Challinor did not respond to his comment.
Secondary source
In August, Nestlé abandoned a Victoria Road site as a possible location for a secondary well, so councillor Susan Fielding asked last week if a search for a secondary source is still ongoing.
Challinor said yes, the company is still looking for another well location in Puslinch Township.
However, the search is still in the “investigation stage” and there is nothing new to share, he added.
Well agreement
The language for the well protection agreement is approved, Challinor said, and Nestlé is just waiting for the township to approve the document.
Bulmer has worked closely with Nestlé officials on the agreement and said he is pleased with the result.
“I’m quite comfortable with it,” he said. “It’s a good process we went through.” Bulmer added that the Town of Erin may also be interested in a similar agreement tied to Nestlé’s well in Hillsburgh.
Other News
Challinor said Nestlé is now using its new $15-million, 119,000 square-foot warehouse expansion and will hold an official opening in May.
The Aberfoyle plant recently received ISO-14001 – an environmental management standard certification, he added.
Also, Nestlé will be participating in the adopt-a-road program and Challinor said Puslinch council should decide if they prefer the company to take on care of a county or township road.
