The future of Wallaceburg’s water won’t be decided in the near future.
Wallaceburg Coun. Jeff Wesley said Tom Kissner, general manager of the Chatham-Kent PUC, told him the Wallaceburg issue will not come before the PUC until March.
There is still “time for further discussion and information,” Wesley said.
Stantec Consulting was hired by the Chatham-Kent PUC to conduct the Wallaceburg and Area Water Supply System Municipal Class Environmental Assessment.
After presenting in detail a series of options at a meeting on November 26, which included rehabilitating the current Wallaceburg Water Treatment Plant, Stantec’s “preferred alternative” was connecting to the Chatham water supply, which gets its water from Lake Erie.
The first meeting for the new PUC will be held January 15.
Wesley has made it clear ever since the Nov. 26 meeting about his concerns with the entire process and the “preferred alternative” by the consultants.
Wesley’s concerns, include:
– The public being informed at the latest public meeting that the issue “was a done deal and nearly impossible to change.”
– Lack of consultation with Walpole Island First Nation.
– WATCH (a local environmental group) is opposed to the preferred solution.
– Local business leaders, former members / chairpersons of the Wallaceburg Water Commission, along with a petition with close to 500 names are opposed to the preferred solution.
“Tom (Kissner) will respond to my concerns to all of council,” Wesley said. “Tom and I have agreed to disagree on my concerns.”
Wesley said he believes “no matter what you think about the preferred solution or in fact any solution” before the Chatham-Kent PUC makes any decision, they must do three things:
– Complete a full proper and open public consultation meeting where all of the options are on the table, in advance, and local citizens and business leaders can get their questions answered. The members of the PUC should attend to listen and learn and they should also review all of the submissions made by the public on this matter.
– A full consultation between Walpole Island First Nation and the Chatham-Kent PUB, including Commissioners, must be held.
– A meeting must be held with WATCH and their concerns discussed and addressed.
Wesley added that a third public information meeting will be taking place, but a date yet to be set.
