Crews work to remove debris from the site of an explosion in Wheatley on Wednesday, September 8, 2021. (Photo by Millar Hill) Crews work to remove debris from the site of an explosion in Wheatley on Wednesday, September 8, 2021. (Photo by Millar Hill)
Chatham

Another virtual meeting planned for Wheatley residents

Residents and business owners who were affected by the explosion in Wheatley last month are getting another chance to submit their questions to local officials.

A second virtual community meeting is scheduled for Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

According to the municipality, questions submitted by residents onscreen will be directed to a panel of municipal officials.

A similar meeting was held on September 4. Chatham-Kent CAO Don Shropshire said over 300 people participated in that online event.

"Obviously we do not have an answer to every question but we want to make ourselves available as much as we can," he said. "COVID regulations limit public gatherings so we're doing the next best thing."

Saturday's panel will include Shropshire, Mayor Darrin Canniff, West-Kent Councillors Melissa Harrigan and Mark Authier and Assistant Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry Jennifer Barton.

Questions may also be submitted in advance via email to CKcommunications@chatham-kent.ca up to two hours before the event.

Residents can access the live meeting through the municipality's Facebook site and YouTube channel.

Earlier this week, the Municipality of Chatham-Kent announced that it had signed an agreement with the provincial Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to take the lead in investigating the source of the gas the caused blast.

Meanwhile, Premier Doug Ford, who visited the site of the explosion on Tuesday, is appealing for people to help out the residents of Wheatley.

Ford posted a message on his Twitter page Friday afternoon, commending the community for its resilience over the last month. In addition, Ford linked the GoFundMe page that has been set up to help residents and business owners.

To date, the GoFundMe has raised over $43,000.

 

https://twitter.com/fordnation/status/1441436895897075712

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