Pontiac council report —- New director general, floodplain map creates mass worry

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Mo Laidlaw

MUNICIPALITY OF PONTIAC – About 25 residents attended the regular council meeting, July 9 at the Luskville Community Centre, where the majority of the meeting addressed the questions and concerns of residents. Pierre Said, recently hired as Executive Assistant, was promoted to Director General.

—– ZIS (special intervention zone)


Mo Laidlaw

MUNICIPALITY OF PONTIAC – About 25 residents attended the regular council meeting, July 9 at the Luskville Community Centre, where the majority of the meeting addressed the questions and concerns of residents. Pierre Said, recently hired as Executive Assistant, was promoted to Director General.

—– ZIS (special intervention zone)

Rock Fillion and Francine Chartrand asked about the government’s proposed ZIS, which does not correspond to existing 0-20 or 0-100 year flood zones. Labadie explained that the ZIS is not a permanent flood zone map, but designates an area in which no building or renovation can be carried out until updated flood zone maps are produced. “It’s a moratorium; the government pressing the pause button,” she said.

In response to a request for clarification on the ZIS map, the municipality received a reply from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing:

“In the framework of the draft decree establishing a special intervention zone (ZIS), an adjustment of the map of the areas flooded in 2017 and 2019 is underway so it reflects the reality more accurately. The adjusted version of this map will be made public at the time of the publication of the ZIS decree by the Government of Québec. Homeowners whose buildings are not located in 0-20 year flooded areas and have not been flooded in 2017 or 2019 will not be subject to the ZIS.
Following the publication of the adjusted version, citizens will be invited to send their comments to their municipality, who will have until August 19, 2019 to send comments to the Ministry for processing.”

Louis Garneau suggested that in areas where cottages have lost more than 50% of their value due to flood damage, people should be allowed to have trailers this summer. Labadie advised, “we will look at the bylaw (on trailers).” Flooded secondary residences are ineligible for provincial compensation.

—— Road maintenance

Pierre Pratte asked when roads will be swept to remove winter grit, and ditches and verges cut to improve visibility and reduce invasive weeds. Labadie said most roads have been swept and grass cutting will be carried out in the next three weeks.

Pratte also asked why the municipality could not help with raising private roads during the flood. Labadie replied that both ministries, Municipal Affairs and Public Security, said they can save lives but not private property, even though raising roads would be cheaper than evacuations and 90% of flood victims live on private roads.

—- Expenses

Council approved to spend about $70,000 and no more than $100,000 for 80 culverts and geotextile. Public works will launch a tender.