KOEBEL ADMITS MISTAKES, ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY 
WebPosted Mon Dec 18 16:07:01 2000

WALKERTON, ONT.--The man in charge of Walkerton's water during the 
deadly outbreak of E. coli contamination this spring has told a judicial 
inquiry he was responsible for a litany of improper procedures while 
managing the water. 

 Stan Koebel testifies Stan Koebel was head of the town's public 
utilities commission when Canada's worst outbreak of E. coli killed 
seven people and made more than 2,000 sick. 

 In his first public statement since the crisis began, a sombre Kobel 
told the inquiry, "Words cannot begin to express how sorry I am and how 
bad I feel." 

 During his much-anticipated testimony Koebel admitted that mistakes were 
made and things were done improperly. He confirmed that water safety 
test results were falsified, samples were mislabelled and chlorine 
records changed. 

 "I don't know what happened" &#150 Stan Koebel 

 But he denied intentionally placing townspeople at risk. Koebel told the 
inquiry that until the end he still thought the water was good quality. 

 In hindsight, a subdued Koebel said he should not have been doing the 
top job at the water supply. "I didn't have enough education, 
background" to run both the town's water and electric systems, he said. 

 He told the inquiry when he heard the deadly bacteria had infected the 
town's water supply the effect on him was like "a devastating 
earthquake." 

 Asked by his lawyer if he'd let his community down, Koebel said, "Yes, I 
feel I've let them down." 

 "I don't know what happened," he said. 

 Almost from the time the contamination became public knowledge in May, 
everyone affected by the incident has wanted to hear from Koebel. 

 "People do expect him to be held accountable for his part in it," said 
Ron Leavoy, who represents a group called Concerned Walkerton Citizens. 
"His story needs to be told." 

 FROM DEC. 11, 2000: Key witness fit to testify at Walkerton inquiry 
During the past eight weeks, the town's mayor, provincial environment 
officials and water experts have all described their dealings with 
Koebel, both at the time of the outbreak and prior to it. 

 The outbreak followed heavy spring rains that washed animal fecal matter 
into one of the town's wells from a nearby farm. 

 FROM DEC. 6, 2000: Walkerton inquiry hears of poor training, ignored 
warnings The inquiry has heard that Koebel delayed notifying the public 
that there was a problem with the water for several days while he tried 
to flush the system. 

 His brother, PUC foreman Frank Koebel, told the inquiry of drinking on 
the job and falsifying water samples. 

 Koebel's lawyer says health officials in Walkerton have ruined Stan 
Koebel's life. 

 Bill Trudell says Koebel never said there wasn't a problem with the 
water. 

 INDEPTH: Walkerton timeline 

 But nearly two weeks after the boil water advisory was lifted, some 
people in the town still don't drink the water &#150 they still don't 
trust the people in charge to tell them the truth about the water 
supply. 

 Still, some people in Walkerton such as Carol Barclay don't want to see 
Stan Koebel unfairly tarred with the blame. They just want to know what 
happened. 

 FROM DEC. 8, 2000: Walkerton manager resigns, $98,000 settlement 
"Somebody has to accept the responsibility that this water was unsafe, 
and they knew it and they didn't take care of it properly," said 
Barclay. 
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