Not allowed to speak before town council on the matter, about 90 Essex residents sounded off to two town councillors at a meeting over chronic basement flooding.
Councillors Randy Voakes and Steve Bjorkman hosted the public meeting Wednesday night at the Essex Arena after a couple of council meetings on the issue have become heated. Some residents are even considering a lawsuit over the issue.
"People who have flooded three times since September 2014, I can't imagine that amount of frustration," says Bjorkman. "The cost involved; people who can't get insurance."
Despite the appearance of animosity, Bjorkman doesn't believe the issue has driven a wedge between the town council and residents.
"As it happens, and you're caught up in the moment of it -- it's just frustration. I've never felt it was us against them. It's just the frustration of not being able to get an answer because I don't have an answer."
Consultants with Stantec Engineering presented proposals to upgrade infrastructure. A costing analysis suggests upgrades at two pumping stations, lagoons and sewers could cost $4.4-million, and Bjorkman says the town has applied for grants from senior governments to help cover the cost.
"A number of them (residents) were looking for the timelines," says Bjorkman. "They're guestimates at this point. But, at least they've got information that they can -- say okay, we need to get past this point and then we can get on with rebuilding our basements and carry on with our lives."
He says the consultants report and information on subsidy programs are posted on the town's website.