BUSINESS AS USUAL IN MELANCTHON

More than two years after the new Council being sworn in and more than 9 years of “work” Jorden has produced a DRAFT Official Plan.


This is a draft only.

The legislated public meeting under the Planning Act hasn’t been held yet nor has the province provided comments. 

The DRAFT plan starts on page 87 of this link: http://melancthontownship.ca/13council/agenda.jan10.pdf

I will go out on a limb here and say there will not be a new Official Plan in place by the 2014 election.

But yes, lets not change planners, Jorden is TOO integral to the operation.  TOO difficult to replace him.   FOR WHO?

For what we pay him in our tax dollars, we could have a FULL time planner in office FIVE days a week (that is called Service Delivery Improvement) and probably have had an Official Plan in place by now.

OH THE IRONY

In order for turbines to work you have to put them in windy places, but then looky here what the wind does to them.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2270029/UK-weather-Heavy-floods-wreak-havoc-gale-force-winds-sends-115ft-turbine-ground.html

TWO IMPORTANT MEETINGS THIS WEEK

January 30, 2013

Shelburne Legion
7.00 pm
Wind Resistance Melancthon
http://windresistanceofmelancthon.com/

January 31, 2013
Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex
7.00 pm
County of Dufferin
http://www.dufferincounty.ca/

CONGRATS TO THE ARMSTRONGS

Ralph and MaryLynne, who have appeared in numerous articles and videos against the MegaQuarry have welcomed a new grandson. 

He will be the 7th generation to be raised on the Armstrong farm.

He is a lucky little fella. 

His Mom Kate, who spoke at numerous NDACT functions. 

Congrats to all!!

ANTI AGGREGATE?

In an anon posting (which I would have published if you didn't name names, even if it was incorrect) this blogger has been accused of being anti-aggregate.

AND not having my facts straight.

NOPE, just anti-aggregate spin/lies and anti fucking around with water.

The fact is a quarry IS a MINE.  Once you dig below the water table you are mining-it is not a gravel pit.

"The term mining is used in the broad sense to include quarrying, well operations, milling (for example, crushing, screening, washing, or flotation) and other preparation customarily done at the mine site, or as a part of mining activity."  http://www23.statcan.gc.ca/imdb/p3VD.pl?Function=getVDDetail&db=imdb&dis=2&adm=8&TVD=118464&CVD=118468&CPV=21231&CST=01012012&MLV=5&CLV=4&CHVD=118471&D=D

And here is another source:
http://www.stopthequarry.ca/resourceroom/generalFAQS/#faq5
And the fact is the proponent of this MINE is only "probably" sure it won't impact the water, but by golly he does have a back up plan.

Will it work?

No one knows until it has to be implemented.

BUT in Peel Region, 13 wells have experienced dry wells caused by storm water ponds and construction on the 410.

AND TAXPAYERS, not the proponent of the development, are paying to correct the problem.
http://www.caledoncitizen.com/news/2013-01-24/News/Town_waving_plumbing_fees.html

Which highlights my point-water doesn't respect municipal boundaries, nor engineering reports.

AGGREGATE INDUSTRY AT IT AGAIN

Arbour Farms (on Airport Road) refiles their application for a pit

http://www.orangeville.com/news-story/1492143-arbour-farms-gravel-pit-plan-resurfaces-in-mulmur/

QUOTE FROM ARTICLE: First, we’re not a quarry, we’re a gravel pit,” “

FACT: they WILL be digging below the water table. No matter what kind of spin the aggregate industry puts on it, a mine is defined as anything that is dug below the water table. Anything above the water table is a gravel PIT.  And quarry is the lexicon the aggregate industry has introduced as it sounds better than a mine, but they are one and the same thing.

QUOTE: The community doesn’t want this to happen, but those who are outspoken in opposition to this don’t live anywhere near where the site is going to be,” Krehm said, suggesting many of the project’s opponents are weekenders.

FACT: As far as I know, "weekenders" pay the same amount of property taxes as the “locals” and they can even vote in a muncipal election. That would in my book, give the "weekenders" the right to express concern and opinions over what happens in “their/OUR” community.  We learned from the Mega Quarry-there is no us and them, we are all residents and part of the community and as it turns out, friends.

QUOTE: There probably won’t be an impact on the creek. That said, our plan calls for an adaptive management program,” he said, referring to Arbour Farms’ hydrogeological studies. “Should there be any impact, the mitigated measures will either slow down the rate of below the water table extraction or stop it all together.”

SAY WHAT: There PROBABLY won’t be an impact on water? If you don’t know, don’t start blasting. Problem with water is it doesn't respect municipal boundaries.

