Douro-Dummer took another look at the township’s Discretionary Sewage System Maintenance Inspection Program (DSSMIP) at the Tuesday evening council meeting. At the June 4, 2024 council meeting the building department presented a report to council regarding the system and in response council asked staff to return with a report which researched specific questions.
The issues in question included:
• Dividing the Township into specific focus areas
• Legal consideration including high-risk areas, waterfront systems, high-density hamlets,
• Maintaining minimal property records, and
• The Township’s liability in issuing certificates
The report on Tuesday evening was presented by CBO Don Helleman. His opening remarks explained the difference between mandatory septic inspections and Discretionary Sewage Systems and assured council that this report only dealt with Discretionary.
The present DSSMIP in the Douro-Dummer is applicable to everyone with a sewage system and the systems are to be inspected every ten years with a price tag of $150 per inspection. It is a user pay system that was put on hold during COVID.
Helleman first addressed council’s ability to determine specific areas for inspections. Helleman said there two ways to implement specific areas for inspection.
1. Include all properties within the Township that create sanitary sewage of domestic origin, or
2. Council determines specific high-risk areas to implement the program.
Helleman told council if they are looking to single out certain high risk areas for the inspections they should take certain things into consideration such as the age of the existing sewage system or systems without records. He also pointed to structures, property lines and water frontages.
In regard to councils question regarding maintaining minimal property records Helleman responded that all data that is collected as part of the DSSMIP would be kept in accordance with the Townships Document Retention By-Law. Inspectors will be attending the properties with a sole focus on the sewage system. Only egregious Code/By-law violations that are deemed to need immediate action will be documented.
The report addressed council’s liability in issuing certificates. The report stated that the Township is not required to issue certificates or inspection reports. This is an important communication tool for the property owner and for record keeping. The certificate/report can be scoped to limit the liability of the Township.
The inspection certificate/report will clearly note that they are non-transferable, that the Township does not represent or warrant the functionality of the sewage system, will specifically identify what criteria were considered/observed during the inspection and that the proper operation and maintenance remains the full responsibility of the property owner.
The report to council recommended two options to implement the DSSMIP:
1) Administer on all properties that generate sanitary sewage of domestic origin, or
2) Terminate the program completely and look to a substantial educational campaign
Helleman said should Council decide to reinstate the DSSMIP decisions regarding how the program is funded and how fees will be collected will also require Council direction to Staff.
Deputy mayor Harold Nelson said that after hearing the township solicitor on the subject he thinks that council has a responsibility to ratepayers to have sewage systems inspected and does not believe it is fair that only those with waterfront be required to participate.
Nelson also said that the cost should be spread across the whole tax base rather than user pay.
Nelson then offered to make a motion, however he was asked to wait for further conversation.
Councillor Ray Johnston said he is totally against any blanket inspections in the township and stressed education as an alternative.
Johnston said “many of these people know their systems better than us.”
Councillor Adam Vervoort was also against blanket inspections and used his own home as an example of why he believes this. Vervoort was forced to install a new septic recently with a price tag of approximately $15,000. The system in use when he purchased the property was two barrels welded together. Vervoort’s concern was what if there was an inspection and they discovered a system such as the one installed in his property and received an order to replace and the ratepayer couldn’t afford it? What would the township’s responsibilities be?
CAO Todd Davis said there were options in such an event, but staff would have do some research.
Nelson moved that Douro-Dummer continue with the blanket septic inspections across the entire township and that the costs be applied to the tax base rather than a user pay system.
Councillor Johnston called for a recorded vote.
The result was three against and two for the motion with Nelson and Watt voting for and Johnston, Vervoort and Watson voted against.
After some discussion Vervoort tabled a second motion stating that the DSSMIP would be applied only to waterfront properties and voluntary inspections would be made available to residents who were interested.
Councillor Johnston asked that high density areas should also be added to the program as well as an education program.Vervoort agreed to the additions to the motion and requested another recorded vote.
The motion passed with three for and two against. Nelson and Watt voted against and Johnston, Vervoort and Watson voted for.
