Scugog Township abandoned its bylaw charges against Earthworx Industries last month, deciding that the cost of court would outweigh any positive financial outcome.
_Scugog CAO Bev Hendry confirmed that on Nov. 10, the township abandoned its six charges against the company for illegal dumping. Trucks full of soil continued to enter a Lakeridge Rd. property after municipal bylaw officials revoked Earthworx’ fill permit. The site - which remains dormant following a court-ordered injunction against the business and subsequent provincial court decision which ruled in favour of the township earlier this year - was the subject of numerous resident concerns over the last year. Samples from the Oak Ridges Moraine property tested positive for excessive amounts of toxins, raising fears of groundwater contamination.
_According to Ms. Hendry, the charges would have only brought a return to the township of approximately $6,000 - far below the expense of preparing a court case. The CAO said that legal expenses incurred by the township in dealing with Earthworx sit at approximately $50,000.
_“The additional expense costs of building a case were not worth the what the outcome would have been,” said Ms. Hendry. “I believe that we have accomplished what we wanted.”
By Blake Wolfe - The Scugog Standard.
