Air-quality monitoring report examined Portland Community Hall as a possible refuge during wildfire smoke events
As wildfire smoke becomes an increasingly familiar part of Ontario summers, Rideau Lakes council spent part of Monday debating whether taxpayers should help fund a clean-air refuge for residents with respiratory conditions.
Committee of the whole members received an air-quality monitoring report for information on May 25, with several councillors questioning whether the township should spend money on a potential clean-air refuge for residents during wildfire smoke events.
The report, prepared by Fire Chief Gene Richardson and Manager of Community Protection Steve Holmes, stemmed from an April motion brought forward after concerns were raised by residents dealing with asthma and respiratory issues.
The motion directed staff to investigate existing air-quality monitoring resources, potential partnerships with health agencies and whether a township facility such as the Portland Community Hall could serve as a temporary cleaner-air safe space during periods of poor air quality caused by wildfire smoke.
The report identified existing federal and provincial monitoring tools already available to residents, including Environment Canada forecasts, the Air Quality Health Index and FireSmoke.ca.
Staff also examined the feasibility of using the Portland hall as a temporary refuge equipped with commercial air scrubbers using HEPA and carbon filtration systems.
Estimated costs for the proposed equipment were pegged at roughly $6,000 plus shipping, HST and future filter replacement costs.
During discussion at committee of the whole, Coun. Paula Banks asked Richardson whether he believed the proposal was worthwhile.
“I’m asking, is it worthwhile or should we wait and see if this is really something that would be used?” Banks said.
Richardson said he believed the township should hold off for now.
“I strongly believe to wait to see what happens,” Richardson said. “We’ve had a few individuals in the township and that’s it, so spending $6,000 to satisfy a few people at this time, that’s all.”
Coun. Marcia Maxwell agreed, saying she believed maintaining cooling centres during hot weather was more important.
“I think it’s much more important to have a place where people can go and get cooled off with our warm summers than it is smoke that we might be getting from out west,” Maxwell said.
“We’re certainly not in the centre of the wildfires here. Not yet anyway. Hopefully we never do.”
Maxwell also questioned whether the cost was justified given the limited number of complaints received.
“There’s other methods you can get for being able to breathe and staying indoors with your windows closed,” she said.
Coun. Debbie Hutchings also weighed in during the discussion, speaking from personal experience with breathing issues and allergies.
“You have to kind of take it in stride,” Hutchings said. “If you know that you’re allergic to something or you have allergies, I think with allergies, it doesn’t matter where you are.”
Hutchings said individuals dealing with respiratory issues often need to manage their own exposure and adapt accordingly.
“There’s just some things there because you are impaired with this problem, you just can’t do,” she said. “You just have to accept it.”
Deputy Mayor Jeff Banks asked whether the Portland hall’s air conditioning system drew air from outside the building. Richardson said he believed it did, although Holmes was not available during the meeting to answer technical questions.
Council voted unanimously to receive the report for information with no further direction provided to staff.
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