Written By David Gomez, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
WARDSVILLE — Council has approved a petition under Section 4 of the Drainage Act to explore the construction of a new municipal drain on Church Street in Wardsville. The decision was made during the March 19 council meeting following a detailed presentation by Drainage Superintendent Andrew Neely.
The proposed drain stems from a severance application at 204 Church Street, which is set to create a new parcel known as 206 Church Street. As part of the severance conditions, the owner must provide a legal outlet for stormwater drainage. Neely explained that after reviewing several alternatives and consulting with the affected property owners in February, a petition for a municipal drain was deemed the most equitable option. “All property owners receive the necessary level of service, costs are distributed fairly within the watershed, and a proper drainage outlet is established without negatively impacting other property owners,” he told council.
Although there are currently no financial implications for the municipality, if the project moves forward, a formal assessment will allocate costs among the benefited properties. Neely noted that Wellington Street would likely be included in this assessment, depending on the distance downstream the stormwater needs to be directed.
Some councillors expressed confusion and concern over the potential scope and costs of the project. Councillor Martin Vink questioned the clarity of the recommendation and whether a drainage solution would even be required. “This whole thing is very confusing… we are left with a lot of unanswered questions here,” he said.
CAO Amanda Gubbels acknowledged the complexity of the situation, confirming that further developments on the centre property could render the new drain unnecessary. However, she assured council that if the petition were approved, staff would request that the engineer hold off on beginning work until petitioners have all available information. “We want to ensure we are providing them the best information to make the best decision for drainage for their properties,” she said.
Deputy Mayor Mike Sholdice inquired whether an existing drain might already serve the area. Neely responded that while they had hoped one existed, no records or evidence support that. “If it is, it’s likely an old clay tile put in who knows when, but ultimately, no—we have no records of anything there,” he said.
Mayor Allan Mayhew emphasized that decisions under the Drainage Act lie with the property owners, not council. “Those people on Wellington Street will certainly have an opportunity to speak to the issue or have someone advocate on their behalf,” he said, noting that increasing rainfall makes stormwater management a growing priority.
Council voted 6–1 in favour of accepting the petition and appointing Spriet Associates to undertake the engineering assessment for the proposed drain.
