Cumberland BC: The Cumberlander Articles Section
Local · 28th March 2009
Richard Drake
Hi
I called a Public Advisory Meeting this week to see if we could get some clearer information concerning the constructed wetland. Here here are the notes from our PAC meeting with Bob Hoffstrom (Anja was also present). I felt reasonably good about the meeting. It filled in some gaps. Attached is an update sheet that Bob Hoffstrom gave us.
cheers
Richard
Last year BC Ministry of Environment (MOE) who permit the Liq Waste Plan [LWMP] demanded an update that would reflect changes in our 2004 OCP. MCElhanney subsequently produced a Supplemental Report which was the subject of some discussion last April. MOE were not satisfied with this report and made a number of further demands in a 12-page list.This also includes another study to look at joining a regional sewage option.
An experimental berm was started last September to test the permeability of peat. Evidently our wetland is unique in using peat as a berm, and MOE and the Ministry of Community Affairs (who are the ones making the $3.4 million grant) want to make sure that the research is thorough enough, so that this data can be used for other communities who might want to do something similar.There weren't sufficient funds to complete the monitoring, so this summer the remainder of the berm and testing will be completed. This cell will become part of the constructed wetland, assuming that the data prove out - which so far look promising (the settlement rates are within acceptable limits).
The whole project includes upgrades to existing sewers, an operations building, a lime treatment plant as well as the constructed wetland - at a cost of $5.2 million. 2/3 of this comes from the Feds and Province - $3.4 million. The Village has to come up with 1/3 or $1.7 million. This requires public assent - hence the upcoming borrowing bylaw. The Village admin suggested increasing this to $2.5 million to cover any unforeseen costs.
The deadline to spend the grant monies is March 2010, but the list of requirements that MOE want will not be completed by that time, and the funders will not extend the deadline. So the works being covered by the grant have changed (see attached). This means that the grant funds will not cover the actual construction of the wetland, or several other connected items. Bob Hoffstrom feels that there will be other grant monies that will be applied for to cover this, but there is no guarantee that the wetland will be the ultimate choice.
This topic will be discussed at the upcoming town hall meeting (as well as water metering), so it is important to attend.
I called a Public Advisory Meeting this week to see if we could get some clearer information concerning the constructed wetland. Here here are the notes from our PAC meeting with Bob Hoffstrom (Anja was also present). I felt reasonably good about the meeting. It filled in some gaps. Attached is an update sheet that Bob Hoffstrom gave us.
cheers
Richard
Last year BC Ministry of Environment (MOE) who permit the Liq Waste Plan [LWMP] demanded an update that would reflect changes in our 2004 OCP. MCElhanney subsequently produced a Supplemental Report which was the subject of some discussion last April. MOE were not satisfied with this report and made a number of further demands in a 12-page list.This also includes another study to look at joining a regional sewage option.
An experimental berm was started last September to test the permeability of peat. Evidently our wetland is unique in using peat as a berm, and MOE and the Ministry of Community Affairs (who are the ones making the $3.4 million grant) want to make sure that the research is thorough enough, so that this data can be used for other communities who might want to do something similar.There weren't sufficient funds to complete the monitoring, so this summer the remainder of the berm and testing will be completed. This cell will become part of the constructed wetland, assuming that the data prove out - which so far look promising (the settlement rates are within acceptable limits).
The whole project includes upgrades to existing sewers, an operations building, a lime treatment plant as well as the constructed wetland - at a cost of $5.2 million. 2/3 of this comes from the Feds and Province - $3.4 million. The Village has to come up with 1/3 or $1.7 million. This requires public assent - hence the upcoming borrowing bylaw. The Village admin suggested increasing this to $2.5 million to cover any unforeseen costs.
The deadline to spend the grant monies is March 2010, but the list of requirements that MOE want will not be completed by that time, and the funders will not extend the deadline. So the works being covered by the grant have changed (see attached). This means that the grant funds will not cover the actual construction of the wetland, or several other connected items. Bob Hoffstrom feels that there will be other grant monies that will be applied for to cover this, but there is no guarantee that the wetland will be the ultimate choice.
This topic will be discussed at the upcoming town hall meeting (as well as water metering), so it is important to attend.
(PAC_update2.pdf)