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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WED NESDAY D ECEMBER 28, 1983, PAGE 3 '3 IN REVIEW The Port Whitb y sewer extension A $M4,000 federal grant will be "Iost for- ever" unless the region goes ahead with sewer construction in Port Whitby by July 1983, regional works chair- man Gerry Emm says. Emm learned last week the Port Whitby project qualifies for the grant, but since the grant program ends this year, the region must have tenders out by the summer or base the money forever. The $3 million Port Whitby sewer projet was cut from the region's 1983 budget two weeks ago, but Emm and rêgional councillor Port Whitby wiil get a $343 million sewer ex- tension after Durham Regional Council voted 17-11 last Wednesday ta go ahead with the project. The extension of the system between South Blair St. and the Har- bour St. Sewage PunV' ping Station will not only help alleviate the Pringle Creek pollÏtion, problem, it will help negatiations between Whitby and potential devebopers in' Port' Whitby according -ta Mayor Bob Attersley. Negotiations are currently ongaing fa'y a $25 million con- dominiumn-hotel praject with _ Kçsmark Developments. "Nobody spends. $250 million overnight. We're promnising nothing but the sewer project will help aur position," he said. "lWe can now correct a probbem that's been with the region since council ýwas initiated. It'I came back ifi twofold ta this regian," he added. "The people I feel sorry for are the people in that area who have been paying their sewer and water tax money for years. They're finably getting something for their maney." "Our strategy paid off. We played it 10w key. We didn't want ta fight the councillors," he said. Tom Edwards hope council, will reconsider in light of the grant situation. "This is nù smail arnount," Emm said. "We should take the apoprtunity to use the grants because if we lase the money we Jase ail around. " The problemn lies with the region's attempts ta cut deficit spending this year by deferring ail projects whlch require borrowing. The finance committee wants ta pro- ceed only with main- tenance programns in M.6 ta, get contrai of the water and sewer debt. "The debt payrnent is Regional Councilors Gerry Emm and Tom Edwards were deighted with the decision. "It's lik e Iaunching a new ship, you look for good potential from that shîp. Po rt Whitbyis a great area and a good port ta selI that ship f rom," said Emm. "I'm. conifident' we'Il receive compensation from this praject much earbier than anyone ex- pects," said Edwards. AdThe pollution problem and the.pubicity given it convince some of the councillors ta vote for The decision by Regional Council was somewhat o! a surprise after a vote 14-13 again- st the project at î? coni- mittee meeting the previaus week. Heated words were exchanged early in the day as Oshawa mayar Allan Pilkey said he thought there was poitical gamesmanship going on. Regianal Chairman Gary Herrema respon- ded: "There are sanie games going on, but I'm not sure you're not part of thei. " It was then proposed that council consider a $1.6 million sewer project in North Oshawa's Samac Coni- munity. Harry Finer, an Oshawa resident Who owns property in North Oshawa, 'told council members developers were readv ta izo ahead, $7.5 m illion this year and we can't continue ta add to it," regional finance chairman Jim Witty tobd a joint meeting of the works and finance committees' last week. "We're head- ing into severe pro- blems if we continue ta add to it. " Tom Edwards, how- ever, told theý commit- tees the Port Whitby Projects can't walt another year because of sewer backups in the port. "If we don't stop those back-ups we« are as guilty as the federal governmnent which allows dioxin ta get into as soon as sewers coulci be put in. A frustrated Finer at first said he supported the Whitby- project, asking "only for a'fair shake", but then changed hîs tune, retar- ting: "Just because you made one mistake (in Port Whitby) doesn't mean you have ta make two. Take your first loss and quit The Oshawa sewer issue was voted clown 