Mayor Doughty lodges dam complaints

Alison Brownlee

The responsible mayor of Huntsville, Ontario wants property owners to pay for harboring criminals – well, beavers. He and the council have decided that beaver dams pose such a risk to the tenuous transit system in the region that they should pay for dams that  create any problems for roadways in the area.

He said property owners should be liable for any damage done to a municipal road if the damage was a result of a dam breaking on the property owners’ land, whether naturally or otherwise.

“Whereas the Town of Huntsville has had a number of incidents of damage to the municipal road system as a result of beaver dams breaking, and whereas direction has previously been given to staff to take steps to mitigate the risk to the municipality, therefore be it resolved that staff proceed forthwith to take action by all means available against the property owners on which the beaver dam adjacent to Beaver Meadow Road is located.”

Public works liked the idea so much they said, why just beaver meadow road? Let’s apply it everywhere!

I’m a little confused why this ordinance is even necessary. I assume if you have an old tree on your property that falls across the road requiring city staff to remove it, they send you a bill for that work, and if a dog on your property bites a child you have to pay for that also. So why is it necessary to say specifically that if a road is damaged because of your beaver dam you need to pay?

Discussions have been held at the District of Muskoka level, said Keeley, and public works departments from across the region have recommended drafting letters to property owners requesting dam maintenance. Whether the letters will be sent in Huntsville is unconfirmed. Management could include deconstructing part of the dam or contracting trappers to remove the beavers, which happens on a bi-weekly basis.

I guess it’s reasonable. I don’t really have a problem with it as long as you will also be sending letters to all the property owners without beaver dams, letting them know that Huntsville will hold them financially responsible for any future drought conditions, and fish, bird or wildlife shortages down the road.

It’s only fair.