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Some still in dark over Site 41

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In Simcoe County
Oct 30th, 2009
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By Laurie Watt, Alliston Herald October 29, 2009
Despite retaining a specialized communications consulting firm, Simcoe County councillors are still calling on better communication to alleviate fears that Site 41 will one day be a dump.
Tuesday, concerned citizens urging council to revoke the Certificate of Approval for the North Simcoe dump filled the chambers. One vocal woman, who literally called for council to discuss the issue was evicted.
“In my discussions with the (environment) ministry Friday, I learned we’ve gone beyond the steps to winterize (site 41). We’ve used up all our clay, which is good, but the conveyance to council and committee isn’t alleviating concerns people have,” said Tiny Township Deputy Mayor George Lawrence. “Communication is key to alleviating a lot of these concerns.”
For months, county councillors have blamed the Site 41 eruption on poor communications. Tiny Township Mayor Peggy Breckenridge said last month the county wasn’t proactive enough in its communications – and subsequently the dump debate received national media attention, and it even caught the eye of American activist and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader.
Breckenridge told her council colleagues concerns persist even though council has decided the landfill will not be built.
“The site isn’t going to be fully restored to its (former) condition. I understand there will be somewhat of a decompression. The last thing a lot of people are wondering is nothing is happening with the property – and what are the next steps,” she said.
“These people are here today because they don’t know. A lot of county councillors don’t know (what’s going on).”
The county’s plan is to conduct a waste management strategy. That strategy will include Site 41, which still has provincial environmental ministry approval for waste management purposes.
The study is expected to take a year, and be overseen by a committee that includes representatives from Zero Waste Simcoe, the county’s waste management subcommittee, representatives form the Adjala-Tosorontio Ratepayers’ Association, and one to three representatives from the public at large, chosen based on their experience and knowledge.

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