Smaller scope

The two multimillion dollar class action lawsuits against the city have scaled back the scope of a study looking into the damages caused by the May 28th floods.

City officials gave Northwood residents an update on their flood efforts at a ward meeting at Grandview Lodge Thursday. The city took questions on a variety of controversial topics including the location of the proposed event centre, bike lanes and traffic lights.

But the majority of residents attended in order to hear more about a study being conducted by the city to look at the damages caused by the floods.

The city’s Manger of Engineering Pat Mauro said Hatch Mott MacDonald started collecting data throughout the fall and should be completed by June. From there the consultants will draft a report to council and give some recommendations on how to move forward by August.

The study is also looking at intercity area and the East end because these areas and Northwood were the hardest hit, he said.
But two separate class action lawsuits totaling more than $800 million has complicated matters. Anyone who has been affected by the flooding will automatically be a part of the class action and will need to remove themselves from it.

Although, residents won’t have a chance to do so until one of the lawsuits is certified

Because of that Mauro said some parts of the study will be scaled back.

“We looked at obtaining some information from the residents during the study, however, with some of the legal issues that are occurring presently we’re unable to undertake that type of questionnaire,” Mauro said.

“We will be reviewing the areas in terms of surface drainage and we’ll incorporate some of that information into our designs.”

The study will look at infrastructure and sewers in the Northwood area from the Thunder Bay Expressway to Edward Street and Redwood Avenue to the Harbour Expressway.

He said the study will to see if the sewers have any bottlenecks and any possible expansions. He said they hoped to start construction by 2013 and added that they will be giving updates to council as they progress.

Conrad Letowski, who has lived on Dalhousie Drive for about 28 years, said he’s concerned that the lawsuits might tie the city’s hands.

“It would give Hatch Mott MacDonald more data to solve our project but because of the lawsuit people can’t come forward because they will use that against you,” Letowski said. “The Northwood Concerned Residents Group got them to do these studies and that’s going to help us figure out what went wrong. I know there are a lot of issues at the plant because I know people who work there. They will get the ball moving.”

Maria Cole, who has lived on McMaster Street for about 18 years, said the lawsuit didn’t concern her that much.

Although she doesn’t know much about the law, Cole said when it comes to being sued it’s best to be careful.

“I those kinds of situations I believe your hands can be tied,” she said. “I think the final ending is that people want to be safe and secure at home. That’s the main priority I believe. “