By Sue Tiffin
Published May 16 2017
Water levels in Minden Hills receded over the weekend offering residents and business owners some relief since Reeve Brent Devolin declared the town to be in a state of emergency on May 6.
Bill Mauro Municipal Affairs minister visited the flood-stricken downtown area on May 12 to survey the damage and announce the Disaster Recovery Assistance for Ontarians program had been activated.
Residents and business owners who’ve been affected by the flood can register for the program on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing website.
Road closures in the area increased as flood waters rose over the past week.
The township made the decision to close Sunnybrook Bridge the main bridge connecting Bobcaygeon Road over the Gull River to pedestrians and vehicular traffic as well as Bobcaygeon Road from Newcastle Street to “non-essential traffic” on May 10.
At press time that road remained closed.
Most downtown businesses remained open.
As for when the road restrictions might be lifted Devolin said “As soon as we have a certain level of comfort that nothing’s happening for at least 24 hours and we don’t have any surprises in weather we will be happy to deconstruct what we’ve done on a staged retreat.”
Updated press releases and emergency information is available online at mindenhills.ca.
With files from Chad Ingram