A Chatham-Kent Councillor wants the municipality to once again pay for dust control services.
Michael Bondy told CK News Today that he plans on bringing a notice of motion at CK council's next meeting on May 26.
The services, which cost around $1.3 million, were cut from the 2025 municipal budget to help lower the overall tax increase for residents. According to the municipality's administration, any suppression work would have been virtually useless, as one rainfall would wash away any of the suppressants put down.
Bondy voted to cut the service, however, he changed his mind after speaking with several rural residents.
"I voted to eliminate it because (administration) said it didn't work. If it didn't work, why would (people) email us?" he said.
Bondy also wants to give people in favour of dust suppression the chance to share their concerns directly with council. Residents were allowed to give deputations during budget deliberations, however, Bondy doesn't believe the issue was given the time and focus that other items have had.
"There was no voice from the rural public as it was in the budget," added Bondy.
He can request a new discussion on the issue since he approved the original motion. Anyone who didn't isn't allowed, as they could request a new vote every meeting. This is what happened to Councillor Rhonda Jubenville, who tried to hold another vote on the Chatham-Kent Community Hub (CKCH), but was rejected since she voted against the project previously.
It was at community meetings about the CKCH that Bondy was given the chance to speak directly with people who wanted dust control services back.
One of the residents aiming to get the services back is Lillian Melhuish. She has lived on Smoke Line, outside of Kent Bridge and Thamesville, for 50 years, and noted that anyone who thinks dust suppression doesn't work is wrong.
"If it's so ineffective, why didn't they get rid of it years before?" Melhuish explained.
She added she's already having trouble staying outside for long periods because of dust clouds.
Melhuish believes that if all council members saw the amount of dust rural residents and farmers have to deal with and heard personal stories of how the suppression has helped, they wouldn't have voted to cut the services.