Residents' concerns about the adoption of by-law 1158 regarding the maintenance of ditches prompted Mayor Geneviève Lachance to make a statement about the issue at the start of the monthly council meeting on Tuesday, August 8.

"I understand there seems to be confusion and misinformation regarding by-law 1158 being presented tonight. I want to assure you that your voices are heard and that the by-law doesn't have the impact as a lot of people are stipulating," said Lachance.

"Under section 67 of the municipal powers act, any municipality may among other things adopt by-laws that govern the construction and maintenance of works over public roads including ditches," Lachance added.

Maintenance of ditches

According to Lachance, the purpose of by-law 1158 is to clarify existing by-laws and clear the confusion regarding the maintenance of ditches since it seems to create misunderstandings among some residents.

"There will be no reduction of service from the city. We will keep doing what we were doing even before by-law 1158," said Lachance, adding she recently mentioned this on a social media post to address concerns regarding misinformation about the by-law.

"Ditches serve the purpose of ensuring the water has a designated area to drain to prevent flooding. It's also the orientation of the Ministry of the Environment to privilege open ditches versus the canalized or closed ditch," said Lachance. 

Flood prevention

"An open ditch has a greater capacity to reduce flooding from heavy rain. Vegetative ditches are designed to temporarily retain water and permit filtration into the soil," she added. 

The mayor noted that with the heavy rain this summer, the city wants to ensure excess water doesn't wind up in residents' basements or flood roads.

The city's ditch network runs along 440 kilometres of the city's streets and the process of cleaning the ditches is done two to three times a year when possible. Two different tractors with mechanical arms are also required to do the job properly, according to Lachance.

"It would be too difficult to use ordinary lawn mowers or weed whackers considering the number of streets involved. This will continue to be done and by-law 1158 has no impact on this," Lachance said. 

"The city is committed to ensure the free flow of water and will undertake the reprofiling of ditches when needed as part of regular maintenance." she added. 

Homeowners' responsibility

Homeowners also have a responsibility to ensure the ditches remain free-flowing. "This means that residents need to play a role in maintaining the ditches and keeping them clear of debris and obstructions," said Lachance. 

The mayor added the city used similar by-law examples from other cities across Quebec - including Vaudreuil-Dorion, Rigaud, Gatineau, Terrebonne and Mont Sainte-Hilaire - regarding a homeowner's responsibility for properly maintaining ditches on their property.

"By using clear language to explain the purpose of the by-law, this will provide clarity and ensure everyone understands their role and obligations. by-law 1158 has nothing abnormal or extraordinary," said Lachance. The by-law was later adopted by council.