There were more concerns expressed at Sarnia council's meeting Monday night about the annual Port Huron Float Down.
Council agreed to direct nearly $5,300 USD, raised through a gofundme account to help defray the cost of Sarnia's rescue effort, to the Canadian Red Cross and American Salvation Army.
Councillor Bev MacDougall suggested city staff reach out to the U.S. Coast Guard and Michigan officials to bring some care and control to the unsanctioned event.
"It is my opinion that going along with this is somehow endorsing bad judgement, made by any event organizer," says MacDougall.
1,500 Americans were blown to Sarnia's shore last month, welcomed with hospitality and then bussed back to Port Huron with the city of Sarnia picking up the $8,000 cost.
"Regardless of the cost at the end of this, it's just not smart," says MacDougall.
"In a world that has no tolerance for drunk drivers, that we all knew on both sides of this river that many of those people undertake that float on an annual basis, enjoying libation and participating in something that is not particularly safe. That I don't want to encourage as a Sarnia councillor moving forward. We were lucky, but let's take some steps to make sure it doesn't happen again."
