Over the past year a menu of options as to how to prepare to fend off the threat that Highlands massive open pit mine poses to the community has been presented to our Council by ratepayers, subject matter experts and NDACT, all to no avail.
Our Council, in their infinate wisdom, has decided that it would be too costly to do anything at all, except of course getting their picture in the paper with John Lowndes as often as possible, so they will wait and let a group of individuals appointed to the Ontario Municipal Board, most of whom will not even know where Melancthon Township is located, decide the fate of our community.
It is my understanding that elected officials receive a paycheque from taxpayers for setting a vision and then managing and leading the municipality toward that vision. Sadly, our Mayor is far too busy washing dishes in the Hornings Mills Hall on weekends and working with Highland Companies in securing a YMCA for the Town of Shelburne to really effect and lead in any battle strategy in Melancthon that would protect residents.
Our Council does not appear to understand that doing nothing at all will be far more costly.
What is the menu of options that has been offered to Council to date, you ask?
Prepare a Strategic Plan – no action taken
Meet with Ministers at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario AMO conference in August 2009 – no action taken
Move to have the subject lands designated under the Environmental Assessment Act – no action taken
Seek and obtain a specialty crop designation for the subject lands – no action taken
Appeal to the OMB to force the province to take action on the five year review of the Official Plan that has been at the province for years – no action taken
Amend the OP to include a comprehensive list of studies required when an OPA is filed to have criteria to determine whether an application is considered complete – no action taken
Amend the OP to provide that that all studies in the OP have to be municipally directed and paid for at the expense of the applicant –no action taken
Incorporate the AEMOT study into the OP – no action takenUpdate the OP and aggregate policies and/or fees which could include amending the fees and charges for an OPA for an aggregate application of at least $100,000.00 – no action taken
Put conditions in place where a deposit of ½ billion dollars is on deposit by the applicant of a gravel application of this magnitude, so that residents can access that to prove their water issue problems against Highlands – no action taken
As recommended more than five years previously by opponents of Strada hire an aggregate specialist to guide the municipality through the process AT THE EXPENSE of the applicant NOT taxpayers – no action taken
Pass a municipal tree cutting bylaw – no action taken
Pass a bylaw under Section 33 of the Planning Act regarding demolition of structures – no action taken
Move a motion at County Council to fine Highland Companies for the nine proven contraventions by Highland Companies with respect to tree cutting – no action taken
Heritage Designation for century homes – no action taken
Interim control bylaw under Section 38 of the Planning Act – no action taken
Request the assistance of an inter-ministerial technical working group with representatives from all impacted ministries and agencies to guide the municipality through the process –no action taken
Now, to be fair what has our Council done in the past few months? Well, firstly they have saved us from the invasive species known as Giant Hogweed and as I mentioned before are working their collective asses off with John Lowndes in ensuring that Melancthon taxpayers, who already pay toward three arenas and two swimming pools, will have the luxury of paying for a YMCA to be located in the Town of Shelburne.
I feel better, don't you?
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