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(an't accornrodate everyone, Aker says.....\llI1Y PES V-DI-Iiý,2.1)1 AE RPegion defers Port Whitby sewiers for at least one year: too expensive By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff Durham Regional Council has deferred for at least one year a proposai that would extend the Pringle Creek- Corbett Creek Diversion Sewer. In a stormy debate at its meeting last week, regional council rejected the $2.6 million project saying that they just could flot afford it. At the centre of the debate was Regionai Counillor John Aker (Oshawa), chairman of the finance committee, who said that Durham could no longer 4 4accommodate every municipality." "Our costs have becomne rather staggering, " he said. "I know it would be nice if we could be everything to every municipality, but this is one of the reasons we 're in financial trouble." Aker warned his coliegues that this budget year wili need careful assessment before anything is done. "This is the year that we have to be cautious, this is the year that everything has to be looked at. " In his attempt to convince council to undertake* the project, Bill Twelvetrees, regional public works com- missioner, told council that they had already invested $1.4 million in the project. Brock Township Mayor Alan McPhail added that the pipes in the ground were not being used and simpiy BELL "rusting away. " Tweivetrees also told council that the projeet was needed to prevent flooding and sewer backup problems that have been suffered in the a rea. He said that the project would enabie development in the area and would satisfy the Ontario Minister of the Environment's standards concerning the treatment of backwash water from the presently used Whitby Water Pumping Station. He noted that no deveiop- ment has occurred in the area since the Town of Whit- by put a freeze on it in 1973. However, these argumen- ts did not satisfy Aker who told councii that the recent increase in the water and sewer user rate was not suf- ficient to cover the cost of the project. Council recently hiked the water and sewer user rates by an average of 20.5 per cent in 1981 with a further five per cent hike in 1982. (This does not exclude the possibility of further price increases either this or next year.) Aker, who also serves as Oshawa's deputy mayor, said that there is a way for the project to proceed. "If a major project came forward, we wouid be wiliing to go to the 0MB (Ontario Municipal Board) and bring the project forward,' he said. Aker defined a major & BOWMAN TAXI WHITBY'S LARGEST TAXI COMPANY FIFTY \'EARS OF GOOD SERVICE CALL OVER Lis project as a commitment, in writing, to begin the expan- sion of the Whitby Psychiatrie Hospital or a substantial industriai development. John Aker A major factor in the finance committee's recommendation to defer the projeet, Aker added, was that the region has 14,000 acres of residential land serviced and ready for development. It also has 7,000 acres of industrial land in the same situation. It is ail sitting idie, he said. The long-time chairman of the finance committee poin- ted out that the $2.6 million project would end up costing over $5 million at today's in- terest rates. Another major factor was that the region's forecasts on development levy revenue was only 47 per cent accurate. "We don't know what 1981 receipts will bring," Aker saîd. "Our problem is that we don't have a handle on what's going to happen in future years. " In defendîng the need for the project, Whitby Regionai Councillor Tom Edwards super-sîze glass is yours to keep. Here's how! Buy our best-selling Double Burger. Add an order of crispy fries and a large i 6-ounce soft drink, ail at the regular price and you've got yourself a meal! Plus you get to keep the good- looking, super-size Dairy Queen glass. Free. It doesn't cost you a penny more. Thats a big deal on a big meal - and a super-size glass! Get it at participating Dairy Queen Brazier stores. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST /~~ said that the finance com- mittee's poiicy was "short sighted. " He told council that the Port Whitby sewers were buiit in 1914 and were not adequate to serve today's needs. Edwards said that if the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital is reconstructed then the project will have to be com- pleted before work there begins. Mayor Bob Attersley was defeated in his attempt to have the project done over two years, instead of over the proposed one. Aker was opposed to that saying that "from a finan- cial viewpoint it does ab- solutely nothing, you may as well complete it." "It's an ail or nothing situation. " the finance committee's recommendation was ca:rried on a 20 to 7 recorded vote. SCAT[ER MATS (slighit imperfections sfiouL d uot impair the wear of the article) VISiTF 1 VISA Wanda & Tony Martin at " HE COMPLETE HARDWARE STORE WHITBY DOMINION HARDWVARE 319 Brock St. S. 668-345' rollawilm. Queen ,wi ýý. e-" ý 1 - , 1 1003 I)LNI)AS STREET [AST, wil ITBYa 1()50 SINICOIL STRZI«'-i NORTILI OSH AWVA 2i35 SI NI(XC.SR L SOI III. OSH AWA b rz e 7Classified A ds sel Cali 668-6111 668-8888 668-3333 I la 149