The company will host a public meeting at Mulmur’s municipal office on Feb. 7 from 4 to 7 p.m.


The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) 45-day commenting period for Arbour Farm’s application on the environmental registry (EBR) closes on Feb. 22. To view the application, visit the EBR site.  Click here:
http://www.ebr.gov.on.ca/ERS-WEB-External/displaynoticecontent.do?noticeId=MTE4MzA2&statusId=MTc3MDQ3&language=en

WHAT IS NEXT FOR NDACT?

Letter to the editor:

"Led by local group NDACT, the coalition of interests raised a very impressive and effective publicity campaign that educated and enthused the greater public to “Stop the Mega Quarry.”

And they did.


But does the spirit of the Stop the Quarry movement end here?

Unfortunately the tried and true methods of large scale aggregate mining continue largely untouched. Under the radar, operations that start with a few hundred acres grow incrementally by adding land through amendments to existing licences. The end result is the same — the creation of colossal sites that eventually exceed the acreage that was proposed by Highland Farms, and keep going. North Caledon already has a 3,800 acre corridor of licensed pits backing on to each other, with expansions likely to come."

Read entire letter here:
http://www.caledoncitizen.com/news/2013-01-17/Our_Readers_Write/When_does_it_become_a_megadevelopment.html


The writer is questioning does the stop the Quarry movement end with the fact they have Stopped the "MEGA QUARRY"

I would hazard a guess NO based on what I am reading on their website.

To find out for sure go to www.ndact.com or better still attend their annual general meeting and celebration to find out their next steps.  Details here:
http://www.ndact.com/index.php/events/664-ndact-general-meeting-a-celebration-feb16-2013

AND I hear tickets are going quickly, so don't wait!!

ROB STRANG TALKS ABOUT THE YEAR OF THE QUARRY

Looking over the political issues of 2012, The withdrawal of the Highland Companies' application for a mega-quarry was without a doubt our most significant political event.


How wonderful that it was a positive outcome. It gives me hope that democracy will survive when citizens from all quarters rally to defy the misguided development plans of the government and refuse to allow our precious farmland or our water resources to be jeopardized.

Read more:
http://www.orangeville.com/opinion-story/1491072-2012-was-the-year-of-the-mega-quarry-column-/

COUPLE OF MEETINGS YOU SHOULDN'T MISS

January 30, 2013
Shelburne Legion
7.00 pm
Wind Resistance Melancthon

January 31, 2013
Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex
7.00 pm
County of Dufferin

Topic is turbines, more info here:
http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2013-01-17/Local_News/Public_meetings_set_on_rail_corridor_power_line.html

REBUTTAL TO SHITGATE MAYORS LETTER TO EDITOR

Dear editor,


This letter responds to the letter published under the name of Mayor Brian Milne in The Banner paper on Jan. 10.

Southgate council recently decided they needed to hire a public relations (PR) firm to convince Southgate residents it was a good idea to sell industrial land in Dundalk to commercial waste disposal and processing firms.

When Southgate hired the same PR firm engaged by one of those same firms, they underscored a pattern that is evident in other choices Southgate has made since Milne’s election.

The decision shows no appreciation for the possibility the interests of Southgate citizens and those of waste industry developers may be different.

A second problem in governing assumptions — also evident in Milne’s letter — has compounded the first one. This is the failure (or refusal) to distinguish between the obligations of Southgate to look after its own waste disposal issues, and the role of Southgate to look after the waste disposal issues of other communities.

Residents who have been opposing the transformation of our township into a waste disposal and processing centre have not been protesting against the diversion of Southgate’s own waste stream to recycling.

They have been protesting against placing Dundalk and Southgate on the receiving end of a chain of environmental liability.

If other municipalities and businesses are willing to pay $100/tonne and more to get rid of wastes where these wastes were created, what does that tell you about the wisdom of receiving them for royalties of less than $1/tonne in Southgate?

The third problem in governing assumptions has to do with the scope of an electoral mandate. What many Southgate residents reject is the notion that being elected provides a licence to enact radical policies in the face of evident public opposition — when those policies remained unannounced during the election campaign, and when those policies will produce significant and irreversible change in the community as a place to work, live, study and play.

Milne’s letter indicates that over recent years, the community rejected a mega-dump and a waste-to-gasification scheme.

What was there then about those rejections gave Southgate council the notion they had a mandate to negotiate secret deals with private waste companies, and force Dundalk residents to accept new neighbours with plans to haul hundreds of tonnes per day of sewage sludge and chemically contaminated soil from other communities into ours?

