Residents angry over ditches
By Bill Rea

There's no clear word yet on who's at fault, but the installation of sewers in King City seems to have caused problems with drainage ditches at the front of some properties in the village.

There are a number of alternatives available for addressing the situation, and several angry people were at Monday's Township council meeting.

Peter Middaugh of Totten Sims Hubicki provided an update of the King City Alternative Road Drainage project, which he said was aimed at documenting existing drainage problems, identifying alternative roadway drainage systems (which he said will require them to "think outside the box"), researching alternatives that have been implemented in Ontario and coming up with an approach to select a preferred alternative.

Middaugh stated that roadway restoration work associated with the installation of the new sewers in the village has generated concerns from some residents regarding the maintenance of their open ditches. The results have included ditches that are too deep, with side slopes that are excessively steep, ditches that are too flat or too wet.

He also said the problems have been complicated by the fact King City has a high groundwater table (he observed the village didn't use to be called Springhill for nothing). He added sump pump outlets are discharging directly into ditches. As well, some systems for dealing with roof water connect directly to the drains.

The possible alternatives include replacing the ditches with curbs and gutters, installing shallow swales by filling ditches with clear stone wrapped in filter fabric, shallow swales with catch basins, swales with perforated drainage pipes and installing minor storm sewer systems along the roads, with catch basins between each driveway.

These alternatives will range in cost from $390 per metre to about $1,050 for the curb and gutter option, Middaugh stated.

Councillor Jack Rupke said this was the product of an unforeseen mistake, as he urged that the situation be addressed with minimal costs. Director of Operations Jody LaPlante added things are complicated by the fact that contracts for some of the phases of the sewer work have already been let.

Several residents had the chance to vent.

"That's totally absurd," charged Ron Coles, who has lived on Kingslynn Drive for 48 years. He said things were working well with his ditch until the spring of 2006, when a construction company took out his ditch and subdrain, and replaced them with "the ugliest monstrosity that I have ever seen."

He charged his new ditch is very deep and has water.

"They stink, they are dirty, they are mosquito infested," he charged, adding that as a senior, he can't safely maintain it.

William Street resident Paul Harding was annoyed too.

"I'm not feeling very charitable tonight," he told councillors. "I want to know who messed this up."

He also charged this could cost between $20,000 and $30,000 per property to fix, adding people all over the township are going to suffer for this mistake.

"I want the person responsible to take a hit as well," he declared.

Clearview Heights resident Bruce Craig said he favoured an option that will not be costly and won't change the character of the area.

Kingslynn resident Martin Murphy suggested the $12,541 charge people are being billed for their share of the sewers be suspended until this is fixed.

Middaugh said a draft report should be ready in three weeks, adding it will be up to the Township if it's to be made public.

"I think we should keep our citizens involved here," Councillor Jane Underhill commented, adding something has to be done so this doesn't end up on the backs of residents.

Harding repeated his call for details on how the situation was created, adding he wants it soon. "I don't personally want to wait until my beard is down to my ankles," he declared.