City employment forum Sept. 20 at Market Hall
The company that owns of a pair of nepheline mines north of Havelock may donate 185,000 tonnes of rock fill to Peterborough County for the upcoming widening of the James A. Gifford Causeway between Bridgenorth and Ennismore.
County councillors voted Wednesday to continue talks aiming to establish a deal with Unimin Canada, owner of the Blue Mountain and Nephton quarry sites, after hearing a brief delegation from a company representative and staff report.
The approximately $1.5 million worth of rock fill is not something Unimin can use, but it is “great for building causeways,” company senior purchasing supervisor Doug Staples told councillors, pointing out that the company did just that with it at one of its sites.
A committee was created to investigate the quality of the material, which county engineering and design manager Peter Neilsen called “top-notch” granite. He and Staples made a presentation to councillors in Selwyn Township, where the causeway is located, earlier this year.
The widening of the causeway will not begin until after Thanksgiving, which gives time to investigate if accepting the donation is the best path, Neilson said.
Several regulatory approvals are needed. For example, the county is now in its second round of permit applications with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, he said.
Given the material would be free, the Unimin donation would be the most affordable option, Neilsen said, explaining how there will be two tendering processes – one for Unimin and another inviting bids from other companies.
The material must be screened and washed, no matter who provides it, Neilson said.
If it comes from Unimin, the donation would put a “small dent” in the company’s existing stockpile of more than a million tonnes of rock fill, he added.
The company, which employs about 200, mines nepheline, a mineral it calls the building block for everyday household and industrial products, including plastics, fibreglass and ceramics.
Councillors expressed their gratitude for Unimin’s offer.
After Coun. J. Murray Jones called it a “wonderful opportunity,” Coun. Sherry Senis – the deputy mayor of Selwyn – thanked Staples.
“It feels a little bit like winning the lottery, from Peterborough County’s perspective,” she said.
Coun. Ron Gerow called Unimin a great corporate citizen before cracking a joke.
“I think we would be very proud, in Havelock-BelmontMethuen, to put some stability in Selwyn’s needs,” he said, prompting laughter.
Warden Joe Taylor asked how many trucks would be needed to haul the rock.
A tandem-axle truck carries three to four tonnes, which would mean about 8,000 loads, while a larger rock truck carries about 18 tonnes, or about 1,500 loads, councillors heard.
Later, the warden pointed out that should the county accept the donation and given the volume of trucks, the haulage route would be the subject of much discussion and planning.
Taylor, in expressing his gratitude, also pointed out that he recently learned that Unimin is the eighth-largest employer in the county.
Coun. Karl Moher asked Neilsen if other options will still be investigated, since there is a quarry site near the causeway that, if used, would drastically reduce transportation costs – which he estimated at about $2 million if the county choses Unimin.
As part of an environmental assessment, a consultant considered several sites, Neilsen said, reminding council that all suppliers will have an opportunity to bid when the tendering process opens. A free employment forum is taking place at Market Hall later this month. It’s meant for both job-seekers and business owners and it will be held on Sept. 20 from 1:30 to 7 p.m. The first half of the event – from 1:30 until 4 p.m. – is expected to provide information to people who are looking for a job or are in career transition. Speakers from local employment agencies will give updates on area programs and discuss the changing face of employment in Peterborough city and county. The second half of the event – from 4:30 to 7 p.m. – will be geared to business owners. Guest speaker Josie Rudderham will be expected to talk about creating a successful work culture and give tips on becoming an entrepreneur. Rudderham’s presentation begins at 5 p.m. and will be followed by a panel discussion of local employers. The event will be organized by the city’s social services division as well as the Peterborough Poverty Reduction Network and the Community Employment Resource Partnership.