> Lincoln eyeing 1.9% budget increase with operations coming in at 0.9% /Pg 7 > Photographer Mitch Brown helps GBF Pg 6 > Beamsville manufacturer gets $2 million grant Pg 14 > Readers chime in on super school issues Pg 19 Thursday, January 28, 2021 Vol. 9 Issue 41
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Cost overrun causing mixed DSBN signals
Did they or didn’t they? Trustees offer opposing views on school board’s level of contamination knowledge
By Mike Williscraft NewsNow Who knew what when? That is a question which summarizes a whole lot of calls, email, and texts over the last several weeks since NewsNow broke the story on District School Board of Niagara’s $12.4 million cost overrun on the planned new super school, which will amalgamate the now-closed South Lincoln High School, Grimsby Secondary School and Beamsville District Secondary School with an opening still scheduled for Fall 2022.
In a Jan. 21 story, DSBN’s chief communications officer, Kim Sweeney, said significant soil contamination did not arise until Fall 2019, while site preparation started in May 2019. “During the process of removing the fill -through constant inspection, testing and reporting -- it was discovered that additional quantities of fill over and above what was originally estimated would have to be removed,” Sweeney said. Last week’s story also referred to an August 2019 email from Lincoln/Grimsby Trustee Elizabeth Klassen to Vineland resident Bob Thompson
in which Klassen noted, “The soil remediation is on schedule and I am not aware of any delays. Findings were only some construction items such as wood in the soil that we must remove.” However, in an email Monday from West Lincoln/Wainfleet Trustee Doug Newton to Caistor Centre resident Nicole Scime, those details were refuted. In response to Scime’s question, “Can the DSBN prove they did not know the land was contaminated before they purchased?” Newton wrote, “The See COST, Page 2
Signed, sealed, delivered:
Region commits 21%
of local spend for WLMH’s rebuild
First of many...
The first baby of 2021 has arrived at West Lincoln Memorial Hospital - a most welcome sight for parents Connie and Mark Sandercock of Grimsby as well as everyone at WLMH. Colton, weighed in at 7 lbs. 9 oz, is a new sibling for older brother Caleb. Colton was born Jan. 5 at 10:07 a.m.
By Mike Williscraft NewsNow It is official. Niagara Region has approved support for West Lincoln Memorial Hospital’s rebuild to the tune of 21 per cent of the $60 million local share of costs. That translates into 12.6 million reasons to smile for Niagara West’s residents and elected officials alike. There had been lengthy debate both at the Dec. 21 full meeting at council where the financial commitment was given as part of the regional budget process and at the Dec. 14 budget review session. Support for the $12.6 million funding level escalated from 16-9 at the
review session to 20-6 last week. While much of the debate was focused on how much financial support WLMH should receive, a great deal of time went to a new funding matrix devised with the help of a consultant. Staff recommended 18 per cent - $10.8 million - of the local share be the threshold for hospital support and, when the matrix process was included, that would have been further reduced to 84 per cent of that - or $9.07 million. West Niagara representatives presented a strong case for why See WLMH, Page 3