Champlain Township wants to talk with the Town of Hawkesbury about obtaining municipal water services for commercial land on the boundary between the two municipalities.
The shopping centres and restaurants on the north side of County Road 17 in Hawkesbury are within the town limits and are connected to the municipal water system. The south side of County Road 17 is in Champlain Township and the land there is mostly vacant. It is zoned for commercial development and at least 100 acres of it is currently for sale. However, the future potential of development on those lands and others surrounding it depends on if municipal water services are available.
On February 20, Champlain Township council adopted a resolution directing Mayor Normand Riopel and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Kevin Tessier to negotiate a supply of water from the Town of Hawkesbury for the lands on the boundary.
Champlain Township Mayor Normand Riopel said talks have not yet begun, and he hopes to hear from the Town of Hawkesbury soon about initiating the process. Riopel is optimistic that an agreement to solve the long-standing issue can be reached.
“I believe one day we’ll have an agreement,” he said.
Riopel said discussions between Champlain and Hawkesbury last took place in 2019 but did not continue once the COVID-19 pandemic arrived.
Hawkesbury Mayor Robert Lefebvre, who formerly served as Champlain Township CAO and Clerk-Treasurer of the former Township of West Hawkesbury, has seen the situation from both sides over many years.
“It’s been an issue for 30 years,” Lefebvre said.
He noted that as of March 7, Champlain had not yet made an official request to Hawkesbury for negotiations. However, Hawkesbury council is already anticipating the process will soon begin. Due to the nature of the issue, it has been discussed by Hawkesbury council in closed session.
Lefebvre is hopeful an agreement may be reached with Champlain. He said the best result will likely be an agreement which is not to the complete satisfaction of each side and they will have to be willing to give up something in the process.
“Everyone has to leave something on the table,” Lefebvre said.
The Town of Hawkesbury already supplies water to parts of Champlain Township, including a pipeline which mostly follows Highway 34 to Vankleek Hill.
