Centre Wellington's termite management program remains in limbo

CENTRE WELLINGTON – The Township of Centre Wellington will be looking at further options for large-scale termite treatment after contract negotiations with a vendor approved by the previous council fell through in the fall. 

In August, council at the time approved staff to negotiate a contract with Balson Preventative Solutions Inc. at an upwards limit of $200,000. Balson was one of two bidders who responded to the negotiated request for proposal, which was not a legally-binding agreement to enter into a contract but for the top ranked proponent to enter into negotiations.

The scope of the project was to include public education, fall nematode treatment and provision of fall yard wood waste clean up bins for a one-year term. 

A previous survey of neighbourhoods in Fergus and Elora determined there were 259 properties with active termites, referred to as being in the ‘red zone,’ and an additional 219 ‘blue zone’ properties that surround the red zone.

This work was anticipated to start in the fall and the 10-year capital forecast included $100,000 per year for termite management work in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

However, the termite management program did not go forward in 2022. 

The Township of Centre Wellington and owner of Balson Preventative Solutions confirmed an agreement could not be reached between the two parties. 

Requests for comment from CAO Dan Wilson were deferred to township communications specialist Kendra Martin. 

Martin did not elaborate on why contract negotiations failed, but in an email noted the management program is still on the township’s radar and has not been cancelled. 

“Staff will be bringing a report to council (hopefully on Jan. 30) with options for next steps in regards to the termite management program,” Martin wrote in an email.

Paul Balfoort, Balson Preventative Solutions owner, said he was verbally notified around the time the new council was being sworn in that the township would not be continuing with negotiation.

“I don’t know what the reasons were, I wish I knew,” Balfoort said, later adding writing a contract of this scope isn’t easy to do and acknowledged there were questions from both sides on details.

“I’m sure there’s some extenuating circumstances back then but they did not disclose what they were.” 

He noted the $200,000 upper limit was more than sufficient and his team had been working with staff on the technical specifications around nematode treatment. 

Balfoort said he’s still interested in working with the township on a termite program and noted there does appear to be a continued appetite for it among the new councillors. 

Tammy Rutherford is hoping the township is still committed to dealing with the widespread termite problem. 

Rutherford is a local advocate for homeowners with termite issues who formerly lived in a home with termites and has run a Facebook page for many years dedicated to raising awareness around the issue in the township.

She said in a phone interview she was ready to give the termite advocacy a rest but later was disappointed to learn from Balfoort and homeowners that the program did not go forward this fall. 

“It’s not just for the homeowners that are struggling with this, it’s for the community to keep this problem from spreading further and farther which is what’s going to happen if we don’t do it,” Rutherford said. 

“I don’t want to say the township is ignoring it, because certainly they have been doing work but it would be nice to have an answer of what’s going on.” 

She said all the newly elected councillors and mayor indicated they support the program and she’s looking for that support to continue to drive the program forward. 

“This is important to a lot of people, we’ve got to keep the momentum going,” Rutherford said.