After reading the report on the removal of the mesh “Wildlife Fencing” by Marianne Wood in the Number 13 issue of the Press, I am prompted to ask further questions related to this story that may be of interest to some of your readers. Could you please investigate and report further?
My first question is what wildlife was the fence intended to protect and/or re-direct and why at that location? The fence I observed could be jumped by an adult white tailed deer and reptiles could cross under it. I was also surprised that the fence was erected across the lake bed of Lake “Soon Be Gone” which would seasonally completely submerge that section and in all likelihood be pulled down by winter ice.
My second question is how much did material and labour cost the taxpayer (including the labour to both erect and remove the fence)?
My third question is what public agency and/or individuals controlled the public money and made the decision to initiate this ill-advised project? It appears to be the MTO but I am uncertain if that is indeed the case. The apparent level of incompetence displayed by whoever is responsible for this project is stunning.
It seems inconceivable that the fence would be erected fronting property without consulting the property owners, however that seems to have occurred. Meaningful, prior, consultation/engagement with the community at large would likely have prevented this waste of tax dollars.
This situation reminds me of the MTO erection of roadside “bird nesting boxes” at culverts along Highway # 6, reported to have cost taxpayers more than $10,000 each. These bird nesting boxes do not appear to be used by birds for nesting based on personal observation.
As an editor/reporter, I would hope that you vigorously pursue this matter further and provide the readers of your paper with some hard and fast facts. I will look forward to seeing more from you on this matter.
Yours truly
Douglas SWEIGER
Tobermory, Ontario
