• Protecting Water and Farmland in Simcoe County

County defers action on providing closed landfill site report summaries to neighbours

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In Council Watch
Nov 12th, 2014
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Notes from final meeting of current term

By Noelle Rancourt AWARE News Network

Collins/Hough Item 15.  CCW 14-397 Annual Report Summaries for Various Closed landfill Sites 

Midland Deputy Mayor Stephan Kramp raised concerns at the November 10 meeting of Simcoe County Council about a closed landfill site in the Midland-Penetanguishene area that is leaking hazardous chemicals. He made a case for the council to communicate findings directly to residents near Site 39 to alert them of the possibility of well contamination, so they can undertake further water testing if they wish to. County staff and councilors raised concerns that a direct communication would cause unnecessary panic and devalue property prices, and that the availability to the public of a technical report was sufficient. A referral motion was carried, for staff to review the issue and assess the need to notify selected residents.

Kramp: “We do testing of private wells. And the report indicates no effect of private wells in those sites. The County purchased a former silica disposal site. There was a contamination stream moving into it – so we purchased contamination attenuation zone. Further east, Midland Golf and Country Club, has the ability to pump 1.2M litres of water a day – it has the potential of sucking water through groundwater table. Also residential properties are between the closed site and the golf course. All residences are on private wells. My question – has the County informed residents on private wells about results of monitoring report with regard to Site 39?”

A county staff member indicated that Site 39 is “One of sites we had the most monitors. All reports are available at our offices. We do notify people if we have concerns their water supply will be impacted, but we don’t inform them if not. All the information is open. We know the groundwater flow (NPT landfill site) … we are not concerned, our consultants are not concerned about impact to residential wells.”

Kramp: “In the closed landfill sites…tricholoroethylene is leaking. The situation in Midland (was) we drilled a new well at considerable cost. There was trichloroethylene. We had been assured by engineers that it would not be affected. The municipality did test private wells, and sure enough, they had it too. That was powerful. So I want to take a look at this situation. We have a landfill site – the monitoring report shows it’s leaking to the east. We have purchased a property for that very reason. It is leaking to the east, that’s why we made that purchase. If you take a look at the private wells and see how close they are to that property – it’s up to you to read the monitoring report and make sense of all that technical language – we are telling those people it’s that their duty. Every year those individuals get their testing done. They test for bacteria – it’s the cheapest. They don’t test for trycholoroethylene, cause it costs $800. But if someone told you there’s a leaking landfill site, and also a golf course site is sucking… water, then you may want to do the $800 test. My recommendation is, we’re a professional corporation. We know what’s in that report. Tell the residents what is going on.”

CAO Mark Aitken: “…One thing about trichloroethylene. Past practices of using it…we’re aware of it being in and around in all kinds of locations. That’s not to say we don’t have a responsibility to look after the oversights of the past. If it’s the will of the house we can entertain it. But in that general geography – I’d surmise if we’ve seen it in and around Midland and Tiny, at what point do we let everyone in North Simcoe know there is potentially trichloroethylene in their wells?”

Kramp:  “(Recommend to) put forward a motion to give residents an overview of that report… When you look at the report, trichloroethylene is just one of the chemicals. I know all of North Simcoe has it. The landfill site and what was dumped there from Sarnia, spread into private wells. Those people are dead. Perkinsfield – had to put in private municipal water cause (private wells were) contaminated. A lot of cancer patients…are from North Simcoe…because of private wells… (I agree) it is overkill to tell everyone. But here we have the data. The houses to the east (are vulnerable). Based on data and where those people are living. It’s not all of North Simcoe. So they can test on a voluntary basis… cause they are so close to where those chemicals are migrating.”

Aitken: “The information specific to what we know about the MPT landfill site… The other end of this is… when you purchase property, you do have a responsibility, and your law firm, to ensure you are satisfied and legally satisfied that you looked into the quality of your property on a number of aspects. There is an onus on the property owner. Yes, we are aware past practices in North Simcoe were not always the right thing. When the County took over facilities in the 90s… but I still think there’s an onus for property owners to ensure they are satisfied with their own drinking water.”

