The issue of garbage near Big Creek continues to be looked at by the town.
Councillor Don McArthur followed up on complaints from residents near the Big Creek watershed due to continued issues pertaining to littering in the area.
McArthur noted a solution could be to place garbage receptacles in the area, noting a resident he has spoken to has been picking up garbage in addition to taking photographs in the area.
McArthur pointed out council has agreed to put garbage receptacles in the area and “the town is doing everything it can” and “we’re not the holdup on this.”
Administration has reached out to its garbage contractor to get pricing on garbage bins. Councillor Peter Courtney said a physical address is typically needed so garbage truck drivers can find the receptable containers. He suggested parks staff could collect the garbage bags and drop them off at a bin in the parks yard.
Director of parks, facilities and recreation Heidi Baillargeon said she can look into costs, including overtime, for staff to take care of it. Courtney said it would only be a few bags of garbage that would have to be collected.
New fire truck
Town council has authorized administration to issue a Request for Tender (RFT) for the replacement of a 2009 aerial fire truck.
Total funding for the project is $3 million, inclusive of non-recoverable HST, with $500,000 being in the 2024 capital budget, $500,000 to come from the general reserve in each of 2025 and 2026, another $500,000 to come from the fleet reserve in 2027 and $1 million to come from the general reserve in 2028.
CAO Valerie Critchley was authorized by council to award the tender to the lowest bidder, provided the tender is within the $3 million, to ensure the order is placed by Dec. 2024. Should the price come in lower than $3 million, administration was directed to reduce the project budget to the actual amount and make those funds available for use during the capital budget development.
Ladder trucks are expensive, Councillor Peter Courtney noted.
“We have high rises that an aerial will never reach on most floors. That’s the realistic part. They are very costly. We do have to do our due diligence to protect as many as we can,” said Courtney.
Fire chief Bruce Montone said it is a 100-foot platform style fire truck “that will also afford our firefighters a safer place from which to work when working on a roof.”
Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb said it “was very impressive” to not finance through debt and it’s being “paid as we go.” “I fully support the purchase of this vehicle,” added Councillor Diane Pouget. “We need it. We have a lot of high rises. It will keep our residents safer and provide safety for our firefighters.”
Special events approvals
The latest in a series of special events have been approved by town council. There is a SNAPP Community Engagement event Sept. 6. The Uncommon Festival is approved for Sept. 20-22. There are two events Sept. 28 with those being the Truth and Reconciliation Gathering and the Amherstburg Family Road Rally, the latter being presented by The House Youth Centre. Councillor Molly Allaire said The House’s event will be for all ages.
Littering in the Big Creek area continues to annoy local residents
By Ron Giofu
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