The committee, tasked with evaluating the recent study done about Wallaceburg’s drinking water, met for the first time on Tuesday.
Wallaceburg Coun. Jeff Wesley said it was an excellent discussion that was very honest and open.
“It was an intense, productive six hours, where everything was on the table,” Wesley said.
An evaluation matrix, with all options, and a list of criteria to rate each and every option was laid out for the committee members, Wesley said.
The rating criteria included various weightings, which ranged from environmental, to community support, to capital costs, to operating costs and water quality.
“This is an important issue and a lot of work,” Wesley said. “Carmen (McGregor) and I wanted to be on the evaluation committee as we represent the interest of the citizens of Wallaceburg. We are doing our best to do so but we are not the final decision makers on this issue… but we are trying to get the facts out and make sure the final decision makers (C-K PUC) also know the facts.”
Wesley said no decisions were made on Tuesday. However, all members completed an individual and independent evaluation matrix.
The results will be tabulated and discussed at the next evaluation meeting on January 14, Wesley said.
Wesley said he believes the decision made by the committee will carry some weight with the PUC.
“It will also depend whether there is a consensus decision or will the evaluation committee members agree to disagree,” he said. “It is possible there will not be a consensus agreement on a single option.”
Do you think the “preferred alternative” could be changed?
Wesley said the process allows for a potential change to the preferred alternative, of Wallaceburg shifting to the Chatham water supply, depending on the results of the evaluation process.
“Any preferred alternative will need to be able to be justified based on the facts from the evaluation,” he said. “I offered an example at the meeting where this happened. There are also appeal provisions where any decision made can be appealed if someone disagrees with the final decision.”
No decisions will be made on the water source in 2015, the earliest a decision will be made by the PUC is in early 2016.
Wesley said in his opinion nothing has changed, “as I still hear overwhelming support for a Wallaceburg option vs. Lake Erie water.
“Whatever a resident or water user may think, they should share those views, good or bad, as we want to hear what as many people as possible want. After the evaluation committee completes its work, there will be another public meeting at some point and a final decision by the C-K PUC. When we know we will let the public know so they can share their thoughts with the elected members of the C-K PUC. Contact information will be provided.”
The evaluation 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
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.
