Essex to ask Health Unit how it can prevent beach closures

By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press

Council for the Town of Essex supported Mayor Sherry Bondy in directing Town administration to draft a letter to the Windsor Essex County Health Unit, asking when and why they shut down County beaches and measures the municipality can take to avoid beach closures this summer and in the future.

As the matter was minor and urgent in nature, Bondy was able to raise it under New Business during the July 7 meeting, instead of having to go through the Notice of Motion process, which would have delayed a decision two-weeks, when the next regular Council meeting is scheduled to take place.

This is a matter about which Bondy believes a conversation needs to be had.

She would like to ask the Health Unit what its methodology is in terms of determining when a beach should be closed, and if its reps know how the Town of Essex could prevent future closures.

“I know we have only had one warning on our beach this summer,” but she wanted to start dialogue with the Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) and Source Water Protection in seeing what the municipality can do to prevent closures at its Colchester Beach.

That can look into seeing if fishflies, goose droppings, or sanitary septic systems that are hot tapping into the lake are the issue.

“We worked so hard to bring people down to our beach,” she said. For example, last summer family members of hers from out-of-town rented rooms to stay in the area and the beach ended-up being closed.

“It is kind of a kick in the gut when you can’t use the beach,” she said.

Councillor Jason Matyi thanked Bondy for bringing this matter forward.

“Our water protection is kind of lacking right now,” he said, noting conversations used to be held freely with the neighbours to the south about source water protection. “To get more eyes looking at it, to get the Health Unit involved to find out if there are things we can do to help at the municipal-level, I think this is a great conversation to have. I am really looking forward to the information we are going to get back from this.”