Connie Tabbert
Editor
COBDEN — Lorne Nimmons and Gwen Bennett are hoping this weekend’s event at Wilderness Tours won’t be as disruptive to their lives as a previous weekend was.
The two spoke at this month’s Whitewater Region Township council meeting about the noise generated during the Log Jam country music event. The two believe organizer Joe Kowalski, who also owns Wilderness Tours, took advantage of council when he extended the music stage for the event. They believe Mr. Kowalski read it wrong when the letter of support granted by council read “…extension of your proposed extended licensed area” would also include extending the functions that go along with the drinking area. Ms. Bennett pointed out the police also read it that way.
During the recent event, Mr. Kowalski had a huge stage with huge speakers, which boomed music over to their place, Ms. Bennett said.
“He is interrupting our lifestyle,” she said. “We don’t mind putting up with the noise until 1 a.m., but after that, no. Our lifestyle is being compromised.”
Provincially pubs are allowed to remain open until 2 a.m., Mr. Nimmons said.
Councillors Daryl McLaughlin and Joey Trimm agreed the only thing council was granting with its letter of support was the sale of alcohol in a larger area.
As for the noise, Coun. Trimm noted there is no noise bylaw in the township, and if council were to put in one, he would vote against it because of the farmers.
“Sometimes farmers need to run noisy machinery, and sometimes that happens all night long,” he said.
Mr. Nimmons said they weren’t asking for a noise bylaw to be implemented.
Coun. McLaughlin said he attended the event and noted all events are held within the fenced in area. However, he added, he didn’t realize the music was going on until two in the morning.
“Maybe we need to get a better understanding of what we are signing before we sign it,” he said.
Councillors Cathy Regier and Allen Dick, who each sit on the two community policing advisory committee boards representing the township, could talk to the police about the matter. Ms. Bennett noted the police won’t do anything due to council’s letter advising the bar area could be extended.
Reeve Don Rathwell noted there are other events in the municipality which are granted a similar letter from council, including the local fairs. He suggested council speak to Mr. Kowalski about the matter and see if an agreement of some sort could be reached.
“You are not the first to complain,” Reeve Rathwell said. “This has been happening since I was a councillor on Ross Township. Maybe he could be more considerate of his neighbours.
Mayor Jim Labow said a letter can be sent to Mr. Kowalski requesting the music level be reduced at 1 a.m.
“But we can only request,” he said. “If he complies, fine, but if he doesn’t we have no jurisdiction.”
It was agreed, a letter would be sent to Mr. Kowalski about turning down the music level by 1 a.m. during the upcoming Kitchissippi Music Festival at Wilderness Tours.
