New landfill deal aims to end odour problems at city landfill

Ward 11 Coun. Terry Kett, whose ward includes residents affected by the smells, said last year was “the summer from hell” for a lot of people.

“The odours coming from the landfill site were simply atrocious,” Kett said at the June 24 meeting of city council. “You (couldn't) have anyone over for a barbecue because the stench was so bad.”

While there has been an improvement, Kett said a solution has to be found. Similar issues in Walden went on for years, because of a decades-old policy of dumping sewage into a Vale tailings pond. The solution to that problem came in the form of the $63 million biosolids plant being built on Kelly Lake Road.

The solution to the smells coming from the landfill won't be that expensive to fix, Kett said.

“We're going to solve these problems, and we won't have this problem this year,” he said.

Mayor Marianne Matichuk asked whether addressing the smell issue was included in the terms of the new, and much more expensive, contract awarded last year.

“It was my understanding this was supposed to be captured as part of that contract,” Matichuk said. “I want to be sure we're getting value for our money.”

Paul Baskcomb, the acting general manager of growth and development, confirmed it was part of the new contract. He said a preliminary staff report will be ready next month on steps being taken, and regular updates will follow.

“We are working with the contractor on this,” Baskcomb said.


Biosolids project receives national award

Speaking of the biosolids plant, the city received an environment award for the $63-million project from the Canadian Association of Municipal Administrators.

Using the first private-public partnership for a biosolids facility in Canada, the facility will use a new process that will treat the sludge so it can be used as an additive to enrich soil.

“It highlights the creativity and cooperation of a community committed to environment sustainability,” a release from CAMA said.

At the June 24 meeting, Matichuk praised everyone involved in making the biosolids plant a reality.

"It's one of the most expensive and technically complex projects ever undertaken in Northern Ontario," Matichuk said.

She called up staff involved in the project, as well as Ward 2 Coun. Jacques Barbeau, who was heavily involved in the project, to pose for a photo with the award.


Finance department honoured for transparent and detailed financial report

It wasn't the only award the city celebrated that night. The city's finance department, led by Lorella Hayes, the city's chief financial officer, was honoured for its work.

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada, a non-profit association of nearly 18,000 government finance professionals in the United States and Canada. Sudbury received the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting for the 2012 Annual Financial Report.

The 2012 report was the most comprehensive the city has ever produced in a single document. Staff were honoured for its commitment to transparency and openness in financial reporting.

“The annual financial report was created to further establish transparency and full disclosure for the city’s financial reporting.” Hayes said in a release after the meeting. “We are proud to have received this honour from a group of our peers from across North America.”

The award aims to encourage municipal governments to publish high quality financial reports. Winners were determined by a national review committee. Sudbury won in the category for cities with more than 100,000 people.