Council has approved the funding towards moving forward from the aftermath of the Wheatley explosion.
The motion was passed 15-0 with Chatham-Kent Director of Public Works Ryan Brown reiterating this was critical work that needed to be done.
As for the project going forward, Brown said the community and residents would be informed with what would or could happen.
"In August we will have a much broader communications about the exact plans with say neighbouring property owners that could be heavily impacted by this work, we will be having one-on-one conversations with those owners," said Brown.
He added they are planning information events in August and September where residents will be able to ask questions and have more opportunities to better understand the program fully.
Original article was published on July 11, 2024.
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The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is planning its next steps to deal with the aftermath of the Wheatley explosion three years ago and it could include more evacuations.
Chatham-Kent Director of Public Works Ryan Brown stated in a report going to Council on Monday night that downtown Wheatley residents could be removed from nearby homes if a hazardous well is found emitting hydrogen sulfide (H2S) or other toxic chemicals during future excavation to remove building foundations in the core.
The next steps and safety measures will cost nearly $6.4 million for engineers, consultants, contractors, and other experts.
"The main challenge with this project is that, if during the excavation a hazardous well is found emitting H2S, Chatham-Kent must have the resources on site to gain control of the situation immediately. This will require having contractors, equipment, and emergency services on standby for the duration of the excavation," Brown wrote in his report.
Brown said the project is intended to begin the first week of September and is anticipated to take several weeks. He noted preparation work is already underway and will ramp up next month.
Residents in the downtown can expect elevated activity around the site, possible short-term road closures, and elevated noise during working hours, similar to what was experienced during the recent demolition, according to the municipality.
"Two different sized drilling rigs will be on standby to respond once the emission is under control. Should the larger drilling rig be mobilized to site, intense noise and light emissions will be possible," said Brown.
The plan is to work during normal working hours, but Brown noted operations will move to 24/7 if a hazardous well is discovered.
"Given the impact of the Wheatley emergency on the community, administration and contractors have given extensive thought to the operational plans as well as the emergency response plan to ensure the impacts on the community are minimized during this essential step," the municipality said. "Completing this work will enable the development of potential plans for the site."
The municipality estimates the total cost of the Wheatley Emergency to be between $7 and $12 million in 2024.