On Monday night, Genevieve Jones of the group Save Our Skylines (SOS) attended the Madawaska Valley council meeting with a list of questions submitted to SOS. Council has indicated it planned to visit a wind farm in the near future and Jones asked that members consider her questions while on the excursion.

"We're concerned that wind companies are not giving full side of the story," Jones said.

One question dealt with long-term effects of the wind farms on property values, health, tourism and the environment.

Councillor Phil Conway, who chaired the meeting, said he'd heard at the SOS public information meeting that property values would be lowered, but said he'd also heard that the lands where turbines are installed are often of low value anyway. Councillor Bonnie Mask said she had heard concerns about noise from the turbines and about the deer hunt.

Jones wondered about the safety of groundwater.

"We've heard that they will have to do blasting to put the foundations for the turbines in," she said. "How will that impact groundwater and wells?'

Conway stated the township "has an agreement with these people that they can't do anything until they report back to this council. That hasn't happened yet."

Councillor Sylvie Yantha said council would be better able to answer Jones' questions after the wind farm tour. Jones asked if the community of Kincardine is on the tour.

The council's original plans were to visit Shelburne; Councillor Shelley Maika asked why Jones mentioned Kincardine.

"We've heard of people who have had to leave their homes" because of the turbines, Jones responded.

CAO/Clerk Pat Pilgrim advised those at the table that the township has been invited to join other municipalities in a bus trip to the Prince Wind Farm near Sault Ste. Marie.

"Bonnechere Valley is organizing this trip; the consensus is that the terrain in that area is similar to ours," she said.

In a telephone conversation with Bonnechere Valley CAO/Clerk Bryan Martin Tuesday morning, he said it made sense for the municipalities to combine forces.

"Several municipalities have been talking individually about visiting wind farms, so why not save money and go together?" he said.

"There is no sense looking at a wind farm in open farm land in southern Ontario," he added. "The terrain in the Soo is similar to here."

Martin said he is hoping those taking the trip will be able to talk to people who live close to the wind farm as well as see the turbines in action. The trip is expected to take place early in October. Madawaska Valley Township has yet to confirm whether it will join the trip to the Soo or visit the Shelburne area on its own.

In other council news, Maika brought up the issue of OPP checkpoints on area trails. She said she had received many complaints from All-Terrain Vehicle operators.

"I'm hearing ‘We're being harassed' and ‘We're becoming a police state,'" she said. "One group from Welland said it was stopped seven times on the weekend. This is not only affecting our locals but also tourism. You can't go out and enjoy yourself on the trails for fear of being stopped and harassed."

Maika said the perception among locals is if they lodge a complaint, they will be targeted by police. She suggested council meet with Acting Staff Sergeant Colin Slight.

Conway asked Councillor Sylvie Yantha whether the issue had come up at Community Policing Advisory Committee meetings; Yantha said it hadn't.

"Most communities complain they're not getting enough police presence," he added. "Bonnechere Valley, for example, wants more foot patrols." He agreed to set up a meeting with Slight.

In a telephone conversation Tuesday with OPP Community Services Officer Lori Lobinowich, she advised there had been several RIDE checkpoints this summer in response to complaints from local residents about ATV operators speeding.

"We're not just in one location, we're all over," she said.

The checkpoints have been conducted by Killaloe OPP and the OPP SAVE unit.