WOOLWICH TOWNSHIP ARE REAPING WHAT THEY HAVE SOWN

Stupidity and dishonesty can come in very small packages. The small package I am referring to is Woolwich Township. Both staff and Council are behaving in a very small manner. They are once more attempting to pass their unresolved problems and their responsibilities onto others. A similar (environmental) problem exploded in their faces almost thirty years ago for almost the same reasons. They had a grossly contaminated property (Uniroyal) that they and other levels of government fully knew was eventually going to blow up in their faces and it did. It was called the Elmira Water Crisis. This problem, heaven forbid, may actually literally blow up in the faces of either nearby residents on George and High St. or in the faces of Elmira Pet Products or the folks at the auto recycling business on Arthur St..

The Rattaisd's who purchased the former Paleshi's garage and wrecking yard were advised by the Township that while there was a former landfill present on the property that the methane issues were a thing of the past. They were advised that the methane collection system was not being used and in fact was decommissioned. Several lies were told although for those sensitive persons on Council including the mayor who don't like such coarse language let me restate that. Woolwich staff including the CAO gilded the lily unmercifully. They did not advise that local witnesses had seen and testified publicly that Uniroyal Chemical's wastes were dumped in the former landfill on the Rattasid's property. Nor did they advise that a local witness publicly claimed to have seen garbage dumped within the park (Bolender) itself. Nor did they advise that any intelligent reading of the consultant's reports made it clear that the methane was not gone. A couple of low or zero readings taken but once every couple of years proves nothing.

As usual Woolwich Township Council are hiding behind everyone possible that they can. They have been hiding behind staff and their consultants, Conestoga Rovers (now GHD). The latest is they are hiding behind the Ontario Ministry of Environment. For thirty years and more Uniroyal Chemical have hidden successfully behind the Ontario M.O.E. so why shouldn`t Council be allowed to do the same thing. Oh yes it`s because two wrongs don`t make a right. Today`s article in the Woolwich Observer is titled ``Woolwich still at odds with owner of wrecking yard over methane``.