FILING FOR AN AGGREGATE LICENSE IS VERY CLOSE

Highlands will be filing for an aggregate license very very soon.

How do I know?

Signs must be posted in order for Highlands to comply with the legislation for their much needed Official Plan Amendment, Zoning Bylaw Amendment and Aggregate License applications.

The huge frames for the signs have now been erected on Highlands properties and he is bulldozing and burning houses like there is no tomorrow.

Once the application is filed it is imperative that people move quickly and get their objections filed with the proper agencies and Ministries.

Why is that important? Because there are prescribed times frames in which the objections must be filed or else you lose your right to object.

I will give clear step by step directions for this process, although I would expect that NDACT will have this on their site. If that is the case, I will be sure to post a link on this site. Having said this, I want to be clear that neither myself or this blog are in any way associated with NDACT, supported or endorsed by them. Just two very different methods in trying to achieve the same goal. At least one of us (NDACT) has taken the high road.

I would expect he will file it right before the Xmas holiday, when people are away. Why? Because the municipal and government offices are closed and people are busy and the clock starts ticking from the day he files a complete application. If he can get in ten days without people much noticing he is 10 days closer to his goal.

It will be interesting to see if I am wrong about when he files. I hope so, but .....

COME BACK...YOU MISSED ONE

Hey Johnny, you missed a tree....wouldn't want it to interfer with your 2,400 acre 200 foot open pit mine.

After you cut it down you can throw it in the same drainage ditch where you have been dumping the other illegally cut trees and all the garbage from the houses you have bulldozed and burned.

Highlands Bows Out

Orangeville Banner, November 23, 2009

"The Highland Companies, which operates potato farms in the area, announced it has stepped back from spearheading the YMCA effort"

Read the entire article:

http://www.orangevillebanner.com/orangeville/article/81105

Y DON'T LOCAL COUNCILS PAY FOR A Y??

A telephone study was just completed which showed an 89% support rate for the YMCA in six partner municipalities. What you need to know is:

Total population in the six municipalities: 29,400 (Source: Stats Canada)
Total phone calls made in the survey: 2,500
Total people who actually answered the phone and took part in the survey: 428
(Source: Steve Boone, YMCA)

That means 1.4% of the population was surveyed and 89% of those overwhelmingly supported a YMCA.

There has been a significant decrease in taxable assessment in Melancthon due to the Highland Companies bulldozing and burning century and heritage houses and outbuildings on 12 properties. They have permits for seven more. To date the combined assessed value on these 12 properties exceeds $2.9 million. When questioned at the October 16, 2009 meeting of Melancthon County Mayor Fawcett confirmed that any loss in taxation from these demolitions will be “shared” by all taxpayers (meaning those of us left).

If these six municipalities felt that a YMCA was needed, why don’t they pursue it themselves? The phone survey was $28,000.00. (Source: Steve Boone, YMCA) Split six ways does not seem out the realm of financial ability of any of the municipalities. If they can’t afford the $4,000 per municipality to do the study, they had better take a cold hard look at what the capital and operating costs of the YMCA itself will be, unless of course Highlands is paying.

If Highlands is in fact paying the whole shot, the next question is: if these municipalities are “partnering” and accepting this kind of cash from Highlands, to benefit their electorate in an election year (or any year for that matter) does that create a pecuniary interest in voting pertaining to Highlands at both the local and County level? One only has to look to Orangeville Council over the rail issue to see how that worked for them. Very, very costly indeed and that is just the legal fees fighting the pecuniary interest in court, both with their tax dollars at the local level AND County level. In effect, Orangeville ratepayers are paying twice (on both sides of the dog fight so to speak).

IF a YMCA is needed, then local Councils need to stand up, justify it to their ratepayers, budget for it and pay for it themselves. Kudos to the one lone Councillor who realized this early on, but who was clearly silenced, I mean outvoted by more “seasoned” politicians.

BULLDOZE BURN AND BLAST

BULLDOZE, BURN AND BLAST Melancthon off the Face of the Earth

From the Highland Companies website:
“What do we mean by a self-sufficient, sustainable community? It's one that achieves the right mix of economic activity, local government services and quality of life - without having to increase taxes.”

Lets address these statements shall we?

Firstly their statement “without having to increase taxes”

To date they have bulldozed and burnt all structures on 12 properties of which the assessed values is in excess of $2.9 million. They have another 7 permits to burn on properties on which the assessed value is more than $1.4 million for a total of assessment on demolished properties of $4.3 million.

