Council approves projects to be done in conjunction with Nobleton forcemain
By Bill Rea

Tempers got a little heated at times around the King council table last Monday night, as the councillors voted to include a couple of projects into the plans for the installation of sewers on King Road in Nobleton.

This work is to be done in conjunction with York Region's construction of a forcemain along King Road, as part of the Slokker Canada development in the northeast quadrant of the village.

The motion passed in a 4-3 recorded vote.

"People of Nobleton have not been consulted," observed Councillor Jane Underhill as she voted against the plan.

Township staff reported the proposal includes installing gravity sanitary sewers on King Road, Old king Road and on Highway 27, from Ellis Avenue to St. Alban's Anglican Church. They also plan to replace watermains on King Road and 27. Proposed concurrent works include sidewalk construction on King, road restoration on both King and Highway 27 and ditch rehabilitation on Wellar Avenue.

Staff reported the agreement between the Township and Slokker called for th initial construction of the sewers on King Road, the core business areas of Highway 27 nd parts of Goodfellow Crescent, Hill Farm Lane, Wellar and Greenside Drive. Slokker was originally to build the works with the Township picking up the tab, based on cost estimates presented during the community liaison process a couple of years ago. But as the costs have increased, staff said the municipality has negotiated to have Slokker do the work, pending updated cost information.

The staff report added council is looking at the costs of services in the whole village, but pointed out since the Region was getting ready to put its work out to tender, this was a good time to address the sewers on King and 27. They said doing the work now would save about $700,000 in future road restoration costs, and there would be other benefits. They come from the Region paying for the western 500 metres of the gravity system, which will be worth almost $763,000, plus more than $316,000 in additional road restoration savings; a shared traffic control plan; sparing the bother of having to obtain separate approvals from the Region or Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA); getting major work on the Regional road allowances done; and possibly sharing the concurrent watermain costs.

Staff reported they came up with a revised first phase servicing plan to get in on these advantages.

They added the construction costs have been calculated to included 10 per cent for engineering fees and another 10 per cent for contingencies. The total cost to the Township is estimated at about $5.7 million, but some of that money is to be drawn from the municipality's reserve accounts for watermain replacement, and Slokker has contributed another $1.2 million. As well, some $800,000 had already been budgeted for the concurrent works, meaning the Township will be on the hook for $2 million. The plan is to make that money up from connecting existing homes to the new sewers.

That didn't satisfy everyone in the room, including Kettleby resident Bob Martin, who urged councillors to be careful.

Councillor Cleve Mortelliti was concerned about the new deal negotiated with Slokker. The staff report said council had done the negotiations. Director of Operations Jody La Plante told him council had endorsed the subdivision agreement with Slokker. It was staff that did the negotiating.

He also told Mortelliti staff look for any opportunity to get work done in conjunction with the Region.

"It only makes sense," Mortelliti agreed.

Councillor Jack Rupke pointed out there are probably people waiting to get their homes hooked up to the sewers, so money would be coming in.

"The costs are not going to go down by waiting," he added, pointing out the work be a lot more expensive if the Township has to do it on its own in a couple of years.

Mortelliti countered the costs might come down if the market starts slowing.

"If you would give me tomorrow's paper today to read, I might agree with you," Rupke replied.

Underhill wondered if the homeowners affected by this work (there are about 190 of them) would have a choice about hooking up. La Plante told her that will be up to council.

Councillor Linda Pabst agreed they were talking about a lot of money, but she added there is a need and this represented an opportunity.

"It's time we moved forward," Pabst remarked, pointing out the Township ran into financial complication with the sewers in King City because costs kept rising while the work was delayed. "The costs are only increasing every day."

Councillor Bill Cober added that with the growing infrastructure deficit, contractors in that line of work should be getting busier in the coming decades. He added it's not in the best interests to put this kind of work off.

Mayor Margaret Black voiced her full support for the staff recommendations, citing the advantages mentioned in their report. "This is the appropriate thing to do," she said.

Mortelliti raised the question that a financial obligation of $2 million should maybe be addressed at budget time. "I feel like I'm making a budget decision tonight without having gone through the process," he remarked. "It really bothers me."

Councillor Jeff Laidlaw wondered if there's no mandate for people to hook up their homes to the sewers, what's to guarantee they will.