 | PRESENT:
Members: Kevin Buis (chair), Walter Konik (vice-chair), Rob Enns, Michael Kauzlaric, Kurt Neumann, Kai Wiens, Erwin Wiens (Councillor)
REGRETS:
John Wiens Councillor
STAFF:
Brett Ruck Drainage and Irrigation Superintendent
Brandon Enns Environmental Services Technician
OTHERS:Stan Mathew Associated Engineering
Nate Antonides Associated Engineering
Jayme Campbell Terra-Dynamics Consulting Inc.
Hugh Fraser Regional Irrigation Committee
Rebecca Shortt OMAFRA
Kathryn Carter OMAFRA
1. Call to Order
Chair Kevin Buis called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m.
2. Adoption of Agenda
Moved by Kai Wiens to adopt the agenda.
3. Conflict of Interest
There were no conflicts of interest at this time.
4. Previous Minutes
Moved by Michael Kauzlaric to accept the previous minutes from the August 5, 2020 meeting.
5. Presentations
5.1 Kennedy Laufmann and Ishita Patel - Water Quality Sampling in 2020
Kennedy and Ishita described the results and different locations where water quality sampling was performed along municipal irrigation and drainage channels. The results included e. Coli and total phosphorus levels along with any trends that were discovered throughout the sampling season.
The Committee asked if there were any trends in e. Coli levels from year to year. Kennedy explained that there were trends where higher levels are observed annually at specific sampling locations.
6. Announcements
There were no announcements at this time.
7. Correspondence
There was no correspondence at this time.
8. Business
8.1 Associated Engineering Memo to Irrigators - Preferred Yearly Capital Cost Plan
The Committee expressed concern with some of the temporary solutions and believes that the better and more cost efficient solution would be to explore the expansion of the system.
Stan Mathew explained that the capital plan memo to the Irrigation Committee is a 25-year plan with financial details to allow the Committee to make decisions based on need versus cost with the future in mind. He also explained that a scoring system was developed to prioritize the expansion projects.
The Committee would like to meet in person in the near future in order to discuss the Associated Engineering memo in more detail. Town staff will arrange a meeting room with sufficient space to allow for social distancing.
9. New Business
9.1 Kevin Buis - Email regarding Natural Heritage System Workshop
Kai Wiens informed the Committee that he would attend the workshop electronically and report back to the Committee. Kai Wiens also expressed concerns that the Town may need to apply for additional permits in order to draw from the Niagara River. Town Staff and Kai Wiens will draft a letter to the appropriate agencies to ensure water from the Niagara River continues to be an irrigation resource for the agricultural community.
9.2 Hugh Fraser - Regional Irrigation Committee Update
Hugh Fraser explained his role with the Regional Irrigation Committee. His initial step was to engage growers in the St. Catharines area to gauge their interest in irrigation infrastructure. He explained that there was significant interest in a closed pipe system, but little interest in an open channel design. He added that the system would be modeled after the piped irrigation system in Leamington with a total pressure in the system of roughly 40 PSI.
10. Next Meeting Date
September 21, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.
11. Adjournment
MEDIA:
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