In summary, the actions of Southgate council during Milne’s term make sense if you embrace these three assumptions:

1) There is no difference between the interests of private waste-industry operators and those of the citizens of Southgate.

2) There is no difference between the obligation of Southgate to look after the disposal of its own wastes and the disposal of wastes from other communities.

3) There is no difference between the strength of an electoral mandate for policies that were announced prior to an election and the strength of an electoral mandate for policies that were announced after it.

The problem is … these assumptions don’t make sense.

Glen Drummond, on behalf of the Southgate Public Interest Research Group

STRATEGIC PLANNING IN MULMUR

From the Township of Mulmur's website:

"STRATEGIC PLANNING INFORMATION EXCHANGE DAY" -- Click here for flyer

SATURDAY, JANUARY 26, 2013 FROM 10 A.M. TO 1 P.M. LOWER LEVEL

TOWNSHIP ADMINISTRATION BUILDING

 Contact Kerstin Shillum, Acting Deputy Clerk-Treasurer

at x 223 or kshillum@mulmurtownship.ca

 for further information.

GUEST SPEAKERS INCLUDE DR. RALPH MARTIN (SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE),

MULMUR PLANNER RON MILLS (MULMUR OFFICIAL PLAN),

DUFFERIN COUNTY MUSEUM CURATOR WAYNE TOWNSEND (MULMUR HISTORY IN RELATION TO THE PRESENT AND FUTURE),

STAFF SGT. SILLS, O.P.P. (POLICING IN MULMUR)

AND SUSAN POWELL, ONTARIO MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD & RURAL AFFAIRS

Strategic planning lays out the map as to where your municipality is headed and how it will get there.

If you live in Mulmur you should plan to attend.

Will your municipality focus on agriculture or aggregate?

Be sure you have a say.

ANOTHER TIP FOR THE MAYOR OF SHITGATE

Government documents released under FOI shows bureaucrats knew there were problems with wind turbines and noise in Melancthon as far back as 2006 but were told to “stand down”


http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/politics/archives/2013/01/20130109-163106.html

So if anyone thinks the bureaucrats at MOE are going to be Shitgate’s watchdog, think again.

MAYOR OF SHITGATE'S LETTER TO EDITOR

The Mayor of Shitgate (formerly known as Southgate) has a letter to the editor in this week's paper about what a great thing it will be to haul offal and human waste in tarp covered transport trailers to a facility located adjacent to a residential neighbourhood and school in Dundalk.

I will not even provide the link to the article, everything he says in it is just crap.  But suffice to say he is touting this as his legacy.  Which makes sense for a guy who is full of shit.

Here is a tip Mayor Moran, I mean Milne, other regions are running away from this stuff because it will go wrong and the MOE is powerless to stop it:

WATERLOO REGION — Politicians say it’s unlikely Waterloo residents will roll out the welcome mat for a new facility to heat and dry sewage leftovers at the Waterloo Region landfill.
“If it’s going to generate odours in a residential area then it’s not the right site, period,” said Waterloo Coun. Scott Witmer.
http://www.therecord.com/news/local/article/864406--region-may-have-hard-time-finding-home-for-new-biosolids-facility

Why is Minebuster writing about this?

Well because the haul route from Toronto will be through Orangeville, Shelburne and Melancthon.

In fact Lystek, the facility who will be "processing" the shit has been scuttling around Melancthon Council to pursuade them to let them haul the shit on Melancthon roads so it won't have to go through downtown Dundalk.

Since Melancthon Council has passed the heavy truck bylaw that prohibits their own residents from travelling on certain roads with a heavy load, I am 100% sure they will not permit this crap to happen.

TRANSPARENCY NOT BEING PROVIDED AT THE COUNTY

Trevor Lewis, Public Works Director at the County retires, but manages to get a sweet contracting deal out of the works to manage the DEEP project.

With respect to Trevor, he is NOT qualified to deal with this, nor is anyone at the County.


The mismanagement on the uploading of waste to the County should serve as a firm reminder of this. 

Trevor was the senior staff leading this debaucle, but he did not provide ONE report that outlined a cost/benefit analysis that would have shown that this would increase costs NOT decrease.

But then again if the elected officials didn't ask can you blame him?

IF the County feels they need a consultant, then put the contract out for tender and hire someone who has the expertise.

We can’t afford another screw up.

And we, as taxpayers, are entitled to transparency.

So, how much are we paying Trevor as a consultant?

And who voted for this?

Where was the request for a consultant posted?