The Township needs a “sustainable” (to use a buzzword) level of funding. Any decrease in that level through reduced taxes due to property now being vacant will be borne by all taxpayers. This was confirmed by Mayor Fawcett at the October 16 meeting of Council, when questioned,

Next statement, “right mix....and quality of life”.
What quality of life is there with blasting, trucking, noise, dust a railway several times a day and no citizens left with which to form a community? Just asking.

Sustainability-how is pumping water until the end of time to keep a massive 2,400 acre 200 foot deep hole in the ground, devoid of soil and rock “SUSTAINABLE”.

Any politician who cannot see through this self serving mantra and does not immediately stand up and voice their concerns against this initiative should be ashamed of themselves and do the right thing and resign.

Aggregate and Arrogance go hand in hand

An article from the Collingwood Connection reports that, “A staff report from the Niagara Escarpment Commission (NEC) says that Walker Industries should not be allowed to expand its quarry near Duntroon.”

See the entire article:
http://www.collingwoodconnection.com/collingwoodconnection/article/150006

The story further states that: “Ken Lucyshyn, a vice-president and general manager with Walker Industries, was not impressed with the report. I’m disappointed but I’m not surprised given their past record with aggregate applications,” he said. “I don’t think they took into consideration all of our findings [technical data that was submitted] or the fact we’re proposing to do a lot of good things with the site – things like tree planting and so forth.”

Wow. What is wrong with the NEC, I mean honestly. This massive aggregate proposal will be offset by planting some trees (and so forth).

Lets see: Walker Industries wants to open a new, 170-acre quarry across the road from its present 116-acre pit and mine below the water table and don’t forget build an asphalt plant at the new site. Surely planting a few (KATRILLION) trees WILL offset the carbon footprint.

And of course in order to reassure their opponents (and gullible politicians) we come to the oft quoted position of ALL aggregate companies who mine below the water table:

REHABILITATION

This company is of course planning to rehabilitate the land with.....wait for it......a GIANT LAKE!!

Dejavu all over again? Sound familiar???

2500 equals 428, but somehow that equals 89% of 29,000

Hold on to your hat and see if you can follow the math (I know I am lost)

The Citizen, with its usual stellar reporting, clearly favouring a 2,400 acre 200 foot open pit mine, published the attached article today:

YMCA support strong in North Dufferin

link: http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2009/1119/front_page/004.html

The unidentified reporter, who I would suspect is Wes the Crypt Keeper Keller, states in the article:

"More than 2,500 telephone calls were made on a random basis across the region to achieve the required sample and the desired level of confidence in the results.

...which found that 89 per cent of area ¡residents support the location of YMCA programs and services in the region."

Makes you think that 2,225 people were in favour of a YMCA (which would be 89% of 2,500).

But hold yer (trojan) horses partners....

What is not mentioned is that while 2,500 calls were made, ONLY 428 people were actually surveyed. The rest were probably not home, trying to avoid the smoke from the demolished and burning houses in Melancthon. (source: Steve Boone, YMCA email dated November 19, 2009).

Stats Canada shows that the population in the six municipalities who are supposedly wet with excitement about this YMCA have a combined population of 29,450 people.

And the YMCA feels that surveying 428 of them is representative of support for a YMCA in the area. I calculate that 428 people is just OVER 1% of the population of the eligible voters.

In a few days I will post, in a very simple short way, why it is important that Highlands NOT be involved in any YMCA proposal for our community. You will be surprised at the linkages and ramifications for local politicians and councils.

Find Your Own Truth

I want to bring to your attention other organizations who are fighting the good fight. It comes with a proviso, however.

None of these organizations in any way support or are part of this blog. By listing them here, I do not want anyone to associate my politics and method of informing the public with any of these organizations. I have found these listings on the internet and am providing them here for your information/public service only.

Gravel Watch Ontario is an absolute invaluable resource for any organization battling a mine/quarry or pit:

Gravel Watch
http://www.gravelwatch.org/

The Caledon CCC is at the OMB now:

The Coalition of Concerned Citizens
http://www.coalitioncaledon.com/

These people near Hamilton are fighting the brother of good old Johnny Lowndes:

Friends of Rural Communities and the Environment
http://www.stopthequarry.ca/

This is the group fighting for us here in Dufferin:

North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce
http://www.ndact.com/

This group is battling a 300 acre quarry in Mulmur:

Conserve our Rural Environment
http://www.corecares.ca/

Comprehensive list all of organizations:
http://www.gravelwatch.org/coalitions.htm

Everyone has to mine for their own truth-hopefully this blog will help you find yours.

