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01 | 24 | 2015 VOLUME 20 | ISSUE 04
A look at who we are here in the region living here PAGE 21
COMMENT PAGE 6
Governments continually fail to think ahead
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Woolwich to push region for action on transfer station STEVE KANNON
Flames gutted 105 Jessie Lee Ln. in Martin Grove Village near St. Jacobs during the wee hours of January 16.
[scott barber / the observer]
Space heater believed to be cause of $200,000 blaze near St. Jacobs Scott Barber The early morning fire January 16 that consumed one home and damaged two neighbouring properties in St. Jacobs’ Martin Grove Village was likely caused by a portable heater, according to the Woolwich fire officials. “We suspect it was
caused by an electric portable heater, but we haven’t been able to determine that yet,” said Dennis Aldous, chief fire prevention officer for the Woolwich Fire Department. “That is based on the interview process and some of the people we have talked to.” Some 40 firefighters from the St. Jacobs, Con-
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said. “The cats were in 103, the unit that is still standing, and once we knew they were in there we did some looking around and we found them underneath the bed.” A 72-year old woman – a resident of 105 Jenny Lee Lane where the fire is be-
estogo and Elmira stations responded to the call around 1:30 a.m. at 103 and 105 Jessie Lee Ln. By then, all of the residents in the affected homes had managed to escape. But several cats remained inside. “Both units apparently had cats inside,” Aldous
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The Region of Waterloo has thus far taken no action on Woolwich’s request to maintain service at the Elmira waste transfer station pending a deal to turn it over to a private operator. The site will be discussed at a February 3 planning committee meeting, just a month before the already gutted service is scheduled to cease permanently. Timing is a key issue, as the two private companies that have expressed an interest in taking over the facility have stressed the need to keep the site in operation during the transition stage, which could take a considerable amount of time. Along with the time the region would need to clear the way for something like the sale of the land, the new operator would also face regulatory hurdles from the provincial Ministry of the Environment. Chief administrative officer David Brenneman told
councillors meeting Tuesday night that the region has not appeared keen on the idea, preferring to simply close the station, as it’s doing in the other townships. Brenneman has met with regional officials as well as two potential private operators, Waste Management Canada and Plein Disposal Inc. Noting that the township is prohibited by provincial legislation from getting into the waste disposal field, by leasing the transfer station site from the region, for instance, he said the best option is for the region to declare the land as surplus and sell it to a private company. “The region indicated that privatization of the waste transfer stations was unlikely based on existing collective bargaining agreements stipulating that the loss of employment or displacement of regional employees due to the contracting out of work was not permitted. The Region indicated an overall lack transfer station | 2
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