What are his qualifications?
http://www.orangeville.com/news-story/1490075-despite-retirement-trevor-lewis-remains-committed-to-the-deep/

PLANNING AT THE COUNTY LEVEL

Dufferin County staff learned in mid-December that Ontario’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing is planning to amend the list of municipalities that will be required to comply with the province’s Planning Act.


If approved, Dufferin County, along with several other upper-tier municipalities that don’t have an Official Plan in place, will be required to do so by 2015.

Not surprisingly, county council formally opposed the province’s proposal at its last meeting in December.

“We object to this,” said Amaranth Mayor Don MacIver. “We see no value in it. We see a potential significant increase in cost at the county level.”
http://www.orangeville.com/news-story/1488932-dufferin-objects-to-province-s-official-plan-demands/

With respect to Amaranth Mayor MacIver, it will not be a potential significant increase at the county level it WILL be a significant increase cost at County level.

As we all know any time the County gets involved, service levels go down, costs go up.

Just take a look at the uploading of waste management.

Then the County could just do what Melancthon does.

Melancthon, like all other municipalities with an Official Plan, are legislatively obligated to update it every five years.

So far, that hasn’t happened in Melancthon since at least 1978 and there don’t seem to be any provincial penalties being imposed.

The only thing being imposed are invoices from Geriatric Jordan and endless missed deadlines and unfulfilled promises.

Plus Council has graciously extended his contract so he can continue to do what it is he does which is NOT producing a  completed Official Plan. 

He is good a producing a couple of things:
1. bills to Melancthon ratepayers and
2. the wool over Council's eyes.

YOU HAVE DODGED A BULLET FOR NOW

Mayor Hill has made statements that (paraphrasing here) he is taking Highlands at their word and the quarry deal is done.

Tsk, tsk.

They have lied from the beginning.

The limestone is still there.

And whether you punch a hole in a 2 foot balloon or a 6 inch balloon, it still causes devastation, so even if they come back with a 300 acre proposal digging below the water table in that location can NOT happen. 

EVER.

Council has dodged a bullet.

Thanks to NDACT and the army and profile they raised, the FIRST proposal is off the table.

So Council, get your act together and ACT, now before you wind up shooting yourself in the foot.

• Designate the land under the Environmental Assessment Act.
• Set your fees and charges for $100,000.00 per acre for an aggregate application.
• GET a FREAKING OP in place with a specialty crop designation.  If the province hasn't coughed up the criterea yet, write your own and put it in the OP.  You can use Dave Vanderzaag's presentation that he made at the Aggregate hearings, almost word for word.

And as a reminder, from time to time I will repeat some of the lies that Highlands told us.

The first lie was at the January 2009 meeting in Honeywood called by conerned citizens when a then unknown Michael Daniher refused to admit, when questioned, if he was a lawyer.  (yes he was)

Then he denied, when questioned, that Highlands had any plans for aggregate, only farming.

EXCEPT a woman in the audience stood up and stated she had contacted various Ministries in the past two weeks and the Ministry Natural Resources and Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing advised that they had been in talks with Highlands for quite some time about a massive aggregate proposal.  In fact MNR stated they had realigned staff to deal with the massive application.
 
While the audience exploded in applause, Mr. Daniher's mouth fell open in shock.

He finally managed to spit out that he knew nothing about that and the woman asked how he, as spokesperson for the company knew nothing, but she a member of the public did.

Within days this appeared in the Orangeville Citizen:
"In a phone interview Tuesday, Michael Daniher of the Toronto consulting firm of Special Situations Inc. — representing The Highlands Companies Inc. — said the group has never attempted to hide the fact that it will continue farming while looking beyond for other opportunities such as wind and bedrock resources."

And this little gem:

"Mr. Daniher would not confirm that the group has already discussed aggregate extraction with the Province, but he did say it had discussed a number of issues with a number of ministries."

Read more here:
http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2009-01-22/front_page/004.html

DEEP OPINIONS ON DUFFERIN WASTE MANAGEMENT

LESS SERVICE MORE COST
"I reside in Mulmur and what I conclude in the most simplistic of terms is that service and convenience is significantly reduced and total costs of disposing of all my waste is significantly increased.

This, to me, is a totally unacceptable outcome, and those responsible for it should pay a dire penalty.

The ‘smartarse’ words of Orangeville Mayor Rob Adams, Shelburne Mayor Ed Crewson and East Garafraxa Mayor Allen Taylor are hardly constructive and do not offer an acceptable solution."
Full letter here: http://www.orangeville.com/opinion-story/1489100-service-down-cost-up-for-waste-collection-in-mulmur-letter-/