Residents and business owners affected by the gas explosion in downtown Wheatley will have to wait a little while longer for some kind of a resolution.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent said the tentative date for completion of gas well remediation has been pushed back until the end of June.
During a virtual public meeting on April 9, the municipality initially told local residents that remediation would be completed by mid-to-late May.
The municipality is currently working to cap the Tait well near the centre of the town’s municipal parking lot, however, the capping of the other two gas wells is still the in the planning stage.
The decision was made last month to reduce the size of the evacuation zone to allow some residents and businesses to return, but municipal officials said safety still remains the utmost concern.
Notices have also been sent to property owners within the evacuation zone regarding possible structural damage and what steps would be needed for future occupancy.
A total of 67 households and 44 business properties were evacuated following the explosion on August 26 that destroyed one building and injured 20 people.
Another virtual public meeting will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. to answer any questions residents may have. The meeting will be hosted on the municipality’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
