Lake Chipican, Canatara Park Autumn 2020 (BlackburnNews.com photo by Dave Dentinger)Lake Chipican, Canatara Park Autumn 2020 (BlackburnNews.com photo by Dave Dentinger)
Sarnia

City council notes, former landfill at Canatara investigated

Sarnia council has approved spending an additional $40,000 to investigate the subsurface of the former Michigan Avenue landfill, in Canatara Park.

Ongoing environmental monitoring has identified floating oil in three areas, the former Canada Lands Commission property, along Michigan Avenue and the Lake Chipican area.

The site was a municipal landfill for the City of Sarnia from 1929 to 1967 and also accepted industrial waste from 1930 to 1944.

Rather than full remediation of the site, the focus has always been on containment and recovery.

Sheet-pile barrier walls and five recovery wells have been installed in the past.

$120,000 was approved for the investigation in 2020.

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Sarnia council has signed off on the recruitment of an economic development director.

The director, to be hired in the final quarter of this year, will lead Sarnia's new economic development office.

The new position is to be created within the CAO's office.

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The city has renewed its agreement for day-to-day operations of the Children's Animal Farm.

The Sarnia and District Humane Society will be paid $155,000 annually for onsite maintenance and operations.

As part of the new agreement, the humane society is taking on additional responsibilities, including manure removal, winter maintenance, grass cutting, path and water fountain maintenance and landscaping.

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The installation of flags, representing Lambton County's three First Nations, has been approved for the south section of Bayshore Park.

Council approved spending $50,000 to install the flag poles in the 2020 budget.

Under the city's current flag policy, only the Canadian flag can be flown at Sarnia City Hall.

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Sarnia council has agreed to reconsider a new $500,000 levy on petrochemical companies.

In his motion, Councillor Bill Dennis said he's never supported the levy.

In a 5-4 vote January 20, council said the money would be directed entirely to the Donohue Bridge replacement.

The twin spans that link Vidal Street South to Sarnia's industry are scheduled for replacement in 2033 at a cost of $15 million.

The levy will be discussed again at Sarnia council's October 26 meeting.

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