“Right now we’re just gathering information,” said Minto Mayor David Anderson.
Late last month, there was a short discussion over a committee level suggestion that the leases at the Harriston Trailer Park not be renewed.
The park, located near the Harriston-Minto community centre, lies in the Maitland River flood plain and some of the leased land backs onto the river itself. Last year, flooding of the property required evacuation of the residents.
Recent improvements to Maitland Valley Conservation Authority flood warning devices will give more warning regarding impending floods, but it will not stop the flooding itself.
The issue of the trailer park being near the river remains a liability, Anderson said.
Near the end of council’s meeting on March 3, Anderson said council representatives and staff had met with trailer park residents on Feb. 25.
“We had all the residents of the trailer park out. One of the things that came out was that there were some concerns on the way the issue was brought forward. One of the main concerns was that they didn’t hear it from us; they heard it through the media.”
Anderson wished that they had been able to meet earlier but on the whole, he considered it a good meeting.
“We explained the rationale of why we are looking at it and why the motion came forward. Basically, it’s due diligence on our part as far the Maitland River and possible flooding of it are concerned.”
He said with changing weather patterns who knows what will happen next. While Minto has hardly experienced a typical winter this year, there was three feet of snow in Washington, D.C.
“It’s so unpredictable, our weather patterns. We’ve got to prepare for the worst, and a lot of it is education.”
There were questions if council would make a decision and the timeframe of that.
Anderson said nothing had been done or discussed.
“Right now we’re just gathering information.”
He told residents that the municipality would keep them up to speed on the issue.
He noted the meeting the following night involving the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, emergency management coordinator Linda Dickson, and Minto Fire Chief Chris Harrow on the flood risks in Harriston.
“I?explained to the citizens that the town has moved forward in getting a better warning system. If a flood does come we will have at least an hour to an hour-and-a-half window rather than 15 minutes.”
In terms of due diligence, Anderson said “If we didn’t do anything, we would show … due negligence. So by doing due diligence, we lessen the due negligence. Does that make sense?”
He said residents were given an opportunity to speak to make their views known.
