The C ana ie Cham ion Frldagy, Nov enber 260lGM - 8 Miii Pondclean-up project xCuc 'Illors want talk to stop and action to start Pv IRENE GENTIE meant to be fairly dry. Too mucb rain could increase the drying The Champion out penioddragging the project on. The ropseddranin of iltn'sMii Pod ba ben dlayd *..~Despîte the obstacles, councillors urged tbe project forward. The aspoe sriig olon as s Pn as a ton coun e . Councillor Art Melanson noted that less talk and m'ooe action is clongadsoudbgn osbe called for. 'Ibis started as a simple clean up of the Mill Pond and -.It's time to get on with it and get this tbing fixed saîdtenw i hbe howd many years and it's getting more and mor Councillor John Challinor at a recent community services com- e.. conoud," ay G Sop trakn g anpod athercting." t th mittee meeting. "This is our project. We will be held accountable kAdMyrGr rnzspore h rjc ept h Let' notmes tlis ~ ,."uncertainty over costs. 1I. like everyone else, just want to see the Thse committee voted last week to shlow Town staff tw seek thanebn dn. necessary approvals from provincial bodies such as tbe Department of Fisheries (DFO) in order wo get the project in gear. That vote was then approved by town council Monday night. According to a recent staff report, draining the pond would tough. Initially, $200,000 was put asîde in the 1999 capital budget involve scraping away about 30,000 cubic metres of sedimlent and for the pond project. That was to be split evenly between the 5,000 cubic metres of dlay. The matenial would be used to create a Town and commumty fundraising. o k #l wetland area in the north shore area of the pond.. Then the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) chipped in a V r o Also to be removed are the mots of eurasian milfoil, which bas $80,000. But fundrsing efforts have fallen fiat and the $180,000 ..stay invaded the pond, muscling out native plant species.. in Uic kitty is ail from the Town and MNR. And phase one is The entire project sbould cost about $840,000, according to expected to coat $420,000. O PW FltM tbn Town staff. But tbere are o firm numbers ta back that up, chai- Sphtning the project inwo tbree phases will make it more afforcl- Cm ue an acl lengcd Mrt. Challinor. "I don't tbink Uiis council could approve able, but it requires approval from Uic DFO, wbîcb bas stated that anything without baving the real costs dictated," be said. a single draining wotdd be lesa harmful to pond habitat.* * * , And since council would be bard pressed to corne rip with Uiat Approvals are also needed to dispose of the sedifment, wbîch is - money on a one-time basis, staff bas recommended splitting the currently being tcsted for metal traces. Even Uic approval of the project into thre distinct phases. 'Mat means the pond would be weather is needed, If the project were to be a one-shot deal, it drawn down three separate times, when money becomnes avail- would take rip tw eigbt months wa wrap up.-* able. But that could be extended in the event of a rainy season ** So far, dredging rip Uic dollars tw finance Uic project bas been Before being transported to Uic dump site, Uic pond sediment îs 0 ioce I. Free skating starts soon The holiday season is quickly approacb- ing and that means free public skating at local arenas ' courtesy of the Town of Milton and Tim Horions. In December, tbere will be no charge for skating on Saturdays (excluding Christmoas Day) from 1:15 to 2.:45 p.m. at John Tondul Sports Centre. Tbe same goes for Sundays (witb tbe exception of Boxing Day) - froro 1: 15 to 2:45 p.m. at Memorial Mena and from 2 to 3:15 at John Tondul. ] rsïàklg #Atm DonM«Roe Anim Cutoic 1 878-8109 878-8871 485 Main St. E. Milton, Ontario L9T 1 Rl Like a good neighbor, State Farii) is there."