Required Reading

Click on the link:

http://torontoist.com/2009/11/forget_paving_paradise_lets_just_dig_a_giant_hole_in_it.php

LIGHTS OUT

12 homes, gone, demolished by our guru, our saviour the Melancthon Mesiah Lowndes and his Minion Mikey.

Another 9 at the least to go.

Last person out of Melancthon, be sure to shut out the lights.

Tea Party?

Hey, guess who had a nice little tea (bag) party the other day in posh Rosedale?

A (local) ex-MPP, Johnny Lying Lowndes, Minion Mikey and good old Dalton. Nice cozy little partAY.

Bet they only had eyes for each other.

Liar Liar, (12) Houses on Fire

Highlands Companies has destroyed 12 homesteads since August 2008. The assessed value of these properties totals more than $2.9 million.

According to a July 24, 2009 letter from Deputy Dog Bill Hill to a ratepayer, a one percent tax increase in Melancthon only generates $12,000.00. According to my math the assessed values on the properties that Highland Companies has destroyed equals a tax rate of 207%.

At the October 15 meeting of Council Mayor Fawcett confirmed that any loss in the tax base due to the demolition of these homes on properties owned by Highlands would be born by all the remaining taxpayers. After all, the municipality has to generate a certain amount of revenue. So Highland gains and we have the pain.

It does not seem fair to me, but Council clearly has NO problem with this. Melancthon Council has the authority to instantly stop the demolition by passing a bylaw under Section 33 of the Planning Act and also to designate these homes under the Heritage Act but have chosen not to.

Don't forget, Lowndes owns another 9 homes which he clearly has no wish in which to reside, so we can expect they will be coming down real soon. Jeez, Melancthon can’t hand these burn permits out fast enough.

AND finally, at NDACT's public meeting in June, Minion Mikey Daniher stated publically that Highlands had plans to demolish homes in numbers of LESS than "double digits".

Now I am not a smart person and math clearly is not my forte, but double digits in my simplistic world starts at 10. They are already up to 12, so I guess this would represent just one more lie in the Highlands Grand Plan for Melancthon.

But then again Mikey also stated at the June 2009 NDACT meeting the homes were demolished because they were condemned and uninsurable.

Investigation revealed that the Chief Building Official (CBO) for the County of Dufferin is the only authorized legislative authority to issue an Unsafe Order under the Building Code. AND the CBO advised in an email dated June 22, 2009, “None of the(se) properties you are asking about have been as you say "condemned" by the County of Dufferin Building Department”

Removing 21 houses from Melancthon equals 2% of the total homes. To remove 2% of the total homes in Toronto equals 20,811 homes. Do you think if some corporation took down 21,000 homes in Toronto in the name of all that is good and right someone wouldn’t notice or put a stop to it?

November 11

My grandfather and uncle fought for the right to free speech for all Canadians and the free world.


Canadians should NOT be intimidated from speaking their views at a meeting of Council or in the paper. They should NOT feel afraid because they are standing up for what they feel is good and right.


Remember, if you don't stand for something you will fall for anything.



In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below

We are the dead

Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields

Take up our quarrel with the foe

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Lt.-Col. John McCrae (1872 - 1918)

Three of these things belong in Melancthon....

Three of these things belong in Melancthon

Three of these things are kind of the same

Can you guess which one of these doesn't belong here?

Now it's time to play the game

It is Like Looking in a Mirror

I can't tell the difference, can you tell the difference?

WEE MIKEY DANIHER

JOHNNY LOWNDES

You Decide

To date Lowndes has demolished and/or taken out fire permits for 12 homes in Melancthon. The former Eichhorn home (second property on the west just north of S/R 15 on the 4th line OS in Melancthon) is smoldering today after having been demolished by Lowndes.

Why is it our business? The loss of these homes destroy a community and taxbase. You and I will be making up for the lost revenue and assessment on these homes. Mayor Fawcett confirmed that at the October 15 Council meeting when she was asked.

