Wallaceburg water decision looming
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Wallaceburg will find out what the preferred solution is regarding their water source next week.
A public meeting is scheduled to be held on Feb. 18 at the UAW Hall, where the preferred decision will be unveiled.
Chatham-Kent councillor Jeff Wesley (Ward 5 Wallaceburg) says he knows what the decision is, but is not commenting on the decision until the public meeting is held.
An evaluation committee, which included eight people, met in December and January to come up with a decision on the future of Wallaceburg's water source. That decision will then go to the Chatham-Kent PUC who have the final say.
There are two options: whether Wallaceburg's water treatment plant will be upgraded and continue to draw water from the Snye River, or whether Wallaceburg will get their water from Lake Erie, like the majority of Chatham-Kent.
Wesley said the meeting will be an information session to highlight the recommendation decision that the evaluation committee decided on.
“We absolutely need the public to be there. And when that preferred recommendation comes out, they need to be there to support the preferred recommendation or indicate displeasure with the preferred recommendation is the best way to put it,” Wesley said.
Wesley said the PUC commissioners will likely be on hand at the public meeting to see what the public thinks of the decision.
Wesley said the decision has been made, but the final report that explains the decision will not be available until Feb. 18.
The public meeting is scheduled to be held at the UAW Hall from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m, with a presentation starting at 7 p.m.
“There were eight people on the evaluation committee. I though all eight dealt with the issue in a very responsible and realistic way,” Wesley said.
He added that the evaluation process was very detailed, with open and honest discussion in the meetings.
“Nobody pulled any punches,” Wesley said.
Prior to the public meeting, the Chatham-Kent PUC will also meet on Feb. 18, where they are scheduled to hear a presentation of information about the Wallaceburg water supply issue and the evaluation committee's preferred recommendation.
The PUC is scheduled to host a special meeting on March 2, as Chatham-Kent PUC administration will bring forward a report to the PUC board with a recommendation on the preferred solution for Wallaceburg's water supply.