McNABB DRAIN

On Monday, February 12, Ramara’s elected council past BILL 2007.12
THE McNABB DRAIN ACTUAL COST ACT.

Interesting name! Sounds ominous! So why the need for Ramara Township to pass such a law?

Looks like someone in the township put together a proposal to build a drain. I am not sure what exactly a drain actually is, what is does and why we needed one. But they appear to be very expensive to the people in the communities where they get build. Is there someone out there can explain some of the history related to this specific drain. Did the residents ask for one to be build, or was it force upon them, by the municipality? Whatever the case it predates the time I moved to Ramara in ’06.

From what I have been able to discover, someone proposed building the McNabb Drain (I am assuming it was Ramara council getting push by the Province) for a total of $455 074.20. When it was all said and done the total cost ballooned to
$817 351.27.

The difference being $326 277.07 or 80% more then budgeted - WHOA!!!

So is liable for the added expense? All the ratepayers in Ramara are responsible the share of Ramara Township Municipal properties with-in the project zone. That amounts to $147 098.38. The balance will be a mix of private and commercial property owners, who can pay-off their portion over time.

Given that I am not one of the property owners in the designated debt zone, why should I so interested in this matter? There is the $147 098.38 share for all Ramara Ratepayers. More importantly on the horizon is the proposed $7 million Sewer and Waste-Water system in the area of Brechin and Lagoon City. This is another project where my property will not be connected to this sewer system. Current practice in Ramara Township is to spread the capital of a project over the entire ratepayer base.

This doesn’t sound fair to me, but apparently that is the way it is in Ramara Township.

Citizens of Ramara do we need to plan for another 80% cost overage on $7 million? This is the nature of my concern. Past history appears to demonstrate that the Township of Ramara may not be capable of managing these mega projects.

And if Ramara gets it wrong again, all they need to do is enact a new bylaw.
Remember this is the same group that at the February 12th meeting voted themselves, as a group, a 41% pay and expense raise, while at the same meeting approving an 11% increase to the General Revenue Budget for ’07.

Citizens of Ramara will we be seeing the BRECHIN/LAGOON CITY SEWER ACTUAL COST ACT in the near future?

If this prospect scares you as much as it does me, contact your Ramara Councillor and tell them your concerns.

The Township should be scheduling a public meeting in the next month regarding the Brechin/Lagoon City Sewers, and if you’re interested, you should plan to attend.

Councillor Ward Bill White (705) 689-4719
Councillor Ward John O'Donnell (705) 484-5742
Councillor Ward Erika Neher (705) 325-6371
Councillor Ward John Appleby (705) 484-5918
Councillor Ward Bill Kahler (705) 484-5446

Note Figures used in this blog come form the actual text of the Bill. Copies can be view at any Ramara Township library or at the township office in Brechin.