Dear Editor:
An open letter to Whitewater Region Mayor Hal Johnson:
The anger that you displayed the evening of Wednesday, October 10, at the Westmeath Community Hall toward a member of the Muskrat Lake Association was totally despicable. If you can’t answer a tough question in a respectful manner you don’t deserve to be our mayor.
First of all the Part ll Order submitted by the Muskrat Lake Association (MLA) did not cause an increase anywhere near the $600,000 you stated in the cost of the Cobden Effluent treatment plant. Whatever increase in cost there is, is the sole responsibility of you since you refused to meet with the MLA to resolve our concerns prior to the Part ll Order even being submitted.
Secondly, it was our legal right to submit the order because we could not get answers to our concerns from Jp2g, you or anyone on council
Thirdly, the existing effluent treatment plant contributes about one percent of the total phosphorus annually into Muskrat Lake. This will reduce to about 0.1 percent with the new plant. This will not fix Muskrat Lake.
Fourthly, when we did get resolution of our concern, it took four weeks of discussion with the MOECC and Jp2g prior to the MLA rescinding the order. If it were not for the MOECC demanding answers from Jp2g the Part ll Order would still be in place.
Also, the fact that you and council didn’t do your due diligence, the users of the Cobden Effluent treatment will have to pay approximately an extra $10 million dollars over the next 30 years. This is over and above their existing bill.
If you obviously don’t like people pointing out the irresponsible things that you and the present council have done, issues such as the $20,000 dog tag lawsuit and the debacle with the cost of the Cobden Effluent treatment plant, then don’t run for public office.
As you told me (that) night: “We’re doing the best we can.”
If that’s the best you can do, it’s time for a change.
Donald W. Deer, P. Eng.
Cobden
