Storm sewer troubles spilling into Boyne River, repair cost
unknown
Posted October
17, 2012
The collapsed storm sewer behind 66 Elizabeth Street in Alliston, which
is now cordoned off as a danger zone, was reportedly discovered by some
youths walking along the Boyne River about a week ago, who noticed a
hole under the parking lot attached to the apartment building at the
address.
It seems that the basin was showing earlier signs of deterioration, but
turned into a full blown problem when larger amounts of soil started
washing into the river within the past 10 days or so.
On Monday night, a 2012 budget progress report up to Aug. 31, included
an additional notation that cautions council the storm sewer troubles
hold unknown implications on finances.
"(D)epending on the extent of the repairs required and how the
expenditures are to be funded this may also have an impact on the 2012
projected results," according to the update which projects a year-end
surplus of about $3,000, after accounting for its use to help fund a
new aerial fire truck for Station 3 Tottenham. "As estimates of the
necessary repairs are currently not available the estimated 2012 year
end preliminary results have not been adjusted at this time."
Deputy CAO Brendan Holly told councillors it will have to be fixed as
soon as it's determined what needs to be done.
"We currently have a soils' engineer analyzing the site and we're
waiting on the report to indicate what the remediation works will be,"
said Mr. Holly, adding that the only sure prospect is "It'll be in
excess of $100,000. That is a very perliminary. It could be much much
more."
The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority was alerted by The Town "immediately for our input," according to an emailed statement this morning.
"We have advised them on both immediate/emergency actions as well as the longer term plan to repair the erosion situation. Part of the project is expected to include assessing whatever soil and debris may have entered the stream, which would involve experts such as fisheries biologists looking at the situation to determine what is likely to occur naturally from this point and what the proper interventions might be."
Because it's not a budgeted capital project, the source of funding will
have to be identified.
Barring a further adjustment, or an unexpected surge in the projected
surplus, those monies will not be available to help pay to fix the
storm sewer. That's because the majority of council voted recently to
exhaust its fleet reserve fund of $573,294, and take the difference
from surplus, to finance a new replacement aerial truck for Station 3
in Tottenham. The purpose, championed by Ward 3 councillor Paul
Whiteside, was to avoid adding the $750,000 price to the Town's long
term debt. It had been originally recommended to borrow the funds and
pay it back over 25 years.
Mayor Mike MacEachern, who has favoured using debentures to finance the
larger capital program, said the decision to avoid it, was having an
immediate consequence.
"I don't want us coming into the next budget period saying 'what
happened to all the surplus?'" he said. "The surplus has been used up
to finance the fire truck that we needed. But there's also this
outstanding issue here that we don't have any surplus that could play
into helping to assist with paying off this,and it could be fairly
expensive, so that doesn't get lost."
