WOOLWICH'S UNBRIDLED ARROGANCE: IS IT STUPIDITY, SELF-INTEREST OR CORRUPTION?

If it is self-interest then the interests of Council are not the same as the interests of citizens. If it is self-interest then is it automatically corruption? What exactly are Council afraid of? Clearly the risk that they are exposing nearby businesses and residents to is not a concern to them. Last evening on the CTV Kitchener News, Woolwich were quoted as saying exactly that. " Methane migration reaching businesses and homes is not a concern.". Oh my God but that is way beyond stupidity or carelessness. That is negligence plain and simple.

The methane gas has already reached at least one business and Council and Staff know it. It has already reached the property of the High St. home nearest the east end of the Landfill. They are currently negotiating with the business located at the western end of the Bolender Landfill to try and get access in order to reinstall the former methane collection system on that property. Three weeks ago in Council when staff denied any problem I was willing to chalk it up to ignorance and incompetence. Last night's comments by Woolwich seems to remove that option entirely. They are playing with people's lives here. Are they psychopaths?

The arrogance is breathtaking. They know that I and one other have the copies of Conestoga Rovers' ten reports dated from 1983 up till last year. Hell they gave the copies to the business at the west end of the Landfill. Have they also given a copy to the one on the north side namely Elmira Pet Products? What is their game? Are they expecting a breakthrough in their private negotiations? Do they really think they can keep this quiet?

I offered in writing three weeks ago to sit down with Woolwich staff and show them the specifics in Conestoga Rovers' reports that they appeared to have missed. I sent the e-mail to Dan Kennally and to all six Councillors. Am I therefore to assume that all six are in on this? To date Woolwich have not even offered any rationale or reasons whatsoever for their pig headedness. If they have information or data contrary to their own consultant's reports they have to date refused to share it with me.

Are Council concerned with their longterm liability for their four in-town landfills? The one is on the Chemtura/Lanxess site and has been a bone of contention in the past. David Ash of Uniroyal Chemical claimed that they were not liable for environmental issues emanating from the M2 Landfill located on their south-west corner because it was a former municipal dump. The other two are the Park/Union St. dump known as M1 as well as the First St. Landfill located in the floodplain of Canagagigue Creek. In fact it is located where the creek actually flowed at one time until it was diverted.

Is this as usual backroom dealings best kept hidden from Woolwich residents and taxpayers? Have deals, illegal or otherwise been done between the Township, the Region of Waterloo and the Ontario Ministry of Environment? Is Uniroyal/Chemtura/Lanxess involved? Clearly the stakes are high when Council are willing to play with lives and property damage. Honest answers are required but not yet forthcoming.