As published in The Erin Advocate
The Town has cancelled its plan to have the cost for a small bore sewage collection system investigated as part of its Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP).
Council had recently instructed consultant Watson & Associates to provide financial analysis of this alternative to traditional sewers, which could provide a lower cost and less disruption of the community.
After consulting with their lawyer last week, councillors said while they are interested in information about the system, the proper time to cost it compared to other possible solutions is in the next phase of environmental assessment, after the SSMP is done.
Doing the costing now “could jeopardize the process”, said CAO Kathryn Ironmonger.
The decision was a disappointment to Roy Val of Transition Erin, who has urged council to consider wastewater alternatives. The group is concerned that overall cost will be a factor when council decides whether to proceed with the next phase.
“How can council decide if it has no information on costing?” he said.
