Worst Roads

CAA and Ontario Road Builders' Association (ORBA) are again conducting a campaign in Ontario for the worst roads.

Welland has managed to get on the list of the top 20 a few times, perhaps we can get on it again if all of the residents who live on or around Denistoun and Southworth Streets and those drivers who use these two roads would cast their ballots on www.worstroads.ca

I am sure there will be a good response particularly from the Denistoun area who have been subjected to deaf ears for the past 3 or 4 tears of complaining.

Lead water line testing

My article today is directed to the 700 to 1200 or more homeowners, churches, commercial buildings, apartment buildings, and office buildings built in the early 50s or earlier who possibly have lead water lines from the city main line to the foundation of the building.
I am concerned as to the test results, if done, of the water in the locations mentioned.
As one should know one can phone the appropriate department at city hall to have a water test done which according to the province should be "No Charge."We know the lead water line in those specific locations start at the city main and runs directly to the foundation of the building, if one is considering installing a new water line, be aware the cost of installation should only be from the property line to the building.
The testing procedure as dictated by the province has been proven wrong for the simple reason flushing for 5 minutes before testing will remove any sediment build up in the pipes that has been sitting over night. The 5 minute flushing removes this sitting sediment that could possibly contain traces of lead therefore giving an incorrect reading.
There are now new regulations put in place by the province stipulating testing water that has been standing in the pipes and then test after flushing.
There is a much simpler method for testing, a method that will give a more accurate reading, a test the homeowner can do.
The first thing in the morning draw off a sample of water before using any water for washing, drinking, etc. Take a second sample after flushing the water for 5 minutes. Take a third sample at least 30 minutes later which allows the water to settle in the lines. For clarification tag each sample 1,2, and 3.
One could probably take the test samples to the proper city department but check first if you are allowed to do the testing yourself. If the testing is to be done by the city people insist the testing be done as per new revisions by the province to ensure one gets a proper reading. Remember one has the right to make this request as it is your health one is protecting.
Over the past few months people have been advised to use water filters that attach to the taps.
Recently the City of London advised the residents of London there were certain water filters in drinking pitchers that did not reduce lead content to a safe level.
Call city hall and ask if they can advise you what to use and not to use. I am sure if they don't know a simple call could be made to London where I am sure the makes would be made available to them.

Drought and water meters

Most readers will have noticed, as I have over the past few months, the number of articles appearing in both the National and municipal papers covering the lack of rain and serious drought conditions to the point most of those municipalities experiencing these parched areas have posted warnings and even imposed bans on water use but for some unknown reason not here in Welland????

Welland must be sitting on a cornucopia of water as it is certainly noticeable there is a lack of concern on the part of our city council and conservation committee???????

For all of those Welland homeowners who believed in water conservation by purchasing a water meter to use as intended should be made aware they should be recording their daily water use in the summer months.

If a meter owner should consume more than a certain set number of cubic meters per month for the meter water rate one will be paying more than under the flat rate. The water bill will be higher..

The reason being the water consumption over the summer months will be higher, as a matter of fact the consumption doubles due to lawn watering and other watering habits which if one is inclined to water during the heat of the day as our City Parks people do the watering is useless as it evaporates in the heat.

Water/ Sewer costs

This is a copy of a letter submitted to the local newspaper but was never printed, a letter containing information every citizen of Welland is entitled to know.

How many are familiar with what a homeowner has to pay for water consumption and sewage treatment compared to other municipalities?

As most know all water and sewer treatment for the Town of Pelham is provided through the City of Welland. Are you aware a Pelham resident pays $.889 per cubic meter of water while a resident of Welland pays $1.1294 per cubic meter of water?

Are you aware a Pelham resident pays $.909 per cubic meter for sewage treatment while a Welland resident is paying $1.6689 per cubic meter for sewage treatment?

Both municipalities pay the Niagara Region the same; Water $0.512 per cubic meter, Sewer $0.613 per cubic meter treated.

