by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — The Muskrat Watershed Council received a $16,000 grant and a $16,000 interest-free loan from the Township of Whitewater Region in support of an aeration project that could possibly help in opening the Cobden beach.
The loan is to be paid back in full no later than December 31, 2020.
Councillor Charlene Jackson, who is council’s representative on the Muskrat Watershed Council (MWC) brought a Notice of Motion to last night’s council meeting requesting the loan and grant for the Cobden beach aeration project, which is expected to improve water quality and recreational use of this “significant municipal asset.”
There was opposition by Councillor Dave Mackay and Reeve Terry Millar.
Coun. Mackay does not feel there is enough projects completed to determine if this is the best solution to the problem. He has concerns the company won’t be able to get rid of the E.coli caused by the birds.
Coun. Jackson said the company has been in business for a number of years, which shows it has been successful.
Chief Administrative Officer Robert Tremblay noted research has been completed, and a letter received from the Muskrat Lake Property Owners, advises that there are other companies that can do this work as well.
“This is one of the easier things we can try,” he said.
Coun. Jackson noted the E.coli from the birds has been caused due to the lack of people at the beach.
“There has to be physical activity at the beach to keep the birds away,” she stated. “If there’s no people, the birds will take over.”
She pointed out the $32,000 is “a small cost to try this. It’s less than one percent of the tax rate to do this with the Muskrat Watershed Council.”
Reeve Terry Millar questioned if there is money in the budget for this and if it will be fixed within a year’s time.
Coun. Jackson said while it wasn’t a budgeted item, the money can be found. As for fixing the problem, she noted the $32,000 will cover three years of installing the aeration equipment, chemicals and testing.
At the end of the three years, it will be determined what is needed to be done to continue with the clean-up – if anything.
She pointed out there are beaches that were once closed and now re-opened because of the same type of project.
Reeve Millar noted it was suggested by the Minister of Natural Resources the township or the MWC should seek more grant funding.
“Take a year and get a grant,” he said. “We should not go out o a limb.
“The beach is not just Muskrat Lake. The beach is a small portion of the problem. “Take a year and find the money.”
Coun. Jackson received a letter from Cobden resident Jasmine Gordon thanking her for helping to ensure the beach can once again be opened. She read the letter aloud to council.
Coun. Jackson then read aloud Ms. Gordon’s letter.
Here are a few excerpts from it: “I wanted to express my gratitude for your efforts to reopen the Cobden Beach,” Ms. Gordon wrote. “Our family fell in love with the Cobden Beach in 2009 and use it extensively – almost daily – when it is open.
“I saw your comments in the Whitewater News regarding rehabilitating the beachfront and thought I might offer our observations of how things have changed over the years in the hope they might help you in your work.”
The letter writer talks about how former CAO Dean Sauriol always ensured new sand was brought in after the fireworks were over and how swim instructors and parents used to rake the beach each day and Whitewater employees would come and remove the piles every second day. Equipment was fixed and maintained and weeds were removed from the shallow water. There was usually people at the beach from 8:30 a.m. until dusk. In mid-August, the algae bloom would arrive and the beach would be closed down after the first six weeks of summer.
When the next CAO arrived, new sand wasn’t dumped after the fireworks, the beach wasn’t maintained and people stopped coming. When the people stopped coming, the birds took over the beach. Eventually swimming lessons stopped and the beach was put on the back burner.
Ms. Gordon finished her letter with the idea that the beach faces two problems – the algae bloom in mid-August and the low standards of management at the beach.
“I have high hopes our new CAO – if he understands the issues – could significantly contribute to the reopening of the beach with minimal expenses.
“Once again, thank you so much for working to open the beach for the people of Whitewater.”
Reeve Millar pointed out there are other organizations who are also interested in working to solve the problem on Muskrat Lake.
“The Muskrat Watershed Council has been successful in getting grants,” he said. “They should continue looking for other grants.”
Coun. Jackson said there is a playground being erected at Cobden’s Veteran Park, which will bring people to the waterfront. The park is along Hwy. 17 … and people stop and want to swim, she said.
“I’ve had people ask where the beach is and I have to tell them unfortunately the beach is closed.
“Waiting for another year, the beach will get worse.”
She noted solutions have been offered, but they cost more than $200,000.
“MWC feels it’s important to get the process started instead of seeing the beach closed for another year,” Coun. Jackson said.
Councillor Chris Olmstead said in two-and-a-half years, this council has done nothing to remediate the problem with the lake.
“This problem existed when we came in, and if we don’t’ do this, we won’t see any results,” he said. “It’s really worth a chance to see if it works.”
Reeve Millar said he doesn’t disagree the work needs to be done, but he wants a 100 percent guarantee the solution will fix the problem.
Earlier in the meeting, council told a resident there was 300 kilometres of bad roads that needed to be fixed and not enough money in the budget, he said.
This council has been told that “budgets are budgets,” and should be stuck to and “we should be prudent with the funds,” Reeve Millar said.
Mayor Hal Johnson questioned CAO Robert Tremblay that if council gave the grant to MWC, could it still apply for grant monies.
“Yes,” he replied, adding, “There are a number of things that will require funding to fix Muskrat Lake.”
While it was not a unanimous vote, the majority ruled and the funding request was granted.
