Council waiting for final drain report
by Michelle Minnoch

Council received a recommendation Wednesday night to wait for the Final Report after the Drainage Referee completes the analysis regarding the South Innisfil Drain.

During open forum, Marissa DeMarco of the Innisfil Resident Advocacy Committee told council that the committee's objective is to alleviate the costs for the landowners who are facing fee's upwards to $100,000.

"Take from the general fund, not benefiting landowners," DeMarco said. "Our cause could even affect all 24 drains in Innisfil."

There are 800 benefiting land owners who are facing costs, totaling $4 million for the project.

Councilor Paul Wardlaw said that the Town's portion of the drain will cost $732,000. He asked George Shaparew, Director of Community Services, what would happen if the benefits are not justified to the costs involved and the report is turned down.

"The process would stop," Shaparew said, adding as far as the process stopping, all landowners can appeal, based on the technical costs and merit. He was informed by the solicitor that this is "new territory".

Councilor Wardlaw stated some of the costs are catastrophic and staff should investigate every grant opportunity available for the work.

Mayor Brian Jackson said there was no doubt that the work had to be done.

"This process could go on a long time," Mayor Jackson said.

Councilor Lynn Dollin said that everyone knows the drain has to be fixed, "they just don't want the $4 million version". She said the legislation, the Drainage Act, was a dark cloud to her. "This thing is a snowball going downhill, and it's getting bigger and bigger."

Mayor Jackson said the problem was that the Act was province wide. "This seems to be really complicated."

Included in the recommendation was that staff would investigate whether the Ministry of Food and Agriculture could hold an information session to explain the Drainage Act process further.