A Wallaceburg councillor is looking for the Ministry of Environment to hold a public meeting in the community to discuss water well testing.
Jeff Wesley entered a notice of motion at Monday’s council meeting calling for the Minister of the Environment to “immediately convene an open public meeting to fully discuss the ongoing and proposed testing of local water wells so that all local water well owners, wind farms, Water Wells First, council and the general public are fully aware of what testing is being done and/or should be done.
“Further, that the (Ministry of Environment and Climate Change) provide concrete directions to insure local water well owners do not pay the cost of testing of their wells and if they have already done so these costs are to be reimbursed,” Wesley said.
Good feedback has been gathered since submitting his notice of motion, Wesley said.
“With this motion I am not thinking about the wind farm companies nor (Water Wells First) but I am thinking about the individual well owners who need help and clarity on what to do,” Wesley told the Sydenham Current.
“After all I have been through I am still committed to helping those in our community with water wells. Hopefully no one mis-interprets this one.”
At the beginning of February, Wesley discussed in a letter to the editor that pre and post construction well monitoring at wells in proximity to where the wind turbines will be erected should be launched by the MOECC and the Otter Creek Project.
Subsequently, Wesley was presented with a ‘Shame Award’ back at the end of February by the Water Wells First group, for “misleading the public.”
After responding to the allegations, Wesley countered by hiring a lawyer, and threatening legal action. Kevin Jakubec, spokesperson for Water Wells First, issued an apology to Wesley, although Welsey and his lawyer questioned its sincerity.
In his notice of motion on Monday, Wesley noted there are “serious and ongoing concerns within the Chatham–Kent community over the health and status of the local aquifer” as well as an “uncertainty amongst local well owners over what is an appropriate testing regime.”
“It should be clear in the motion that I am not passing judgment on any testing done by any of the groups – the motion is to assist local well owners to determine what is the proper testing etc. that should be done, reduce duplication and make the tests for well owners free to them,” Wesley told the Sydenham Current.
The Otter Creek Wind Farm group has offered up a free water well testing program for concerned residents.
Wesley’s notice of motion to set to be voted on by council at their upcoming April 24 meeting.