“Trevor Downey of Downey Farms and John Lowndes both say the intent in Melancthon is merely to have a world-class potato operation.” (Orangeville Citizen, June 27, 2007) See full article attached: http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2007/0607/local_news/011.html

Here are some pictures taken by a local over the last year. Does this look like a company that merely wants to have a world-class potato operation OR a corporation that is depopulating the township, decimating trees, wildlife and the environment to get ready to dig the mother of all mines.......

Take and look and then vote on the poll.

The Benotto house, outbuildings, barns and trees being demolished-wiped off the face of th earth basically. All the garbage, including insulation, t.v.s, large appliances, glass, etc. were dumped in the Melancthon landfill, despite Mayor Fawcetts statement at NDACT's June 2009 public meeting that no houses demolished by Highlands have been dumped in our landfill.

This is on S/R 15 in Melancthon on Lot 16, Concession 4 (Wallace) where trees were clear cut without proper permits. Maybe I am imaging this, but it looks like the EXACT size for a rail bed and train.

This row of more than three hundred 15 year old trees, that served as a windbreak and wildlife corridor was ripped out by Highlands in one day and dumped in the old gravel pit behind Downey's warehouse. Highlands had initially claimed they were transplanting the trees. This tree line used to stretch between the 5th line NE and 4th line NE (dump road).

Demolition and Destruction of Melancthon

Highlands has demolished 6 homesteads to date and have been issued fire permits for another 6 for a total of 12 homesteads (homes, barns, outbuildings and trees) to be struck from the face of Melancthon Township.

Here is a little ditty Council might want to amuse themselves with, since they have no intention of stopping the devastation:

(Sung to the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down)

Homes and barns are coming down
Coming down
Coming down
Homes and barns are coming down
All thanks to John Lowndes

Thousands of trees have been cut down
Been cut down
Been cut down
Thousands of trees have been cut down
All thanks to John Lowndes

We've asked Council to put a stop to this
Stop to this
Stop to this
We've asked Council to put a stop this
But Lowndes’ ass they’d rather kiss

Solved: the "sustainability" issue

God I HATE the word sustainable.

All it means is can anyone/we/me/I /you/Council keep this up?

I bet you have never heard the phrase: is our sex life sustainable; is our grocery bill sustainable; is our lifestyle sustainable?

NO WAY.

So why don't corporations and people just use the plain language phrase instead of a stupid "buzzword".

Highlands is spouting that they envision a "sustainable" community, "sustainable" agricultural practices, "sustainable" and carbon neutral 2,400 acre, 200 foot deep, open pit limestone mine.....

Highlands is offering no "sustainable" solution to keep the BIG hole dry, after they have mined ALL 2,400 acres of their $18 million an acre limestone.

They state that to keep the water out of the hole, water must be pumped forever to the end of time. Of course that solution does not envision Highlands doing that, but rather the people of Melancthon, whoever are left, to do that at their expense.

Here is one way to pay for it. Rent the BIG DIG out for movie shoots. The existing Caledon pit, which will look like a groundhog hole compared to what Highlands is proposing to do, is renting to movie shoots, with the quarry serving as the setting for Afghanistan.

Melancthon's hole in the ground could be the setting for the surface of the moon, mars, or life on earth after a nuclear explosion.

I would be more anxious for the movie, if I wasn't living the (rocky) horror show myself.

And Now for Something Completely Different

Okay, you had to smile when you looked at this, right???

Just think, we will all feel that way when Highlands, Lowndes and Maid Mikey Daniher are LONG gone.

TIMBER!!

Here is an absolutely novel concept that seems to have escaped the grasp of the County of Dufferin. The City of Guelph received a call about someone clear cutting in contravention of the municipal bylaw

and.....get this.....

they went out immediately, investigated and.....wonders of wonders, laid charges!!


For the full article see: http://news.guelphmercury.com/News/Local/article/555222

Anybody out there from the County of Dufferin?

Politicians? County Forest staff???

Anybody....hello, is this mike on?

Something to Think About

There is truth in humour, but there is NOTHING funny about what Highlands is proposing to do "for" us.

Word has it that Highland has approached the City of Owen Sound to offer to dig out their harbour, free of charge.

Wow, what benenvolent beings the Highlands Companies is.

Word also has it that there are other abandon rail lines between here and there. Highlands public information they handed out at their (in)formation meeting in July said the aggregates were destined for Simcoe. Didn't say they would be USED in Simcoe.

There is an abandoned rail line between Barrie (Simcoe) to Owen Sound.

Methinks perhaps there should be an eye kept on that as well as the Orangeville to Owen Sound line.