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Decision expected today.... WII region kil the Port sewer? th'aewndswrue projet cos," EW sai The future of Port Whitby could easily hang in the balance today as Durham Regional Council debates a proposal to not extend the Corbett Creek-Pringle Creek Diversion Sewer. At last Thursday's meeting of regional coun- cil's finance committee it was decided to recommend that the $2.6 million project be deferred at least until next year. The recommendation is expected to create a more than lively debate at today's regular meeting of council during which the public work department's water and sewer budgets will be debated. The recommendation not to extend the sewer has angered Whitby Regional Councillor Gerry Emm, chairman of the regional public works committee. Emm said that his com- mittee will challenge the finance committee's position by recommending to council that the project be undertaken. "The works committee is recommending that this project receive approval," he said, "and the reason given is that it will not affect the water and sewer user rate because the cost of this project was already built in- to the rate that council ap- proved last fall." Emm said that he believes many councillors think that the project will increase the water and sewer rate. Last fall, after a stormy debate council raised the user rate by an average of 24 per cent and councillors have been reluctant to take any action that would in- crease the rate further. Emm complained that the finance committee is trying to dictate to the works com- mittee what projects should be undertaken. During the preliminary budget discussions the finance committee asked the works committee to recon- sider the need for the project. According to Emm, his committee discussed the project again at great length and decided not to change anything. "That's how important it is," Emm said. The long-time municipal politician said that it could be financially beneficial to the region to undertake the project now. "It has come to our atten- tion from several reliable sources that bids for con- tracts have been coming in much below the estimated Public meetmg tonight The third public meeting to hear the views of Port Whitby residents concerning the future of the area is to be held tonight at 7:30 in the basement of St. John's Anglican Church. At the meeting, the Toron- to consulting firm of Mac- Pherson Walker Wright Associates will present a draft plan and report of the Port Whitby proposals. project cost," Emm said adding that this was because of the general slowdown in the construction industry. He estimated that the project could come in by as much as $600,000 less than the estimated cost while the cost could go up to $2.9 million if the region waited a year. If the project was deferred, Emm said that it would "be a great disappoin- tment to the people of Port Whitby." The decision, if made, would also have an adverse effect on the planning study on the area that Whitby Town Council is presently conducting. Emm said that the town would not have the urgency to complete the study if regional council decided not to extend the sewer. The proposal before coun- cil is the second of three phases that would solve most of the sewer problems in the area which has ex- perienced numerous cases of flooded basements and backed-up sewers. The project will even- tually take two antiquated pumping stations and the Pringle Creek Water Pollution Control Plant out of operation. The councillor recently told his collegues that the problem in the Port Whitby would not go away and that development could not take place without the sewer. "Port Whitby has to have a major facelift to bring it up to appropriate standards," he said. Finance committee chairman, Councillor John Aker (Oshawa) was quoted after last week's meeting as saying that the project was "too rich." Aker also said that the committee's decision was unanimous. However, if plans for a major industrial develop- ment or an expansion of the Whitby Psychiatric Hospital was announced the commit- tee would reconsider its position, he said. One more word and .. Members of the Whitby Sea Cadet Corps. placed well in their first competition as a host this past weekend cap- turing a first place finish in the band competition. This young cadet is not preparing to shoot P02 Mike Mitchell between the eyes as it may seem. The Whitby cadets were caught here running through their drill with arms routine, a category in which they placed second. Mitchell also managed to win an award as the best team leader during the competition. See story on page 22. Free Press Photo by Stephen Greenaway Gerry Emm i