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Cost of Tiverton park now at about $300,000
By Liz Dadson

Kincardine council

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The cost of St. Andrews Park in Tiverton now sits at more than $300,000, double the original price.

The park was supposed to cost about $150,000, but the discovery of underground gas tanks boosted that to more than $200,000. Now, soil remediation around the site has increased the price again.

Chief administrative officer John deRosenroll brought the news to Kincardine council in committee-of-the-whole Wednesday night (Feb. 3).

He said that the tanks and contaminated soil were removed from the park property and the northerly section of Leggett Lane last summer in order to faciliate the grand opening of the park in time for the Tiverton Reunion celebration in August.

At that time, the environmental consulting firm documented that petroleum-hydrocarbon-impacted soil was present from just below ground surface to depths of two metres below grade, said deRosenroll. Also, migration of contaminants to the south and west was evident.

A second geo-technical investigation was conducted last fall, and the results indicate impacted soil is prevalent to the south and southwest of the initial excavation project, said deRosenroll.

Therefore, a secondary soil remediation project is required, to the tune of $150,626.10, including $75,626.10 for the actual work, and $75,000 for municipal tipping fees, said deRosenroll, noting that  the initial excavation cost $99,533.48 and was split 50/50 between St. Andrews Park and Leggett Lane.

He said a third geo-technical investigation will be done in April to ensure that all the contamination has been cleaned up. The owner of 12 Leggett Lane is supportive of this approach.

Councillor Guy Anderson said the municipality owns Leggett Lane but not the gravel parking lot. "Why is it our responsibility to excavate property we do not own?"

The municipality owns the property which is the source of the contamination, said deRosenroll, so it has an obligation to clean up the mess which migrated to private property.

"We're not the original owners of the tanks on that property," said Anderson. "Do we have any recourse?"

"There was a major dig behind the Royal Bank and Kwik-K in Kincardine (Ward 1)," said councillor Randy Roppel. "A large tank was found under the ground and had to be removed. There was no fuss made about that cost. We cleaned it up and moved on."

"I know we have to pay," said Anderson.

park

"So, is this Phase 2 of three or four phases?" asked councillor Ron Hewitt. "Why the extra for trucking costs?"

The project requires a company licensed to handle this specific material, said deRosenroll.

"And they charge us double," said Hewitt.

Deputy mayor Laura Haight said the municipality bought the property in 2007 and should have done soil testing on it before proceeding with the plans for the park.

"It was a lesson learned," said deRosenroll. "Now, going through a whole environmental scan with drill samples would be a wise move."

"That almost sounds like a policy," said Haight.

"So, is this the extent of the contamination?" asked councillor Kenneth Craig.

If there is no further contamination, a final report would be filed, said deRosenroll, along with a certificate of compliance. However, if there is more contamination on the southerly portion, more remedial work would be required.

"It's unfortunate for council and the taxpayers that this has to be done," said deRosenroll. "But if we don't do it, the (Ontario) Ministry of the Environment will do it and send us the bill."

Council agreed to proceed with the secondary clean-up. 

 
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Sunday, February 07, 2010