The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is looking to work with residents living along the Lake Erie shoreline to prevent further flooding damage.
A report will be presented at council on Monday, recommending that Infrastructure and Engineering Services provide technical guidance to homeowners on locations, pit and drainage design, and potential suppliers to help facilitate the installation of private property sump pits.
Home and cottage owners along Erie Shore Dr. in Blenheim have been faced with many incidents of flooding in recent months, due to strong winds and high water levels.
So far, the municipality has completed the following work to mitigate flooding damage along the road:
- The placement of 100 concrete blocks along the road to direct water to the Burke Drain.
- The installation stone erosion protection on the drain to prevent water from eroding the top of the slope and roadway.
- The milling of asphalt to direct water from the south side of the road to the drain.
He says he has talked to many residents along the Lake Erie shoreline, who are desperate for a solution.
"They've been really concerned that the municipality isn't taking the necessary steps to help alleviate their flooding issues...some people's homes have been flooded out for 12 to 18 hours the last time we had a big major storm come through. The feedback I'm getting is that we need to come up with a plan that not only protects the road, but also protects the home owners," Thompson explains.
Thompson says he wants to see the municipality pursue measures that address home owners' issues and concerns.
"They really have two main concerns out there. Their first one is the lakeshore erosion issue on the south side of their property, that's a big concern of theirs. The second one is what happens to the water after it runs up onto the land, so what we do with it at that point," he says.
The report states that Infrastructure and Engineering services does not recommend "outletting flood waters to the Burk Drain to avoid exceeding the drain capacity" or the "implementation of additional catch basins outletting to the Burk Drain under the road due to structural concerns."
Thompson, on the other hand, thinks it is the best solution.
"Personally, that is what I want to see. It's what I'm going to push for and it's what the residents want to see as well," explains Thompson.
There has also been debate around whether the municipality is responsibility for protecting homes along the shoreline. Thompson says it is still unclear where the ownership lies in regards to shoreline protection, break walls, and other barriers.
"Whether the municipality is responsible, where their priorities lie, and exactly who's responsibility it is-- it's still up in the air," says Thompson.
He says that's for an issue lawyers to figure out.
In a separate report, council members will also consider a report that recommends the municipality provides a letter of support to participate as a partner in the “Adapting to the Future, Storm and Ice Regime in the Great Lakes” proposal in order to develop a Lake Erie Integrated Shoreline Management Plan.
If the proposal is awarded funding by Natural Resources Canada, the municipality would match a share of $50,000 in 2018 and $50,000 in 2019, to be funded through the Strategic Development Reserve. A decision is expected early next year.