KIRKLAND LAKE - Debate flooded the Kirkland Lake council chambers Tuesday (July 16) while talking about recovery plans following April’s deluge.
Kirkland Lake council awarded EXP Services the $57,000, sole-sourced contract for an engineering review of the flood and to give remedial options.
Over three days in April, up to 80 millimetres of rain fell in the Kirkland Lake area. It led to a state of emergency that cost the town $211,000 for infrastructure damages, internal costs, Ontario Clean Water Agency and an EXP flood damage assessment report.
Fire Chief Earl Grigg asked council to approve the contract with EXP, which led to a heated debate among council members.
Coun. Lad Shaba said he’s not comfortable with sole sourcing.
“This is not the first time we’ve had a flood issue in that particular part of the town. So what happened to all the reports after each flood,” he said.
If there’s nothing in the other reports regarding remediation strategies, Shaba said he’d be fine spending the money on a new one.
Several spectators in council chambers applauded Shaba’s comments.
“That is unnecessary behaviour and unwelcome at a council meeting,” responded Mayor Stacy Wight.
Coun. Casey Owens was impacted by the flooding.
“If you look at the map, my house is on there. I was lucky enough that I caught it in time and me and my partner fought like hell, and I mean we fought, to keep the water out,” he said.
While Owens said he was fortunate enough to have had clean water entering his home, not everyone was, especially people near Murdoch Creek.
Owens was naming streets that regularly flood in the area when he forgot the name of one. A member of the audience spoke out to name the street. Owens responded, “Thanks, Gail.”
Wight reminded members of council not to engage with members of the public.
“And I will kindly remind members of the public if there are any further outbursts or engagement, you will be asked to leave this chambers,” she said.
Owens apologized to Wight, but said it’s a frustrating issue.
“And I understand their anger to watch it,” he said.
Sole-sourcing a contract isn’t transparent and sends the wrong messages to businesses, said Coun. Rick Owen.
“We have a hard enough time getting people to bid on our contracts because it is usually because we're small in terms of the world of business.”
Owen said the town should be looking at long-term solutions.
“I don't think this is a problem that we can continue to turn a blind eye to. I know we don't have the money to fix the problem, but we need to lobby and lobby hard to get that money. It's not right that we have that situation and it keeps repeating,” he said.
Along with sole-sourcing the contract, council also approved reinstating tipping fees at the landfill, effective immediately.
A state of emergency was declared in Kirkland Lake on April 12 after local creeks overflowed and overloaded the town’s sanitary system.
At least 140 homes were affected and 12 residents were displayed after Hydro One disconnected power for health and safety reasons.
As of June 20, 757.1 cubic metres of hazardous wast from the flood had be dropped off at the Kirkland Lake landfill, according to a staff report.
SEE: Flooding causes Kirkland Lake to declare state of emergency
RELATED: 'Kirkland Lake shines under pressure': Staff steps up in wake of ongoing flooding
RELATED: Here's how Kirkland Lake's rallying after flooding
Provincial disaster relief funding is available, with residents having until Oct. 15 to apply.
To find out if if you may be eligible for the cash, review the map and program guidelines at ontario.ca/DisasterAssistance, call 1-877-822-0116 or email [email protected] after speaking with their private insurance provider.
