CENTRAL MANITOULIN—Council of the Municipality of Central Manitoulin passed a motion authorizing the negotiation of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with neighbouring M’Chigeeng First Nation to allow the community to utilize the municipality’s waste treatment facilities in the case of an overflow emergency at the First Nation’s sewage lagoons.
The request for the MOU came in the form of a letter from the band to Central Manitoulin mayor and council that outlined the need to protect the shared resource of Lake Mindemoya. The town of Mindemoya draws its drinking water supply from the lake.
During debate on the motion, Mayor Richard Stephens noted that the lagoon agreement was only for emergency situations and subject to approval from the province.
It was questioned whether the Ministry of the Environment would approve the plan, as it had not received other requests favourably, but CAO Denise Deforge noted that the plan was only to be implemented in the case of emergency, and given the nature of the request she felt there was not likely to be any objection.
It was made clear during the debate that the materials being moved would only be liquid ‘poo’ and not solids. It was noted that M’Chigeeng is currently dredging its lagoons but that material will not be going into the Central Manitoulin system.
“This is only in case of emergency,” reiterated Mayor Stephens. “This rehabilitation at their own (sewage lagoons) is to get to the bottom to clean out what’s there. They will take that material someplace else. I think it’s a friendly thing to do for our neighbours and we never know when we’re going to have a reciprocal situation.”
The motion passed without dissent.
