With a series of public meetings going over the 2020 municipal budget behind them, it’s all down to council. 
The session in Wallaceburg held on January 22 attracted about a dozen residents, and another 40 took in the final presentation in Chatham last night.
Although the main focus was on the budget and services Chatham-Kent provides, some citizens used the opportunity of the gathering of councillors and municipal administration to talk about issues that matter to them.
Peter Hensel, an 80 year-old Dover Township resident, used the open house as an opportunity to talk to councillors and staff to remind them about the issue of contaminated water wells in the former Dover Township.
Hensel said he wanted to make council aware that the problem still exists.
“It’s a case of where they’re in the budget deliberations and all of us in that area have had problems with our wells and most of us are seniors and have added cost of getting water into our homes—at least potable water which we don’t out of our taps.”
Other issues that residents chimed in on included: high water levels, and recreation programs at the Wallaceburg pool.
Wallaceburg councillor Carmen McGregor said she has heard from residents that they want to see the municipality fix up area roads.
In the proposed budget, there is a one percent increase in the annual funding for infrastructure, which will help Chatham-Kent catch up on fixing area roadways.
There is also an additional $550,000 set aside for storm sewer projects.
Deliberations on the 2020 budget with a proposed tax hike of 4.99% are set to get underway next Tuesday.
