Page 2 - ALMAGUIN NEWS, Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Costs reach millions in Bonfield, East Ferris flooding Laurel J. Campbell “We had roads collapsing all around Staff Reporter us,” said Vrebosch. Fast-flowing water courses and BONFIELD – Flooding from last week’s engorged ponds and wetlands caused torrential rain storm resulted in road East Ferris to issue two emergency washouts and emergency conditions warnings encouraging people to not “that were like something you’d see in only stay off the roads, but to make sure the movies,” said Bonfield mayor Narry children in particular did not go near McCarthy. the dangerous high water areas. “One family had to scramble out the The North Bay-Parry Sound District car windows when they drove into what Health Unit also encouraged residents looked like only water washing across in both communities to take precau- the road, but turned out to be a hole tions and have their water tested and/ four feet deep,” she said. “The roads or boiled. were actually collapsing under you.” Flooding conditions in both areas McCarthy knows firsthand how bad also caused the Ottawa Valley Rail Road road conditions were on Tuesday night, to close the route for one day. Aug. 5, as she tried to navigate her way “The water level had risen so high it home from work and repeatedly had was filled to the track level and the rail to back track and bypass flooded and bed was saturated,” said Vrebosch. “We washed out roads. could see that some of the ties had moved “The community was literally cut and spikes were strarting to come out.” off after all but one of the entrances to In Bonfield, the washout under the Bonfield were closed because they were rail line was so bad, “you could actually impassable,” she said. “The only way stand under it, there has been so much into the township was by Rutherglen fill washed away,” said McCarthy. Line to Development Road. I have never Once rail service was reopened, “I seen anything like it.” know they walked three trains through In neighbouring East Ferris, 13 homes at Bonfield and Corbeil just to be safe,” were completely isolated when Voyer said Vrebosch. Road, a dead end street, flooded at the Both municipalities are applying to mid-way point with several feet of water. the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for “Our fire chief was actually on the disaster funding, but neither mayor is scene in his bathing suit, with volun- happy about the process so far. teers and four-wheelers, so he could “We were asked to submit mitigated go through the flooded area to assess figures,” said Vrebosch. “In other words, PHOTOS BY LAUREL CAMPBELL the hidden road damage and see if we what the cost of repairs would be in FLOODED: Voyer Road in East Ferris is one of several roads closed after rain storms on Aug. 5 caused washouts and sinkholes. High could get any type of emergency vehicle order to ensure this wouldn’t happen in accumulation of water in fields along watercourses caused council to issue warnings to residents to not only stay off the roads, but through to rescue the residents,” said another flood. Whether we like it or not East Ferris mayor Bill Vrebosch. this weather is not going to stop and is also away from fast-flowing streams and ditches. All roads in East Ferris were open to likely to get worse with climate change.” traffic as of the Almaguin News dead- However, once his staff had com- line on Tuesday, Aug. 12, with many still piled the mitigated numbers of up to marked with caution signs and orange $1.8 million, “we were told they only emergency cones. However, Vrebosch wanted the figures of what it would pointed out that open and repaired are cost to replace the roads infrastructure two different things. “Where we had the way it had been,” he said. “My staff culverts blow out, we haven’t replaced has been overworked for the past week them, we’ve just filled in the area. One dealing with this situation and compil- culvert hole took 8,000 yards of gravel to ing quotes and you can’t just change the fill,” he said. “What we’re doing is patch rules in the middle of the game.” work, so we could get the roads open. East Ferris staff now estimate it will It will take a very long time to actually cost just over $1 million to replace all of get them repaired. We’ve already spent the damaged infrastructure. $200,000 on gravel alone.” Bonfield had also been told to pres- In Bonfield, some roads were only ent the minister with a mitigated bud- open to one-lane traffic and a few were get which came to just over $1 million still closed yesterday. according to McCarthy. “We hope to have everything open “We haven’t had a chance yet to by tonight,” said McCarthy, who says redo that estimate to simple replace- her public works crew are also patch- ment,” she said, “but it’s going to be a ing. “We’ve been trying to get good solid lot, too much.” quotes on what it will cost to do the She says she sees little sense in repairs, but the focus now is getting all replacing a six-inch culvert, “if we know roads open.” it won’t be big enough. We certainly The North Bay-Mattawa Conserva- don’t want to gouge the system, but it tion Authority recorded a six-inch rain- only makes sense to upgrade where fall in the Bonfield-East Ferris area on you know you’re going to have the same August 5 between the hours of 5 pm and problem if this ever happens again.” midnight. Antoine Boucher, East Ferris’ Neither McCarthy nor Vrebosch want road engineer, said “it wasn’t so much to burden their ratepayers with the bud- that the culverts were too small to take get-breaking repair costs. away the water as it was that the water “I’m not even thinking of any plan courses themselves were so full there other that the minister will come to our was no place for the water to go.” financial aid,” said McCarthy. Both townships declared an emer- Vrebosch is less confident. gency situation at emergency council “The government needs to come meetings held on Wednesday, Aug. 6 to the fore and at least get us back to after staff and roads crews had spent where we used to be,” he said. “But in WASHOUT: The Corbeil-Astorville Road in East Ferris, rebuilt last summer, washed out during last week’s storms when the culverts most of the night trying to identify and the end, the decision is solely up to the close roads that had washed out or were minister and you know it’s going to be couldn’t sustain the water flow. Public works crews wasted no time in repairing the damage to the township’s major connecting road. otherwise impassable. a political decision.” Over 20 roads were affected by the downpour with council declaring a state of emergency during a special meeting on Aug. 6. Callander gearing up for regional green exhibition Laurel J. Campbell public across the greater Nipissing Dr. David Pearson, co-director of the Other topics on the agenda are septic imported food from Staff Reporter area, and will provide individuals, Ontario Science Communication systems, buffer zones, calculating hundreds and thousands of miles families and businesses with access to Program and a professor in the your environmental footprint, the away.” CALLANDER – The municipality’s logo hands-on information and products Department of Earth Sciences at cost of consumption and source water “The Sustainable community may feature all the colours of the four that reduce energy costs and make Laurentian University. protection. committee was appointed by seasons, but next month Callander local resources more sustainable. “Dr. Pearson will share insights and The committee has also planed Callander council in early 2007 to is focusing on being green when it “Environmental sustainability is information on environmental issues a number of demonstrations and explore ways of maintaining Callander hosts the first Regional Conservation something we all need to know more affecting Northern Ontario,” said Kidd. exhibits that include environmentally and its environs as a desirable place Exhibition. about,” said Callander mayor Hec “He is well known for his television friendly products, vehicles, building to live and as a tourism destination “We wanted to raise awareness of Lavigne who initiated the formation series ‘Understanding Earth’ on products, energy monitoring devices point,” said Mayor Lavigne. “The conservation issues,” said Robert Kidd, of the new municipal committee as TVOntario and ‘Down to Earth’ for Mid and programs and agricultural exhibition is the SCC’s major event of exhibition convener and member of part of the current council’s mandate. Canada Television, as well as his weekly products. the year and is intended to increase Callander’s sustainable community “We can all do more in terms of radio spot Radio Lab on CBC North.” “The Locavores, sponsors of the awareness of environmental issues committee (SCC). “We’re hoping that conservation, protecting and ensuring Pearson will kick off the event 150 KM diet, will also be participating affecting our region, and of products it will help change the way people the resources we depend on are there at St. Theresa’s school on Sept. 11, and providing local food during the that will reduce our environmental think about the environment and for us and future generations for years at 7 p.m., and the exhibition will exhibition,” said Kidd.