“Are there potential members of council with the concern for environmental protection and relate that to private property?” asked a resident of Perreton Road.
Joe Kowalksi said this was “one of the issues near and dear to me.”
“The more I studied history, the more I realized that our section of the Ottawa River is one of the last wild sections.” he said, saying he went to the Ministry of the Environment with a proposal to preserve the area, but was declined.
“I’m a free enterprise kind of guy. I had the wild and crazy idea that I would do it myself. Every time property became available, I would purchase it.” he said. “It’s an expensive hobby.”
Mike Moore said that there is “more than just the Ottawa River” in the area, citing the Muskrat Watershed and its associated Council’s efforts to preserve it, as well as various other lakes.
He praised Clerk Carmen Miller for her efforts in managing coordination with these groups.
Ron Laronde said that Muskrat Lake “has been a big issue”.
“They do all these studies but they don’t ask the locals.” he said.