Kramp: “My motion is that we provide (relevant information to) residents immediately adjacent to closed MPT landfill site… to allow those residents to determine if they so wish to test private wells.”

Aitken: “Normally we provide some summary information… D4 guidelines. I can’t help but think there are two thoughts. We have to deal with local municipalities and property owners. We put them (guidelines) in place to ensure testing is done around landfill sites, yet we’re always facing angst or concern around cost of D4… and concerns with planning in local municipalities. They are in place to provide more due diligence. We do provide info to adjacent landowners in other facilities…”

Staff member: “We could provide a map to show groundwater flow direction. Show that our data does not indicate it’s at that area, but that upgrading monitors do note that there are TCE concentrations. We could offer residents to… come to us to view the report, or make copies available in local libraries. Biannual monitoring report is the best to check (every 2 years we do a full report on this – next in 2015).”

Staff member: “Any water-taking over 50,000L per day does require a permit to take water. MOE looks at the cone of influence. We have a long history of what is going on at this site as far as groundwater flow direction. It is most likely golf course is significantly far enough, I don’t believe we’re seeing influence….”

Midland Mayor Gord McKay: “I can’t think of anything more upsetting than getting an unsolicited report from the County. What does the County see here? It causes panic and has to be properly communicated. No one suggests there is a problem, but it will …depress property values, create a cloud of suspicion… My amendment is, we go back to county and get it properly assessed before we up the ante. I’m concerned for the residents  – not for their water – but for the psychological upset. My amendment is for county to review and decide if there is any purpose in notifying residents…”

Tiny Mayor Ray Millar – seconded that amendment

Severn Deputy Mayor Judith Cox: “…I totally agree with Councilor McKay.” Seconded

Deputy Warden Harry Hughes (Oro-Medonte): “Maybe I missed part of the conversation but sounds like the amendment is contrary to the motion.”

Innisfil Mayor Barb Baguely: “Is this report not already available? All are public knowledge and are available. Perhaps, instead of a full-scale mail out, remind people the reports are here. Not to minimize concern… If they are concerned about it, it’s there. They need to be reminded there is a report, it’s online and there it is.”

Millar: “If the amendment is successful and we do refer back, maybe staff can consolidate information on the cone of influence on the golf course to see if in fact there is any impact. Also if we do make any notice in the future should be pursuant to a policy, maybe D4, so we don’t fail to notify anyone who should know.”

Kramp: “I’m going to speak against this amendment. I think the health of those individuals is significant and important. The original motion was very reasonable. McCullah and the CAO say you can come in and read report for yourself…not raising any red flags. People should know this… So when we have this vote to defer this, because as once Councilor has suggested, it may reduce property values, I’m going to vote against this amendment, and I’m going to ask for a recorded vote.”

Staff: “There is no recorded voting in the Committee of the Whole.”

Staff: “Referral motion – if it is adopted, the other motion presented by Kramp will be set aside. CCW14-398 be referred back to staff.”

Referral motion carried. (Only 4 voted against, including Kramp.)

Kramp questions Ontario food safety

Cox/Keffer Item 10. CCW 14-403 – Simcoe County Food and Agriculture Charter Update

The recommendation was for (1) an update the Simcoe County Food and Agriculture Charter to be received, and (2) for the Warden to be authorized to co-sign a letter with the Chair of the Food Partners Alliance of Simcoe County (FPA) addressed to Hon Jeff Leal, Mon of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, requesting the Province take the lead to develop a provincial education campaign directed at increasing Ontarians’ knowledge of the regulations and high standards associated with Ontario-produced foods.

Bradford West Gwillimbury Deputy Mayor Rob Keffer made a statement supporting the work of the Food and agriculture steering committee in stimulating discussion and promoting public awareness about the high standards of Ontario food at the Ploughing Match.

Kramp questioned the safety of Ontario-produced food, directing a question to Keffer about the use of pesticides and GMOs, and asking whether the issue would be put on the agenda in terms of food safety. The Chair advised this issue be addressed through the Food committee.