23- MOS-t cduncilodrs voting against the -Port Whitby sewer extension were opposed -ta borrowing $1.4 million for the project. "It's time ta stand up and.say no more debt," said Diane Hamre (Newcastle). While we 're playing these games in here, there's people out there paying taxes. Today's a good example of- why people should be disgusted with every politician in Canada." "We are quite a bit in debt and can't afford ta go -more," said, Ed Kolodzie (Oshawa). Council turned down finance -committee chairman Jim Witty's motion ta have the Whitby praject referred ta 1984 budget discussions. " We're asked ta spend $.9.4 million with no commitment and that bothers me," said Pîlkey. Oshawa Alderman Cy Elsey came out in favor o1m~t ody the Whitby the lakes,", Edwards said. Whitby has been try- ing ta construct a diver- sion sewer line from, Corbett Creek ta Port Whitby since the eariy 1970's, befare regional gavernment existed. "The most annoyinp aspect of this is that Whitby had intended to complete the pipe- by 1976," Edwards' said. But the Port Whitby pro- jeet has been put on. the back burner by regional government for three years in a row. Emm says sewers are a basic necessity, and projet, but the Oshawa one as well. "We should al remeber our main goal is ta have increased population. We're going to have these two projects sooner or later s0 we may as well get them now. IVve talked to GO-ALRT officiais'and they say there's a lot of high rise- apartments wherever GO stations are located. The Port Whitby GO station is going . to be right there. Ifwe don't build, what's theus of having .the_ station there. "I've supported Whit- by from day one," said John DeHart (Oshawa). "Things ale starting to turn around so now is the time ta go ahead and spend money on these projects."t Scugog mayor Jerry Taylor also voiced his support. "Whitby has shown a good track record and they are a growing community," he said. "if we're going is on It £a taxpayers are willing ta put up with rate increas- es to ensure they have basic water and sewer facilities. Emm says residents of Front Street in Whitby, have base- ment flooding because of inadequate sewage facilities. "It's the finance com- mittee's responsibility ta keep'*the rates down, but it's the works com- mittee~S responsibibity ta correct sewer pro- bbems, " Emm said. "People say ta me, 'l know it'sgoing ta cost us but we've got a -pro- biemn and we're williig ta pay'."P But Oshawa's John Aker, a rnember of the finance com'mittee, says Durham has the hip'hest water and sewer rates.. in Ontario and ý,at&e payers are tired af in,-, creases. "We've got 60,000 9 water and sewer usex-s in Durham and -their main concern is the high rate," Aker said, payment which causes the high rates." Aker says the regin must get contrai 0f thie debt and then work orà a 4"pay as you go" basis instead. of borrowinF nioney. "it's ike' the persan who's buying a car Does he wait until he can pay for it or finance it with a loan?," Aker said. He believes the re, gian mugt start approv- ing only those project% it can afford'to complete. Èdwards pla-s to ap- peal to a full meeting of council on March 16 to. include the Port Whithy projeet in the 1963 bud- get because the region will base nearly haîf a million dollars in grant rrioney if the project is not started thisyear. k q,, ~ PHOTOX>,J -> SAVE $ W1TH RENT-AWRECK FROM PER DAY (PLUS A SMALL MILEAGE CHARGE) VABOUT HALF THE COST 0F RENTING A NEW CAR QALL CARS GOVERNMENT INSPECTED AS REQUIRED VCARS, STATION WAGONS, PICK-UPS & VANS QSPECIALWEEKLY'AND MONTHLY RATES AVAILABLE RENT-A-WRECK 200 Dundas St- W. Whitby, Ont., 666m3361 TP ESETTJNG li ON THE PREMISESl COMPUTERUZED 4ý& ... *1 ... ZK . ..... ...... THE CORPORATION 0F THE TOWN0F WHITBY CHRISTMAS TREE' PICK-UP CHRISTMAS TREES WILL BE PICKED UP DURING THE WEEK 0F JANUARY 9, 1984, ON YOUR, REGULAR COLLECTION DAY. R.A. KUWAHARA, P. ENG., DIRECTOR 0F PUBLIC WORKS PEACOCK LUMBER LTD. IN-STOCK Over 1,70009000 f eet - ofiUn dried Hardwoods Softwoods. Dressing Facilties WHOLESALE - RETAIL 328 Ritson Rd. 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