Over the objections of East Luther Grand Valley Deputy Mayor John Ince, the township council has voted to waive the halfload restrictions on one township road for Orica Canada.

In a recorded 4-1 vote, Mr. Ince was alone in his opposition to accepting a $10,000 deposit to cover possible damages to Sideroad 21/22, which connects the company with County 109.

According to the minutes, Mr. Ince said he was objecting because Orica in 2009 had used township roads that had not been included in a similar agreement.

In other business for the council’s consideration this week, Orangeville Hydro Ltd. (OHL) has taken exception to the hiring of a third party for street-light maintenance in the village. OHL is the system operator for the Grand Valley utility in a 5- year partnership arrangement dated June 2006.

“Orangeville Hydro was disappointed to learn that council has decided to hire and outside contractor to maintain the street lights,” says president George Dick in a letter, adding that it had also done street-light maintenance at no charge.

“Last week our crew fixed three lights in Grand Valley and only charged an hour. The previous week, our crew was doing construction on Emma Street (and fixed two lights at no charge.” Mr. Dick adds that an OHL crew also helps install Christmas lights at no charge, and installed a light in a community park free.

As well, Mr. Dick had received a report from electrical safety auditors who, he says, had found that some contracted persons had been working on the lights but lacked proper qualifications to do so.

But Mayor John Oosterhof said in an interview Monday that the chosen contractor, CID of Caledon, has qualified linemen. However, he does agree with Mr. Dick that no one except Orangeville Hydro may open a transformer in Grand Valley to de-energize conductors.

“(Not even) Hydro One may open a switch or circuits on the Grand Valley system without permission from Orangeville Hydro,” he said.

With respect to qualifications, the council’s motion to employ CID states: that “Council accept the quote dated August 31, 2009 received from CID Powerline Electrical and Pole Line Contractors Inc. to undertake the Street Light maintenance in the Township of East Luther Grand Valley and the hamlets of Colbeck and Monticello. This acceptance is subject to receiving the necessary documents ie: WSIB Certificate, Insurance Certificate and any other documents relevant.”

On pricing, Mr. Oosterhof said the council obtained bids from three sources including Orangeville Hydro. Based on those, he said, the township would be “saving enough to make the switch.”

He was aware that OHL had done some free work on streetlights, but none of that had been evaluated. He said Mr. Dick’s letter was “a little after the fact” and that the council had asked for specific rates in its tendering. “Maybe time will tell (whether the township will actually save money). I’m not sure.”

The contract is for a one-year period, which extends it beyond the renewal date of the Grand Valley/OHL agreement in June.