A motion was brought forward by Councillor K. Wilkinson, seconded by Councillor H. Sidhu THAT Council directs Staff to proceed with the detailed design for replacing the Knipfel Private Distribution Water System with a new municipal watermain and services that meets current municipal and provincial design and safety standards, including design for service connections for all existing users and properties fronting the proposed watermain layout in northeast Petersburg, Notre Dame Drive, and Snyder’s Road East.
Director of Infrastructure Services, J. Molenhuis provided an introduction to the report.
Council asked and received a response from staff on the following:
- Confirmation of obligations of Township of private licence was not renewed at the end of 2024;
- The reporting and standards requirements of non-municipal water systems;
- Township liabilities as authority and as future owner;
- The reasoning that property owners can't have personal well as water source;
- Clarification regarding the design process;
- The potential cost implications of hiring consultant to complete design;
- The expected time frame and next steps from design to project completion;
- The timelines provided by the Ministry for this project;
- Confirmation regarding Township responsibilities when it owns this DWS as opposed to the responsibilities of the Region of Waterloo;
- Clarification regarding this process in comparison to the St. Agatha and New Dundee DWS;
- Clarification regarding costs presented and capital costs relating to this DWS;
- Clarification regarding liability for this system during the ownership transfer period;
- Clarification of the costs presented and how responsibility for the cost is determined;
- Clarification regarding whether an ownership transfer has already taken place;
- What method was used to notify affected residents and whether there is a standard notice requirement;
- Clarification regarding the personal liability of Council as it pertains to drinking water;
- Clarification regarding the regulation levels of municipal and non-municipal systems; and
- Whether there will be flexibility during the design process.
Delegate P. Wendland addressed Council.
Council asked and received a response from staff on the following:
- Clarification regarding the payment structure for this project; and,
- Whether email communication distribution group could be started for this project
Delegate D. Ross addressed Council.
Delegate D. Jordan addressed Council.
Council asked and received a response from staff on the following:
- What happens if additional residences wish to connect to this system in the future; and,
- Whether staff could facilitate a meeting between users and MTE.
Delegate T. Mitchell addressed Council.
Council asked and received a response from staff on the following:
- How distribution system might be impacted in the future depending on the water source;
- Confirmation regarding the design process as it pertains to changing or additional information which may come;
- Potential requirement of adjustments to the system should the Region of Waterloo connect in the future;
- Clarification regarding costs associated with design process, should a future decision be made to not move forward with construction process;
- Confirmation of costs incurred to date which need to be recovered; and,
- Clarification regarding the obligations of Council moving forward with this system and impacts of decisions.
A motion was brought forward by Councillor L. Dunstall, seconded by Councillor K. Wilkinson THAT the motion be amended to add and THAT Staff to report back at the next Regular Council Meeting on the public consultation process for the detailed design for replacing the Knipfel Private Distribution Water System. The motion carried unanimously.
The Committee now voted on the main motion, as amended.