The motion was carried without amendment.

No decision on Snow Valley Road property OPA

Item 17. CCW 14-440 Non-decision for Site Specific Property, Township of Springwater Official Plan Amendment No.38 (1093 Snow Valley Road)

The report relates to a piece of property that was set aside because there was a need to classify pieces of land within that property. Environmental studies were done to delineate areas within the property subject to environmental protection.

Oro-Medonte Deputy Mayor Ralph Hough: “With all the EPA stuff on that property, not much is buildable anyway. The purpose of the study was to define EP area and developmental area. Curry towing owned. It does have some value to the proponent.”

Motion carried.

More funds needed for ambulance stations

Bagley/Milne Item 11. CCW 14-361 Alliston and Beeton Paramedic Stations Update

The cost of constructing both Alliston and Beeton Stations is higher than originally budgeted. Council was asked to make a recommendation as to whether the future Council should either (a) proceed with construction of both stations, (b) proceed with Alliston and defer Beeton, or (c) defer both. The Council carried a motion recommending the new incoming Council pursue simultaneous completion of both Stations to meet growing demand.

Staff (Health and cultural services manaer Jane Sinclair) explained that additional costs had been identified beyond the approved costs of 2009 (inflationary, energy management, square footage, design work…). These costs emerged as a result of the tendering process, where 8 qualified bidders registered and submitted costs that were higher than estimated. Under-budgeting occurred because initial plans were very high level, not sufficient detail.

Total additional funding required equating $794,000. Additional costs could be funded through development charges, capital reserve funds in paramedic reserve account…

Staff elaborated on the plan for 2015, which includes property acquisition for Collingwood and Orillia, working with Barrie regarding a larger hub-style station that would be in conjunction with a number of components from the City of Barrie. Currently they are engaged in the property component and anticipate further design development in 2016. Anticipated time of tender is first week Feb, starting construction in April.

There was agreement by many of the councilors who spoke about the importance of meeting the demands of the growing community, growing tax base, and acknowledging the already significant capital investment. Additional requests included more information for the new Council on cost saving options, and the ability to view actual designs. Concerns raised included that some of the details were missed in the original budget estimates, including exterior walls and square footage (Ferguson), and concern about the substantial added cost ($794,000). Lehman observed that the simultaneous construction of both stations would narrow the scope of companies with sufficient capacity to deliver on this project, and asked ‘Does this create limitation?’ Staff explained this decision was taken to achieve economies of scale.

Motion for the additional cost to be approved as part of draft 2015 budget was carried.

Mould issue cited for Midland social housing tenants  

In the budget discussion on Social Housing, the County was alerted to mould and drainage issues in Beauchamps Court social housing. County staff said they were not aware of this issue, but would investigate. Motion carried for staff to report back with findings. No budget reallocations required at this point.

Kramp:  “Beauchamp Court…roofs leaking, mould in many homes. (Residents) have been told to clean it with javex. There are respiratory issues and children are sick. Water is going into the foundation not getting far enough away. Work in basements – I’ve seen it – no drywall to complete the work. $70,000 for residents with Georgian Village, and yet mould, incomplete basements with no drywall.. use a small fraction of additional debt to allow them to have their homes taken care of? They did it in Georgian Village. Those people are living in our housing stock.”

Staff comment:  “We’re not aware of these issues. There was an inspection in August and we haven’t received any complaints. Touch base … (County can) send staff out to address any concerns.”

Kramp: “Motion that if report comes back and a mould issue is there, and a larger issue of drainage, that we allocate funds, in the event.”

Staff: “If we found that (there were mould), there would be an amendment to the budget… The budget is a plan – we do have some money allocated in social housing reserves to deal with such issues as they arise. What might be more appropriate is a resolution that staff look into units with any remediation on costs. Either utilize reserves, or add another financial piece. It doesn’t have to be part of the budget.”

Kramp/McKay – motion carried for staff to report back with findings.

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