QUIBBLES AND BITS

Various articles and astute, intelligent and inarguable observations from Minebuster (cough, cough, cough)
Adj-Tos is having water problems-STILL or AGAIN?
"Adjala-Tosorontio Public Works Superintendent Jim Moss said the township will continue to keep a close eye on the water quality of two of its wells that were recently classified as significant contamination threats."
http://www.simcoe.com/community/alliston/article/1040055
Astute and important comment by Minebuster:
This is one municipality that took interest in the quarry issue several years ago,  presumably because they know how important water is, probably as a result of having to truck water to their ratepayers. 

County sending SIX on Japan gasification tour
http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1044691--county-sending-six-on-japan-gasification-tour
ASTUTE and important comment by Minebuster:
Of course they should.  At the last County meeting at which this was discussed, there was talk about sending ONE staff and ONE elected official and paying for most of their own expenses on their own and (I am paraphrasing here) exchanging underwear to keep costs down. 

Seriously this is NOT how business is conducted in any other world.  It is this narrow minded thinking that limits/hinders the entire County.

“This is a really important, serious adventure for the county,” explained East Garafraxa Mayor Allen Taylor, chair of the county’s Community Development Committee (CDC). The cost of sending six people over there for under $20,000 to have a first-hand experience as to what we’re heading toward is a good investment."
 
Much as I hate to admit it, Taylor is right about having first-hand experience as to what they are heading for.  Unfortunately he is wrong about the comment "heading toward a good investment".
 
Still the Japanese plant better be up and running and not just a PR showpiece, like the one a whole bunch of our Dufferin County elected officials travelled to in the States on a cut rate 30 hour (or some crazy number of hours) bus trip to see, well, basically NOTHING but a PR exercise.
 
And finally I hope that in order to justify the cost of touring this facility, County doesn't rubber stamp it YES because they might face criticism because they spent money on going and then said NO.
 
There needs to be full accountability and transparency around this entire endeavour so when the public shows up to question the findings, don't take it as a personal insult or an attack that you went there. 
 
Take it for what it is and should be-the public's interest on an issue that is going to impact them forever and our elected official's willingness to be open and transparent,NOT about who got to go, seriously who cares. 
 
IF it is good for us, tell us why. 
 
If the only reason to approve it is financial, in order to keep the tax rate down, be honest and deal with the consequences.
 
Because quite frankly we can see through BS.  For example, the sale of the railbed, being sold as the economic salvation of the County by Robbing Adams and Merry Maycock we can all see as BS. 
 
The purchase of rail bed several years ago didn't turn out so well for Orangeville, despite at the time being sold as the economic salvation of Orangeville, and now the rest of us are being sold down the river on the same flawed bill of goods.
 
When County Councillor Taylor makes the statement: “We’re going to see a state-of-the-art facility that would service Dufferin County and other areas around us really well.”


Everone should be disturbed, because quite frankly Dufferin is becoming the proverbial sacraficial lamb and trashbin of Ontario-windturbines, gasification plants, mega quarries, all to service the needs of urban Ontario, the so called economic drivers.
 
Wonder what would happen to all those big suits on Bay Street if there was no water to drink, no unpolluted air to breath food to eat or most importantly their commute to the cottage (you know their second home) was hampered by 7,200 trucks per day on their transportation corridor.
 
Wouldn't matter how many big stock deals they made that day, would it?

And finally,  Shelburne intersection a jurisdictional nightmare
Shelburne is facing a jurisdictional nightmare, plus an EA and they aren't even digging a 2,300 hundred, 200 foot below the water table, open pit limestone mine. http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1044731--shelburne-intertection-a-jurisdictional-nightmare

Astute and important comment by Minebuster:
Wonder what will happen when Highlands puts another 7,200 trucks a day, yes a DAY, on County Road 124??? Just asking.