Council spends $3.5M to buy land in Wheatley evacuation zone
As mitigation and investigation continues in downtown Wheatley after the 2021 gas explosion, Chatham-kent councillors have decided to buy several properties in the evacuation area.
But much of the roughly $3.5-million cost will be covered by the province, says a staff report. The municipality is buying: 15 Erie St. N. from Triwabi Enterprises Inc. for $94,000; 19-23 Erie St. N. from Maurice Raffoul for $120,000; 27 Erie St. N. from Branch 324 Royal Canadian Legion for $1.24 million; 29-33 Erie St. N. from Veronica Ann Balkisson for $1.27 million; and 37 Erie St. N. from 1486047 Ontario Ltd. for $795,000.
The cost will be funded by the $3-million provincial grant for the Wheatley emergency, with the rest coming from a strategic reserve.
Based on engineering reports from T.L. Watson & Associates and WSP Canada Inc. (formerly Golder Associates Ltd.), staff were directed in closed session to pursue preliminary negotiations for potential acquisition of properties identified as being inappropriate for redevelopment within Wheatley.
At council's direction, staff obtained appraisals for each property and made offers to their owners.
In two previous expert reports, consultants recommended future bans on deep excavation and drilling in Wheatley.
“This is a unique issue to address based on the conclusions of the experts that gas from deep underground is finding a pathway into the shallow water aquifer, and then ultimately finding a path to the surface,” the staff report said.
“Due to the uniqueness of this issue and expert recommendation, administration was not able to find any precedent legal instrument to draw upon from another jurisdiction to address this matter.”
HSE Integrated remains on scene doing ambient air monitoring and in-line monitoring of monitoring well and scrubber equipment.
A review of the monitoring program and on-site resources required is underway.
“The municipal building department is collaborating with the owners of individual properties outside of the evacuation zone, which still have orders on them,” the report added.
In December, the last buildings damaged in the Aug. 26, 2021, blast were torn down, including 12, 14 and 20 Erie St. N.
Following up on T.L. Watson recommendations, staff have been creating a conceptual plan to investigate the presence of another well near the monitoring well, the report said. The public will get more details once they are finalized.
No action on finding other wells is scheduled until later this year.
Staff continues to explore with
… there is a need to continue investigation for other potential gas sources in the area which requires these property acquisitions.
owners the possible purchase of other properties in the evacuation zone, the report said. “If these properties are acquired ... it will provide the most flexibility for ongoing investigations and safety systems, as well as allow for community input to the future vision for the site.”
Should further purchases be negotiated, they will come to open council for approval.
“Where any property owner rejects the offer and administration cannot successfully negotiate a purchase price ... council will need to consider whether to initiate an expropriation process,” the report said.
“While this process is avoided whenever possible, there is a need to continue investigation for other potential gas sources in the area, which requires these property acquisitions.”