SRA Meeting Details

Town Council/Service Groups

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More than 100 people attended the Southampton Residents' Association meeting Saturday, July 25, held at the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre.
Also attending the meeting were several invited guests, including Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith, Police Chief Dan Rivett and Town Councillors, Thead Seaman and Diane Huber.

Chief Dan Rivett started out by explaining to the audience that, with the new By-law Enforcement officer now on staff, several regulations/by-laws were now being implemented. Among the infractions being policed are bicycles being ridden on sidewalks, dogs on the beach and property standards. "Although she has been part-time," said Chief Rivett, "we are going to put a request before council that she be hired on a full-time basis."
Many of the topics discussed were seen as priorities when it comes to the environment, planning and development, Official Plan compliance, north shore sewer project, traffic concerns, signage, and beach issues. Residents raised many concerns and demanded answers from the Mayor and councillors.

Water Quality and Dune Management:

One of the major areas of concern revolves around water quality. Board member, George Calder presented a report on the water quality and the discontinuation of water monitoring in Saugeen Shores by the Grey-Bruce Health Unit. According to the report, the Unit at one time monitored 42 beaches until 2008, when it reduced that total to 26. Prior to that, five locations, close to each other in Southampton, were carefully monitored for e-coli and now none are.

With beaches at Point Clark, Kincardine, Goderich and Grand Bend having been closed periodically, the Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation is concerned about the quality of near shore coastal waters and estuaries. The decision in 2008 to discontinue water testing was apparently based on a report that there had been no water problem in the area. Residents however, are very skeptical and question the validity and accuracy of the report. Some of the questions raised were: storm drains have never been tested for bacteria despite the fact they drain directly on to the beach; what testing has been done at the mouth of the Saugeen River; why are other groups of citizens along the coastal shoreline monitoring for e-coli, nitrates and phosphorous in streams and this area isn't. Bluewater Shoreline Residents' Association, in fact, apparently receives a grant from their municipality and quality water testing is done by the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, with tests being done on the beach and in each of the four drains.

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27/07/2009 08:52 PM

In conjunction with the beaches, the question of dune management was also raised. Some residents expressed concern over the growth of the dunes along Southampton beach and their interference with their views of the lake and that they appeared to be taking over the boardwalk area. The suggestion was made that the four stakeholders - the town of Saugeen Shores, the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority, the Lake Huron Coastal Conservation Centre and the Southampton Residents' Association, should meet with a view to working on a compromise for dune management.

Signage:

With the new signage project underway between the town and Bruce Tourism, one resident disagreed with Councillor Diane Huber's statement that gateway signage was going ahead and questioned the decision to proceed with the signage. "In these tough economic times," he said, "I think these expensive signs should be deferred for another year. Regardless of the grants that have been applied for, the money is still coming out of the pockets of the taxpayers."

The issue was also raised about putting a signage by-law in place, or a stipulation in the Official Plan, whereby new businesses, such as Rexall PharmaPlus, would have to conform to an established standard as to size and height. In addition, residents felt that Southampton and Port Elgin should be recognized as separate and unique and that Southampton signage should be considerably different and in keeping with the marine heritage and flavour of the community. (see Diane Huber letter of clarification on this issue on July 27, 2009)

Traffic:

It was evident that many residents are concerned about the obvious traffic issues that have developed, particularly, along the Highway 21 corridor between Southampton and Port Elgin. Mike Sterling said with a little money and the assistance of university students, a traffic model could be started which would set out the areas of severe traffic congestion and what could be done to help alleviate it. He pointed out that much of the roadway in question is not under the jurisdiction of the municipality but is governed by the provincial Ministry of Transportation thereby limiting what the Council can do.

Sewer Expansion Project:

This highly contentious issue has been, and continues to be, at the forefront for several months. The expansion of sewers to the area north of the Saugeen River has been viewed by some residents of the area as a 'ruse' by the municipality to open up the area to further high density development.

Mayor Mike Smith has adamantly denied the accusation and also explained that no decision has, as yet, been made regarding the project as no dollar costs have been arrived at. "We won't have any numbers until we go to tender," he said. "Town staff are now working on a formula for apportioning costs and we will probably approve an initial design at the next council meeting. We should have dollar figures by September or October and will let the public know as soon as we do."

The SRA also expressed that the organization will begin to work on suggestions and recommendations for the next Official Plan.