Resolution angers dump neighbours
By Scott Woodhouse - Express Staff

Council passed the contentious two part resolution in a close recorded vote at its regular meeting Monday night, angering a large group of Genoe neighbours.

"Each and every one of you stated at the all candidates meeting in Woodford that you were opposed to the expansion of the Genoe Landfill Site," said Dianne Charlton. "Were you sincere or was it just election rhetoric?"

"Were you aware that Owen Sound Mayor Stew Taylor said at a public meeting in Owen Sound that Leith was his hammer to force the expansion of Genoe?" she asked.

Charlton said that Owen Sound should not be dictating Municipality of Meaford business and asked that the two issues be separated. She said that the Leith water system had nothing to do with the expansion of the landfill site.

Janice Green, another neighbour of the landfill site wanted to know if the council was prepared to provide the adjacent property owners with safe drinking water.

"Will Owen Sound extend the water line to the dump?' she demanded. "All the pertinent issues need to be examined, not just what Owen Sound dictates," said Green. "Some households in the area are already experiencing problems with their drinking water."

Since amalgamation, the new Municipality of Meaford has been forced to take over the Leith water system, which does not meet Ontario's provincial drinking water standards. The municipality is looking at two options: either upgrade the system, or pipe water from Owen Sound. A new water system would cost $1.7 million and a pipeline from Owen Sound would cost approximately $3 million, but would also provide water service to a large area between Leith and Owen Sound.

Meaford formed an ad hoc committee to discuss the water issues with Owen Sound, but the city asked, or rather demanded, that the issue of the expansion of the landfill site be included in the discussions.

Depending on 55% grant funding from the provincial government, that would leave from $700,000 to $2 million that would have to be funded either by the local taxpayers or the water system users.

Deputy Mayor Robert Reid also questioned why the two issues were being tied together in one resolution. He also questioned the wording of the resolution, which sought Grey County Council's involvement.

Councillor Diane Hurlburt also spoke against the resolution, stating the wording caused her "deep concern."

"It mentions the possible provision of water, but the expansion of the landfill is a certainty," she said. "I can't vote in favour of this."

Councillor Linda van Aalst also voiced her "disappointment" with the wording of the resolution, complaining that it did not allow for any alternatives other than the expansion of the Genoe site.

"I would like to see "expand" changed to "explore other options." Surely in this day we can do something other than burying garbage in the ground," said van Aalst.Waste Management Committee chair Harley Greenfield explained that the ad hoc committee had discussed waste diversion but no other landfill locations were considered.

Greenfield said Meaford and St. Vincent had attempted to create a new landfill at a property on the 15-16 - which he opposed. "That took nine years and cost $2.3 million and was turned down," he said.

Meaford and St. Vincent then joined the Grey County/Owen Sound Joint Waste Management Study. That began in 1993 and took three years and cost $2 million and determined that the best option was to expand the present Genoe site.

Greenfield said to start the site selection process over again would likely cost $10 million and take 10 years to complete.

Councillor Sam Luckhardt said it was best to keep a dialogue between Meaford and the city.

"These are both big money problems that are going to cost millions of dollars," he said. "We have to keep talking. There is nothing to be gained by hiding the problems under the carpet. They won't get solved on their own. That's why I support this resolution and continuing discussion with our neighbour."

A motion to separate the two issues was defeated and the original motion was passed by a 4-3 vote. Those in favour were Luckhardt, Hutchinson, Shortt and Greenfield. Those opposed were Reid, Hurlburt, and van Aalst.

Adjacent property owners have vowed to fight any expansion of the Genoe site. The original agreement stated that it would only operate for a set number of years and would not be expanded. With this contract in hand, the neighbours have stated they will sue anyone who attempts to expand the site beyond its scheduled closing three years from now.