Kawartha Lakes to offer another public meeting on Omemee splash pad idea

DAN CEARNS The Standard

KAWARTHA LAKES: The City of Kawartha Lakes will hold a public meeting sometime this month for public consultation on a potential splash pad project in Omemee.

At a meeting on Tuesday, April 30th, Ward 6 Councillor Ron Ashmore motioned to have a public meeting on this project before June 1st.

“This has been an ongoing project for almost five years now because the people of Omemee have found their beach is really unusable. Young families are moving in from all over the area,” Councillor Ashmore said. “We’ve got a lot of support from the community.”

He also noted the weather “was not great” for the last public meeting on the project, with the meeting seeing a low turnout.

“I’m confident more people will come. You’ll have well over 100 people minimum; I would guarantee that would come,” he stated.

Ward 8 Councillor Tracy Richardson agreed, saying, “This is the best way to handle it at this time.”

“I think we owe it to the folks in Omemee to give them every opportunity to weigh in on this,” Mayor Doug Elmslie said.

Community Services Director Craig Shanks acknowledged the challenges the City is facing in the Omemee splash pad project. He pointed out the City is grappling with funding issues and the search for a suitable treated water source to service the potential splash pad is proving to be a hurdle.

CAO Ron Taylor said the meeting will be held “as soon as available” time is found prior to June 1st, saying the City will have to check with their consultant’s availability as well.