Trail Road Only Has 15 Useful Years Left, Again

05/05/2023

Former councillor Gord Hunter, who roamed the halls of Laurier Avenue when I did the same for the Citizen, sent me this note showing how it is important to be able to separate the fly stuff from the pepper when it comes to dealing with public servants who work in the field of garbage.

Here’s a funny thing about that landfill fill-up scenario, Ken.

Back in the 1980s, the regional government had an environmental services commissioner named Mike Sheflin.

He was a great guy and internationally recognized public servant. However at regional budget meetings each year, he would say that there was about 15 to 17 years of landfill left at Trail Road. Each year, the same numbers.

City Considers Added Payment For Garbage Pickup

I guess he thought we councillors were not listening or could not do math (okay for some that was correct but not for all of us). When we started to laugh at the line, he dropped it and nearly 40 years have passed and Trail Road is still open. But that didn’t stop me from laughing when I heard the latest spokesperson trot out same 15 to 17 years of landfill left.

It’s too bad Gord isn’t on city council now. City staffers used to dread being grilled by Hunter at council. His very incisive mind got to the bottom of things very quickly.

This Is What You Call Solid Waste

Were Hunter still on council, debate and free expression of views at city hall would still be alive and well.

The advantage Hunter has over most people is that he is really smart.

To read the post to which he refers on garbage pick-up charges, click here.

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