NEEBING, Ont. – Despite the objections of more than 30 residents, an area on the eastern shores of Oliver Lake that had been informally used as a boat launch will remain blocked.
Neebing municipal council met Wednesday evening and heard two deputations regarding the boat launch, as well as concerns from other members of the public who were in attendance.
Council had decided last year to block the small strip off East Oliver Lake Road that many people had used to launch their boats, though the area was never officially recognized as a boat launch. Earlier this week a number of large rocks were put in place to prevent accessing the launch point.
Susan McRury was one of the deputants and spokesperson for residents opposing the closure of the boat launch. McRury said she was initially surprised to hear council decided last year and did so with minimal public consultation.
As of right now, nothing will change but McRury was told by council she could start a committee to develop ideas to either improve the boat launch or find another site.
“I am very disappointed. I expected more from council because council is supposed to be there working for us, the taxpayers,” she said.
“There was no consultation. They made a decision and it was done.”
Mayor Ziggy Polkowski said the decision to close the boat launch was made due to concerns about liability. The boat launch is located right on the road and there is not a lot of space for a truck hauling a trailer and a boat to get in the water.
He understands why many of the people are upset about the closure but said it has to be done.
“It’s strictly a safety issue. People came to us with a deputation that creates problems and that were many close calls,” Polkowski said.
“I feel really badly for some of the people because obviously they used that thing for so many years but like everything else in life there are changes and perhaps we can find another place on this lake we can make safer with the community.”
Several of those in attendance argued the area had been used as a boat launch for at least the past 60 years without incident.
However, Polkowski said that doesn’t mean there isn’t risk and council is deciding to be proactive rather than reactive.
“If something would happen, we are responsible for 2,500 taxpayers and we have to mitigate the liability,” he said. “If we would be liable, and the municipality always has the deepest pockets and we’re always dragged to court, if it costed us a few million (dollars) that could really put the municipality in a serious financial situation.”
With that launch closed, residents would have to drive around the lake to the boat launch on the west side. But many west side residents say it’s already too busy over there to handle any more traffic.
McRury said she believes complaints about safety, as well as garbage accumulation, led to council deciding to close the boat launch.
She proposed a number of solutions, including speed bumps, signage and OPP enforcement, to improve safety and said the installation of garbage cans could help mitigate any cleanliness concerns.
Coun. Mike McCooye, who represents the East Oliver Lake Road area, said speed bumps are unrealistic, signage is already ineffective and having the OPP do targeted enforcement would be too expensive.
But he said he is willing to work with the committee in hopes of finding a solution.
“If we can find another location and possibly put in another launch, a safe launch, something where there is no liability then I’m all for it,” McCooye said.
