A Wallaceburg Councillor is calling for a moratorium on wind turbine construction in Chatham-Kent.
Jeff Wesley says a stoppage is order until the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change conducts a proper investigation into the water well issue in Chatham-Kent.
“I have been through a lot with (Water Wells First) but never lost my desire to help the individual well owners,” Wesley told the Sydenham Current.
Counc Wesley calls for wind turbine construction moratorium until water quality questions answered.
— Chatham Kent (@MunicCK) 21 August 2017
A notice of motion was announced by Wesley during Monday night’s meeting at the Civic Centre in Chatham.
In his notice of motion Wesley cited the following reasons for requesting the stoppage:
– An “increasing concern” among water well owners
– A slow response time to well owners by the Ministry
– Vibration monitoring taking place at ground level, and not at the bedrock where the aquifer and well water intakes are located
– Wind turbine construction being suspected as the cause for the water well issues, but not completely determined
– Testing being paid for by the wind turbine company
“This is all about helping those that are experiencing well problems to determine what is taking place, why and how does it get fixed,” Wesley told the Sydenham Current.
“The MOECC and the wind turbine company have to step up and do a better job.”
Wesley is requesting that Chatham-Kent council ask Premier Kathleen Wynne and the Liberal government to hire an independent neutral third party water well expert, who will be located within Chatham-Kent, on-call 24/7 for as long as needed.
Wesley is also asking the Ministry to identify performance standards, such as first contact response times, parameters measured, time to provide responses on causes and solutions, so well owners will know when they will have a problem addressed and a resolution provided.
A special meeting with Chatham-Kent council is also being requested, so a full report can be given by the Ministry on what the cause and resolution is for all current water well problems identified to date.
Wesley said he accepted a friendly amendment to his notice of motion, where the five current homeowners with well problems would have the costs of inspection and well testing paid for by the Municipality.
Wesley said a meeting with the MOECC is scheduled for Thursday, and he will be attending.
Water Wells First, the local grassroots organization leading the charge for the well owners, was thrilled with the notice of motion.
“Thank you for acting on this,” the group tweeted on Tuesday.
“Now please see it through.”
Watch for more on this story.
– Photo credit: Water Wells First
I always knew Jeff was there for the people of this community. Even though he received the “Award” from the Water Wells First Chairman he is still willing to help the people the situation is hurting. I lived on a farm for 20 years growing up and I know how important a well is to the livelihood of not just yourself but your entire family, crops and livestock. Just think about it, no water means no farmers. No farmers means no crops or live stock. No live stock and crops means no food for those living in towns or cities. No one living in cities or towns mean we are all dead.
I fully support Jeff and thank him for all he has done and continues to do.