Residents impacted by the flood voiced their frustration to city officials at the first public meeting on Saturday.
Hundreds packed into the Slovak Legion in order to listen to city officials. By the time presentations started, it was standing room only. City officials attempted to give a rundown on the series of events that caused thousands of people in the city to experience flooding but shouts from the audience forced the officials to shift to the Q and A early.
Many who came up to the microphone voiced their frustration with the city as well as its response time to the disaster.
City manager Tim Commisso said they responded the best they could to the situation and are waiting for the province to official declare the city a “disaster area”. He said the Ontario government will be sending officials down Monday in order to do an assessment.
Once they have completed that initial assessment and have made the official announcement, Commisso said the emergency funds can be used.
“(Declaring the city a disaster area) allows funding to come forward to come back to deal with private property on a two-for-one basis,” Commisso said. “What that means is that whatever we have in our funds the province will match it two-for-one. We want to try and help everybody. It’s going to take some time to put everything in place.”
“There’s money out there” he said. “I suggest everyone be patient. I suggest you keep every bill and every hydro bill. We want to hear from everybody.”
He said if the amount given by the province surpasses $13 million, which he believes it will, then the federal government’s assistance starts.
He said they have been working all week to try and get control of things but the number of people impacted by the floods continues to go up.
Commission will be discussing the funding issues with city council on Monday.
Residents also voiced their concerns about their electricity and their hydro bills.
Thunder Bay Hydro president Rob Mace told the audience that his company were waving any reconnection fees.
“It’s the least we can do,” Mace said. “There’s around 75 houses in the city that are disconnected. Related to the question about what if I use extra energy to clean up. What we`ll commit to do is once the dust is settled, we`ll put staff on to look at your bills previously and give you an estimate that you can either give to your insurance company or give to the city fund that says this is how much more this person uses.”
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Before the public meeting, local media were given an update on the situation at the Atlantic Avenue treatment plant.
City infrastructure manager Darrell Matson said they are still trying to find where the breach is to the plant and are using a temporary pumping station to remove water.
As of Saturday, the plant is treating 96 mega-litres and pumping using the Kaministiquia River bypass. Two motors were recovered on Friday and Matson said they hope to have one of those motors installed soon.
Many questions including how much the whole disaster will cost the city is still a long ways away, he said.
The city also gave a number of notifications to the public.
Residents concerned about living in a flood-damaged house are encouraged to seek shelter or services such as showers and food at the evacuation shelter at the Neebing Arena.
Thunder Bay City Transit will be offering a modified East End route on Sunday starting at city hall from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will run every 40 minutes.
The city has reopened all roads except the Kline Road extension and trail repairs are ongoing.
Waste collection at the Solid Waste and Recycling Facility on Mapleward Road will be open on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The city is also providing unlimited number of bags for garbage collection and free of charge rubbish collection that’s available by calling 625-2195.
Residents are encouraged to call 983-5663 for official information regarding flooding and to visit www.thunderbay.ca/flood.
