Feature Article June 3, 2004
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeContact Us
Sydenham WaterSpeaking on behalf of the Sydenham Safe Water Association (SSWA) to South Frontenac Council, Dick Munroe addressed three concerns: communication, costs and future plans.
Mr. Munroe stated that although council had solicited the opinions of local residents, any suggestions had been ignored, and there has been no recent attempt on the part of council to keep the villagers informed of the current status of tendering, funding, etc.
Munroe distributed tables based on township figures that indicated the average cost of the water project to property owners has doubled from the original estimates.
He asked whether Council was using the extra time that had come their way due to delayed funding to reconsider the water project, and search for viable alternatives.
In closing, Munroe asked two things of council: a formal response to his presentation, and a public meeting to update residents.
Councillor Vandewal said they had had meetings, had tried to answer questions, and he felt the SSWA was being unfair in accusing council of not communicating. He pointed out that Council doesnt even know whether or not the project will be going ahead. Davidson asked where the Association got its figures, calling them "scare tactics with big numbers." He referred to "a very small action group in Sydenham sending letters to the ministers asking them to deny funding." Mayor Lake asked: "What about you folks communicating? We ask the province for money, and then find somebodys been telling them, Hold back, dont pay." The mayor stated that no one would know the actual cost until the project had been tendered again: "Youve said its up to nine million you should be grateful for anything less." He asked for a copy of the groups questions in writing.
