Dover-area residents will once again seek answers from Water Wells First officials Thursday, after an exit from a recent Environmental Review Tribunal hearing.
Apellant Kevin Jakubec pulled out of the hearing last week, after reaching a settlement with North Kent Wind 1. Wind project officials agreed to improve their Renewable Energy Approval and in exchange Jakubec "exited" from the hearing.
But the move still leaves farmer Laurier Cartier with discolored water and a toilet that needs to be cleaned daily.
"I'm very disappointed, I expected more than [the exit]," says Cartier. "I don't know what to do from now on, but they have to help us with this problem we have."
Cartier is one of a handful of residents who believe nearby wind turbines are depositing sediment in his drinking water. After reports that hearing evidence would have suggested otherwise, he still believes the wind farm is to blame.
"It's the windmills for sure. We had problems as soon as they started putting them in the ground," says Cartier.
Water Wells First Rep Kevin Jakubec holds up turbid water following a preliminary Environmental Review Tribunal hearing in Chatham, August 23, 2016 (Photo by Jake Kislinsky)
In order to address some of those concerns, Water Wells First member Kevin Jakubec is hosting a meeting at Countryview Golf Course Thursday at 7pm, to talk about the cancelled hearing.
"I think we've gotten everything that we're going to get out of the process -- there are some improvements that we've been able to get, so I'm going to explain that to our community," says Jakubec. "By no means is our community done with this issue, it's too serious."
Jakubec is taking the issue so seriously, in fact, that he's calling out Chatham-Kent's mayor for not doing enough.
"I have not seen our mayor lift a single finger to go into Dover Township and investigate -- find out what's going on," says Jakubec. "We'd love to have Mayor Hope come out and explain how it is that he has come to the conclusion looking at one document solely that this issue is now dealt with."
The document that Jakubec is referring to was prepared by Golder Associates Ltd. in September. In a release, the municipality had cited that report as a key factor in Jakubec eventually withdrawing his formal complaint.
All of those issues are expected to be addressed at tonight's meeting.
But while residents wait for a clear answer about their dirtied water, Laurier Cartier will be among those who need to look for other ways to get clean drinking water.
"I would like to have some help to take care of this problem we have," says Cartier. "You just can't throw us on the backburner and forget about this."
-With files from Matt Weverink