ACCIDENT & INJURY
•Car Accident •Slip & Fall •Medical Malpractice
PLUMBING - HEATING - AIR CONDITIONING
“Our Commitment is respect and satisfaction to present and future customers”
519-258-6490
24 Hr Emergency Service 1 IROQUOIS RD. LEAMINGTON
www.gregmonforton.com
519-326-6054
Volume 3, Issue 24
Weekend Weather Thursday
H 31º L 19º
Friday
H 28º L 20 º
www.southpointsun.ca
FREE
Council tackles its water woes By Bill Chaplin, Municipal Correspondent
Saturday
H 29º L 21º
Sunday
H 31º L 2 2º
As reported from Environment Canada www.weatheroffice.gc.ca Harrow AAFC
SCOOTERS
25%
off
197 Talbot St. W. Leamington
519.322.2226
BUY 1 ICE CREAM CONE & D GET 2N ONE
50
MON & TUES ONLY
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
%FF O O
With Coupon
655 Point Pelee Dr Leamington www.freddys.ca
519-325-1257
Like it or not, water for the greenhouse farming is a big ticket item that affects all of us. It is not a simple problem to explain, and the solution to the problem still eludes Leamington Council. To try and describe the problem is fairly easy: to distribute potable water to rural homes and farms requires water mains that cost money—a lot of money. By the end of 2007, Leamington had spent $11,757,660 for distribution mains running out through former Mersea Township. They were funded through the Water reserve fund, ultimately to be paid for through the Water Development Charge reserve. This represents a fraction of the development charges calculated for new development. Since these up-front charges add a terrible burden to any entrepreneur wanting to build a greenhouse run, the decision was made to discount the development charge and apply a “premium” to the water rate so the money could be collected over a longer period of time (and while the greenhouse is productive). Problem is, the money being collected falls far short of what is needed to: a) repay the debt, and b) make the system sustainable. In his report to council, Manager of Environmental Services Kit Woods points out that “the total revenue received to date to offset the expenditures is $6,690,765... Any shortfall is of course made up from the water revenues generally, which then reduces the available transfer of funds to the water reserve fund for water line renewal.” The phrase “water revenues generally” means what you and I pay for water, so in effect, our water rates subsidize greenhouse growth and make replacement of urban water mains slower due to financing difficulties. What is to be done? That is the question Leamington Council supports Council addressed on Monday, three-part July 9. In the end, Council voted to support the recommenda- recommendation tion contained in the report—a to remedy complex three-part attack on water funding the problem. First, for the short term, administration will beshortfall gin the process that would be necessary should discounting of greenhouse development charges be discontinued. That includes reports, public meetings, stakeholder meetings, and notifications. Second, administration will continue to investigate five funding alternatives (with a special emphasis on two ‘preferred’ alternatives that have the greatest likelihood of producing a satisfactory and fair result), filling in detailed data needed to make an informed decision some time in the near future. Third, administration will use consultants to begin the process of thoroughly re-visiting the Master plan for greenhouse growth and funding in time for the 2013 budget deliberations.
Tournament Champs Leamington SC United U16 boys soccer team won the 2012 Cambridge Invitational Tournament over the weekend, July 7 and 8. Pictured here Lucas Santos manouevres around a player during the tournament. The Leamington squad defeated Hamilton Sparta in a 2-0 final. Coaches Tony Omar, Tim Iles and Shawn Diewold acknowledged the entire team’s effort and class demonstrated throughout the tournament, representing Leamington very proudly! (SEE STORY AND PHOTOS ON PAGE 13)