Page 5 - SLPOA Spring 2014 Newsletter

SPRING 2014 NEWSLETTER SHARBOT LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION

SWANS ON ELBOW LAKE
Barb Wilson

This pair of Trumpeter Swans was photographed on
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March 7 , 2014 on Elbow Lake. The water on this part of
Elbow Lake rarely freezes over completely as it’s where
Sharbot Lake flows into Elbow Lake (Guigue Road). My
husband, Bill and I were on our way into the village for
lunch when we noticed the swans. My hope was that they
would still be there upon our return so that I could get
home; grab the camera and return to take pictures.
Because of the openness of the water, this area is a draw
for many birds and animals during the winter and otters
can often be seen at play around the waters’ edge.

SEPTIC RE-INSPECTION COMMITTEE UPDATE
Rem Westland

As you may know from our previous newsletter I was selected to join the joint municipal-public committee set
up by the Municipal Council to propose how a septic re-inspection program should be designed. We have had
four committee meetings since we began our work in February. There have also been a couple of sub-
committee meetings. In addition, as you can imagine, there have been innumerable email exchanges among
committee members. The process has been interesting and constructive.

From the outset I was impressed by how seriously our Municipal Council is engaged on this important topic.
There are two councillors on the Committee (Wayne Millar and Jeff Matson). There is regular attendance by
representatives of the municipality’s administration, the health department, and others. The Mississippi Valley
Conservation Authority is following our progress closely and has invited us to visit their wastewater
demonstration facility in May. I am therefore pleased to affirm that the recommendation in favour of this
initiative from various property owners’ associations – like ours – has been taken up in force.

The committee’s approach has been to elaborate upon technical matters on the one hand (how to design, write
the by-law, and manage the program); and, on the other hand, how to set priorities. There are over four
thousand properties to be inspected on an ongoing basis. There are far too many to do them all at once.

There are five classes of private sewage systems. There are factors to consider such as age, proximity to water
(ground and surface), density of residences, size of system, volume of use, and so on. We have agreed that the
program must begin by focusing where the risks are greatest. But the priority system must be seen as fair by
everyone.

As we proceed in this work we draw upon examples in other municipalities across the province where
mandatory re-inspection programs are already established. We look to those examples as well for ideas on
how to address the question of cost.

The committee’s goal is to submit a detailed, but still preliminary, plan to Council in early June. We assume,
if the plan is assessed as workable and on target, that another round of committee work will follow in order to
flush things out (so to speak).

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