Another step is finished in the process of possibly extending sanitary sewers to the area north of the Saugeen River in Southampton.
The Environmental Assessment process for the project is now complete and council has endorsed the preference for installing a gravity sewer system with a series of pumping stations, connected to an existing station by a forcemain.
Councillor Diane Huber wants to be sure residents living in the area receive complete information in a timely manner about the results of the assessment.
Property owners in the area north of the river will receive notices in the mail stating the E-A is complete, and information will also be posted on the town’s website.
Huber says it’s really important that the word gets out with as much complete information as can be given to residents.
Town Engineering Director Dave Burnside says possible costs cannot be included in the information residents will receive because no official approval has been given yet to have the project go ahead.
Earlier cost estimates for the entire project were over 17 million dollars, with one third of the cost being covered by the town and ratepayers, the other two thirds by a federal/provincial stimulus grant.
Huber says the issue will be discussed again, but it’s still important for residents to know where they’re at.
Mayor Mike Smith stresses no official approval has been given for the sewer project to go ahead.
Council however has approved a by-law agreeing to receive the infrastructure stimulus funding, but if the sewer project doesn’t happen, the money will have to be handed back to Ottawa and Queen’s Park.