NEWS |
THE OBSERVER | Saturday, August 08, 2009
1
Design firm moves to new Arthur Street location.......................................»12 California training for local swimmer
»14 VOLUME 14, ISSUE 31
SATURDAY, AUGUST 08, 2009
www.ObserverXtra.com www.ObserverXtra
Rainy weather driving up costs, and slowing paving work
Woolwich signs deal with fitness provider
Township running deficits in water and wastewater funds due to inflow issue
Company will run centre; township to spend $135,000 to equip the facility
STEVE KANNON
Some 300 people will need to join the new fitness centre to cover operational costs when the Woolwich Memorial Centre opens next month. The township is budgeting on that number to pay for the $132,000 contract council this week awarded to the company that will run the training facility. Membership fees have been set at $480 per year ($40/month) for the time being, with 300 to 325 people needed off the start, recreation director Larry Devitt told councillors meeting Tuesday night. Personal Best Health and Performance Inc. of Caledon will be paid $11,000 a month to manage and staff the operation. Under the arrangement approved this week, the company will provide a fulltime fitness manager, part-time staff to cover weekday mornings and evenings and weekend hours, plus group instructors. In order to provide convenience and to entice potential members, the centre will be staffed much of the day while the WMC is open. “[T]he program will require time to build and develop a clientele, thus the need to hit the See FITNESS page »02
in The AFTeRMATh OF The cOLLisiOn Emergency workers attempt to revive Archie McKee, 82, at the Church Street, Elmira scene where he was struck by a pickup truck while crossing the road. He was later pronounced dead at grand River Hospital.
PHOTO | MARC MIQUEl HElSEN
STEVE KANNON
Pedestrian dies after being struck by pickup truck Victim was attempting to cross Church Street MARC MIQUEL HELSEN An 82-year-old pedestrian was struck and killed by a black Dodge pickup truck as he attempted to cross Church Street West in Elmira Thursday morning. The vehicle, being driven by a 52-year-old Elmira man, had been travelling westbound at the time. Emergency responders conducted CPR on the victim, whose body lay on the street in front of the Short Stop convenience store, but to no avail: the man was later pronounced dead at Grand River Hospital in Kitchener. The victim has been identified as Archie McKee.
Interlocking Pavers • Research & development marry aesthetics with functionality. Quality manufacturing ensures structural strength, stability of colour and long-term wear performance backed by manufacturer warranty. • Interlocking system allows joints to withstand freeze-thaw cycle without breaking or cracking. • Consistent thickness allows easy & efficient installation. • Options in colours and dimensionally compatible units give you the possibility to create custom details or accents. • In case of oil spill or damage, pavers can easily be lifted and replaced.
Although the investigation continues, police believe that neither alcohol nor excessive speed was a factor in this collision. The driver of the pickup was not injured in the collision. No charges have been laid at this time, said police spokesman Olaf Heinzel in a statement. A portion of Church Street, from Arthur to Walker streets, was closed for part of the day as the police traffic branch investigated the scene. “Anybody who hasn’t already spoken with police is asked to call us,” said Constable Scott Griffiths. Anyone with information is asked to call the traffic branch at (519) 650-8500, ext. 8856 or e-mail traffic@wrps.on.ca.
See WEATHER page »02
pavers are just pavers... until you get Creative
CREATIVE LANDSCAPE DEPOT
Authorized Dealer for:
1175 King Street North St. Jacobs, ON N0B 2N0
Not just a downer, this summer’s wet weather is also hitting Woolwich residents in the wallet, as the township runs deficits in its water and wastewater budgets. Poor conditions have also delayed paving projects. Through the first half of the year, the wastewater budget ran an $89,000 deficit, largely due to inflow and infiltration problems. Steady and constant rain sees water seep into the ground, finding its way into cracks in underground pipes and putting more water into the treatment plant than is billed for on the customers’ side of the meters. On the water side, a $30,000 deficit has arisen, in large part due to significant water loss in the Breslau system, the result of a leak in a source pipe owned by Waterloo Region. “This leak has been occurring for some time now, and our regional billings for the Breslau system increased three to four times the normal level,” said finance director Richard Petherick in a report presented Tuesday night to Woolwich council. In response to a question from Ward 3 Coun. Murray Martin, chief administrative officer David Brenneman said the leak in Breslau has yet to be fixed. In a later interview, manager of engineering operations Rod Kruger said the issue in Breslau is proving more complicated than, say, a broken watermain. The leak in one of the connections is not easily accessible – “It’s not an easy leak
office:
519.664.0225