Holiday Hours: Closed Dec 23 Reopening Jan 5 @8am
25 INDUSTRIAL DRIVE, ELMIRA
519-669-9919
charlene@bauerhearing.com
12 | 21 | 2017 VOLUME 22 | ISSUE 51
CIVIC AWARD FOR LONGTIME MAYOR BILL STRAUSS LIVING HERE PAGE 34
COMMENT PAGE 10
PUTTING TOGETHER A WISH LIST FOR
SANTA
www.OBSERVERXTRA.com
Putting on a show to welcome Christmas MORE PHOTOS PAGE4
Students from Conestogo PS were among those spreading some Christmas cheer as schools across the region offered up their yuletide concerts this week.
[ALI WILSON / THE OBSERVER]
Residents to chip in as Woolwich proceeds with drain repairs in St. Jacobs STEVE KANNON WOOLWICH IS PUSHING AHEAD with repairs to a drain running under much of St. Jacobs, splitting the costs among the benefitting property owners. For many residents, that amounts to a $40 cost. The extra assessment, ranging from $10 to the $67,790 bill Home Hardware faces, will cover the cost of repairing and replacing parts of what is
known as municipal drain #10. Meeting last week, Woolwich council approved the project and its $244,000 price tag. Most of the planned work will take place in the underground portion of the drain from a point west of High Crest Lane and Queensway Drive to King Street, plus some maintenance on the open ditch portion east of Water Street. The bulk of the cost will
be covered by the township and the most heavilyassessed property in the catchment area, Home Hardware Stores Ltd., each looking at a bill of about $68,000. The Region of Waterloo is on the hook for some $9,000. The rest of the cost will be shared by the Region of Waterloo and benefitting property owners. An assessment puts that number at 289. The original drain dates back to 1953, though much
of it was open at that time. Over the years, sections have been enclosed or taken underground as development occurred, not always carried out or condoned by the municipality. Rather than rework or replace the current drain at considerable cost, engineers have recommended simply repairing the portions now crumbling away. Much of the system still works “relatively well,” said Matt Ash of GM BluePlan,
the consultants hired by the township to investigate the drain. Some stretches are poor and others in very poor condition, particularly on portions west of King Street. The plan is to repair everything west of King Street, with some segments to be replaced and others to be relined, deemed the most cost-effective option, he explained. Responding to a question from Coun. Patrick Mer-
lihan, Ash said residents wouldn’t notice any differences with the new system, as the repairs would just ensure that the drain continues to work for another 50 to 100 years. Previous public meetings saw significant turnout by residents, largely concerned about costs and the prospect of sharing the bill. The December 12 council session was more lightly DRAIN | 4
Server $599
6 Pc. Extension Table Dining Set with Storage Leaf, 4 Side Chairs & Dining Bench Choice of 2 finishes
NO TAX on all Canadian Made Custom Orders!
OPEN 7 DAYS | 30 Benjamin Rd., Waterloo (across from St. Jacobs Outlet Mall) 519-746-0060 | FLYER SPECIALS www.furniturehouse.ca