Ballot results back individual well remediation, say MP and MPP
Posted Dec 2, 2009 By Chris Must
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Tweet This“Democracy is always valid,” says Lanark-Frontenac-Lennox & Addington MPP Randy Hillier.
At a press conference called by himself and federal colleague MP Scott Reid, Hillier was commenting on a recent resolution from Lanark County Council in opposition to what county councillors have called an intrusion by the federal and provincial members in the municipal decision-making process in Lanark Highlands. The resolution was passed Nov. 13 at a special council meeting convened after Reid and Hillier announced they would conduct their own poll of township residents on the issue of a proposed water and sewer system for Lanark village.
“Here we are listening to our constituents, and people are diminishing or denigrating that role that we take so seriously,” said Hillier.
At the press conference, held Saturday morning to announce the results of the poll, Reid commented that the high participation rate made it “a valid exercise.”
Hillier and Reid mailed ballots to 2,370 homes and received 1,532 responses, of which 103 ballots were spoiled. “This is a striking number,” said Reid. “The participation has been overwhelming in our view, and has widely exceeded our expectations.”
The ballots asked township residents to choose one of two options to solve the problem of drinking water quality in the village, where a number of wells have been contaminated by leakage from septic systems. The options stated on the ballot were: “A. Sewer and water project proposed by Mayor (Bob) Fletcher. (Estimated cost $28.5 million plus $9,100 per household installation costs)” or “B. Cover 100 per cent of costs to homeowners who require well and septic upgrades. (Estimated cost $5 million.)”
According to Reid and Hillier, 1,116 people who voted on this question, over 92 per cent, were in favour of individual well and septic upgrades. Eighty-five voted for the proposed water and sewer project.
Read complete details in this week's EMC.
