Ausable Bayfield Water and Planning Manager Alec Scott says a new report on how to re-engage the public in the update of the Shoreline Management Plan laid out a number of steps that will take place over this year and next year.
Scott says the first recommendations involved dissolving the existing steering committee and posting comments received from the consultants report on their web site. But Scott points out some of those comments were very detailed and technical so they want input from a consultant before they respond to them.
Scott adds they also want input from a consultant on how they can update earlier reports on how they can deal with requests for erosion protection along the shoreline. And the final step will be to schedule a couple of public meetings, hopefully in June, to discuss the consultant's report and what can be done to reduce shoreline erosion as well as look at some of the development guidelines.
Scott also adds they are making concerted effort to re-engage the public and address complaints that they moved to quickly when they introduced the consultant's recommendations and that quickly galvanized public opinion in a negative way and they want to take a step back and talk to people about shoreline protection.