Wednesday, May 2, 2007 · Page 3 Drainage plan splits community BY ANDY COMBER Residents of Colchester Country Club were divided over the need for a storm water drainage system, following a public presentation in Harrow of a long-awaited drainage report, April 23. "My neighbours are fuming," said Dan Sauve, speaking of the split between residents over a proposed $283,600 drainage system, the result of a petition signed by 24 residents from 43 affected properties. Plagued by constant storm water flooding, Sauve had pushed for action from the town, but other residents are opposed to the drainage plan and do not wish to pay their assessed share of the cost. Consulting engineer Gerard Rood said some homes are higher and not flooded, but water runs off those properties, both on top off and under the ground, flooding neighbouring properties. "The owner who has high ground has a responsibility for run off to get to suitable drains," said Rood, explaining why some residents For All Your Financial & Insurance Needs... See Us Today! Essex and District Horticultural Society Plant & Bake Sale 9 A.M. - 3 P.M. r Rain oe n Shi SAT., MAY 5TH at the Essex Train Station. DPM INSURANCE GROUP Phone: (519) 776-6457 29 Talbot Street North, Essex, Ontario Mayor Ron McDermott, centre, speaks with residents about a drainage system proposed for Colchester Country Club. without "obvious drainage problems" were included in the plan, as permitted by the Drainage Act. Rood said the drainage issue is complicated by the road issue. The roads in the subdivision belong to the town but the town has never assumed the roads because they do not meet the required standards, he said. Sauve told council that water was coming off the roads and contributing to the flooding of his property, home and garage. "Who do I sue?" Sauve asked council, after being told neighbouring property owners were responsible for the water draining off their property. Council gave residents three weeks from the meeting date to add their names to the petition in favour of the drains, or sign to remove their names from the original petition. All residents who signed the original petition will be assessed the cost of the drainage report if the work does not proceed, but residents complained that they were not told that would happen when they signed. As it turned out, Sauve said the petition was unnecessary because the drainage issue was part of the private roads issue being studied in Colchester Country Club, McCarthy Road and Crystal Lane by the town. The Town of Essex has about 41 roads they own but have not assumed. In an April 10 meeting with the ad hoc private roads committee, there was a general consensus that "drainage issues need to be dealt with first, or expenditures on roads will be wasted." 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The province pumped a total of $135,000 into local libraries last week. Marilyn Thompson, the county's manager of library branches, said the one-time funding will be used to train staff and upgrade a central database that people can access from their homes to check out books or see what's new in stock. "More information will be at their fingertips," Thompson said. "We've been moving in that direction but grants like this really help us to do that sort of thing." The database can be accessed anytime, day or night, through the county library's Web site. Using the service, library cardholders can peruse inventory, reserve books and DVDs, and download audio books onto their MP3 players. "Our goal is to talk to people and advertise and let them know there's more available at their library," Thompson said. But she said she doesn't see the provincial funding affecting an on-going study examining the county library system that has already noted smaller branches are "no longer a necessary feature." The draft consultation report was released midJanuary by Missisauga's dmA Planning and Management Services. Politicians, municipal administrators, senior library staff and board members were interviewed to form the basis of the report, which pointed out that smaller facilities were not large enough, open enough hours or not equipped with enough computer, reading, working or program areas. In addition, they were not considered cost-effective and the cost of upgrades in some cases was seen as prohibitive. When the report was released, smaller branches were defended by staff. Thompson said the extended report will examine library practices in both large and small branches across North America. "Everybody wants everything faster and better," she said. "We're looking to the future. MP3 players and iPods are changing library services." More people are taking their audio books with them on walks or to the gym, she said. Thompson is expecting the final draft of the dmA report to be submitted to Ontario municipalities in the fall. Although uncertain of the details at this time, she is expecting some changes to occur as a result. A total of $5 million has been spread out among Ontario libraries from the recent government hand-out, providing for 552 branches that serve communities with less than 20,000 residents. Upon announcing the local funding last week, Essex MPP Bruce Crozier said libraries serve an important role in rural and remote Ontario communities. "These libraries often face greater demands and unique challenges in serving local residents," he said in a press release. 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