COBDEN — The Environmental Services Committee for Whitewater Region has agreed that the Muskrat Watershed Council (MWC) speak on behalf of the township as it relates to the water quality of Muskrat Lake.
It is also recommending that Councillor Charlene Jackson be appointed as the council liaison person between the municipality and MWC.
Mayor Hal Johnson said staff from the Ministry of Environment spoke to him and Councillor Dave Mackay about the various group working towards better water quality for Muskrat Lake. The MOE is in favour of moving forward with just one group, and its preference is the MWC, he said.
“The MWC, so far, is the only group that has actually put money towards this and has rallied the farming industry to work with them,” Mayor Johnson said.
The MWC has been approached by Environment Canada to organize with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Oceans and Fisheries, and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, regarding Muskrat Lake, he said.
“They have already made the first big leap and so I am personally going to suggest that we put our efforts behind them also,” he said. “Just to go one step farther, I believe Laurentian Valley (township) has committed to them now too and have asked for a representative from our council to sit on their committee,” he added.
“I believe council should back the MWC as our partner and champion,” Mayor Johnson stated.
Councillor Dave Mackay agreed, noting, “Waiting for the other groups is a waste of our time. Let’s go with a group that knows what it’s doing.”
Councillor Charlene Jackson also agreed, saying the MWC is the board council should be dealing with.
“I also think we should communicate with the other groups that if they have any questions regarding Muskrat Lake, that they address them through the Muskrat Watershed Council and that nobody else will submit grant applications or anything on our behalf other than with approval of council through the Muskrat Watershed Council,” she said.
Mayor Johnson said this group has moved forward, regardless of what negative things have been said, and congratulated them on what it has accomplished.
“What the watershed council has accomplished is great. Keep up the good work, council is behind you,” he said.
Karen Coulas, acting chair of the MWC, said, “The council appreciates that. They’ve had some great people in in the past and have some great people now and they all want the same thing.”
Coun. Jackson questioned if a council member could sit on the MWC.
Ms. Coulas said that would be fine because it would give a link between the MWC and the township council. The council rep, regardless if it’s a council member or resident, would have no vote on the board, but they would be able to provide input, she said.
Coun. Jackson, who is the only council member who lives on Muskrat Lake, agreed to be the council representative on the MWC and was so appointed by the committee.
