After a very long road comprised of bumps and detours along the way, Strathroy-Caradoc Council in addition to approving over $1 million for an environmental assessment, tacked on another $13 million for the Mount Brydges Wastewater Treatment facility.
This week they discussed the issue and heard some major concerns courtesy of representation from Sifton Properties and Brunet and CO. that council should not proceed with a staff recommendation. Both parties emphatically stating that the option for the construction of a Headworks facility and conversion of two existing RBC tanks and an additional single existing empty tank to Extended Aeration would not be the right choice by the Municipality. Director of Engineering and Public Works Mark Ortiz disagreed.
Ortiz told council that staff have approval from the Ministry of Environment to move forward as early as this year. He says there’s only one solution currently approved by the Ministry and this one is it.
Construction costs are estimated to be approximately $13 million, with additional costs of approximately $700,000 expected for engineering services and full-time site inspection and contract administration. Construction is estimated to start in winter 2025 and take approximately 14 to 18 months.
Councillor Pammer asked Director of Finance Bill Dakin, how the municipality could pay for a project like this.
Councillor Derbyshire had some serious concerns with this $13 million decision.
Derbyshire asked what if the Municipality took on a River Birch report back in 2023 estimating around $2 million to overhaul the system to allow the municipality some time to obtain the environmental assessment to determine next steps.
Councillor Brennan followed on that comment by asking Director Ortiz if at that time of the River Birch report, if Council would have went down that road in 2023, would the municipality be in compliance with the Ministry today. Director Ortiz said that wouldn’t be the amount that would have been spent.
Councillor Steve Pelkman made sure he chimed in with a comment of reassurance to all of council and to the public.
In the end, and amidst concerns voiced, Council approved on a recorded vote of 6-3 to direct staff to prepare a response to the Ministry confirming the Municipality’s intent to immediately proceed with the construction of Headworks and Extended Aeration Upgrades at the Mount Brydges Wastewater Treatment Facility.
Council also approved to direct staff to proceed with tendering a contract for the construction of upgrades at the facility, including a new headworks facility and the conversion of existing RBC tanks to extended aeration, and also for staff to issue a Request For proposal for Site Inspection and Contract Administration services for those upgrades. Councillors Willsie, Derbyshire and Deputy Mayor McGuire voted against these recommendations.
Written by: C. Soares