Are you aware Welland residents pay for all unaccountable water while Pelham residents pay ?????

Are you aware in 2006 Welland's consumption of water was 8,521,546 cubic meters when only 6,605,248 cubic meters were accounted for and paid and 1,916,698 cubic meters of unaccounted water, 22.53%, was paid for that we, the citizens of Welland, did not use, supposedly 32%?

Are you aware the factor of 32% used for unaccountable water is wrong as per engineer Shantz who mentioned back a few months the figure is around 22%?

All of the above facts and figures were taken from Regional and Welland reports.

Eyes are moving forward

Eyes are looking at ways to recover our image and improve the information available to the public, information over the past years being rather sad.
I persuade everyone to visit Eyes on City Hall's blog to keep up to date. Eyes encourage the public to supply suggestions on how to attain greater transparency and accountability from the city. Eyes want to increase their membership, above all, those defeated candidates in the last municipal election who share an interest in municipal government.
It is Eyes aim to be a group who will keep watching our municipal government when no one else is watching. In closing I want to quote an editorial taken from the Vancouver Province in 2005."According to SES Research half of (Canadians) polled have never signed a petition and only21-per-cent have never joined a political party. A stunning 24-per-cent claims they have never been politically active, This was two years ago. Times have changed. More than likely the statistics could be much higher. A good instance of those finding would be right here in Welland.
Eyes feel if the past year is a sign of what the public can expect over the next three years there is reason to be vigilant and concerned.
It is the intention of Eyes to reform, restructure, and monitor. Why not join us if your concerns are as valid as ours?

Study before voting

The following article may be a little early but there is a tendency for some papers to put moratoriums on any articles or letters pertaining to elections.

No better time than now to get geared up for the upcoming provincial election in Ontario and the assault of braggadocio, accusations, confusing statements and promises befitting a collander. There is no time like the present to scrutinize the past performance of the Liberal government led by a man who while smiling and speaking has his hand in your pocket. Study the past record of this Liberal government before you vote. Make your decision guided by your sense of right or wrong, am I doing the right thing, above all make it the right decision, one you will not regret. This is a partial list covering the last 4 years of the Liberal government;

• Promises: No new taxes followed up with a health tax described by McGuinty as a premium.
• No cap on the Hydro rate.
• A promise to hire 8,000 new nurses--- where are they?
• A promise to hire 1000 new police officers---- where are they?
• McGuinty has 2 months to live up to these 2 promises
• A promise to close coal fired electricity plants by 2007 and then came back with a promise to have all of them closed by 2014 BUT no hint on how he plans to replace these plants in the next 7 years.
• Wasted Tax Money:
• $150,000.00 studying the sex life of a Northern Flying Squirrel.
• $250,000.00 changing the Ontario logo from a trillium to poison ivy.
• $6 million to drop one letter from the Ontario Lottery Logo.

Insulting Taxpayers

• Liberals and PCs voted themselves a 25% pay increase plus an additional 2% cost of living bonus
• Increased the number of public servants making over $100,000.00 per year by 23%.
• Increased the renewal fee for a driver;s license by $25.00
• Increased the MPP's gas allowance by 10% while ignoring the publics' screams for government intervention to control the mounting gas prices at the pumps.

This list is only a small portion taken from McGuinty's book of promises. There are many, many more.

Another McGuinty broken promise

"Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announces $26 million in funding to hire 200 new police officers on Friday July 27, 2007 for gun control".
Go back a few years and just prior to the last election "Dalton McGuinty promises to hire 1000 new police officers". This was an announcement made during his election campaign at that time.
Sound familiar?
It should as it was eventually another add on to his list of broken promises.
Where are those 1000 new police officers?
Too little too late.
This time McGuinty has managed to trim his figure by 800 bodies, bodies if hired as he promised back before the last election he would not have to go out on the limb today to make such an announcement that did not need to be made to handle gun control.