A committee, tasked with evaluating the recent study done about Wallaceburg’s drinking water, is set meet for the first time next month.
Wallaceburg Coun. Jeff Wesley told the Sydenham Current an all-day meeting is scheduled for Dec. 8.
“I have not seen all the information we need to review, the evaluation sheet, detailed evaluation criteria etc.,” Wesley said. “So whether we get done that day, require more information or need additional meetings I cannot say at this point.”
Tom Kissner, the general manager of the Chatham-Kent PUC, said in an e-mail that the same eight people remain on the committee.
The committee is comprised of the following eight individuals:
– Wallaceburg Coun. Carmen McGregor
– Wallaceburg Coun. Jeff Wesley
– Kris Lee, WATCH
– Member of Wallaceburg BIA
– Rob Bernardi, PUC
– Tom Kissner, PUC
– Nelson Oliveira, Stantec
– One staff member from Stantec Consulting
Wesley said he won’t rush through the process of making a decision.
“It is too important and thus it will take as long as it needs to take to do this right,” Wesley said.
At the end it is expected this committee will come to a consensus decision or maybe even a split decision on the future of a water source for Wallaceburg, Wesley said.
“Whatever comes from this process will be shared with the Chatham-Kent PUC at their Dec. 17 meeting or the next meeting in January,” he said. “The evaluation committee is not pressured to make a ‘decision’ by a certain PUC meeting date but it could be dealt with at the Dec. 17th meeting.”
Wesley added: “The public will be kept informed about this as I am sure they will want to contact PUC members and/or attend the PUC meeting to share their thoughts on whatever decision comes out of the water evaluation committee.
Stantec Consulting was hired by the Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission to conduct an environmental assessment of the future of Wallaceburg’s water. Stantec have presented four potential options, which includes rehabilitating the current Wallaceburg Water Treatment Plant, as part of their assessment.
Stantec’s “preferred alternative” is to connect to the Chatham water supply, which gets its water from Lake Erie.
Watch for more on this story.
