The problem of people using the town’s boat launch as a starting point for a leisurely float down the river has been problem that has grown with the activity’s popularity in recent summers.
Wells said a letter to the editor by Steady Brook resident Derek Morrissey, which was published by The Western Star Tuesday, hit the nail on the head. In it, Morrissey expressed concern that some people were not exercising safety by consuming alcohol and not wearing lifejackets while taking to the river.
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Morrissey also was worried the flagrant blocking of traffic and access to private and public property by some people might some day create a situation where emergency personnel are hampered from responding.
Wells said it’s frustrating because the town doesn’t have a municipal enforcement officer to take better control of what has been happening and the RCMP cannot be expected to patrol the area as often as it seems it is needed.
He said the town is looking for some direction from the Department of Municipal Affairs about what it can do without a dedicated enforcement officer.
“We have a lot of questions but there don’t seem to be a lot of answers,” said Wells. “There is some blatant disrespect of the rules and regulations we do have in place and some people just aren’t using their common sense.”
Wells fears there will some day be a confrontation between river users and residents should frustrations mount. Or worse, there will be an emergency for which the response is impacted by discourteous parking habits.
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Twitter: WS_GaryKean
