NOT EASY BEING POPULAR

Somehow and for some reason, when a blog gets over 500 views a day, you get 33 spam postings day telling you what a GREAT blog you have and BTW (by the way) come visit my blog.

SILENCE IS DEAFENING

Since November, when Highlands had premature/immature withdrawl of their quarry application, congrats to NDACT have been widespread, just NOT from Melancthon Council.
Sylvia Jones, local conservative MPP couldn't quite spit out NDACT's name, but did congratulate the community resistance:

“The reality is there was a lot of community resistance to this project from the beginning,” Jones said. “I congratulate the local residents who showed great tenacity in
organizing themselves to present a coherent argument against this application.”
http://www.ndact.com/index.php/media-stories/media-stories-blogs/634-jones-applauds-residents-role-in-melancthon-quarry-application-withdrawal

David Tilson, conservative MP, despite looking like a deer in the headlights at the debate in Shelburne during the last federal election whenever the quarry was mentioned, almost like he knew nothing about it, seemed to take the beat down to heart and stepped up, presenting on an almost daily basis in parliament the names of petitioners calling for oversight into the matter. 

And he even nominated the first Chair of NDACT, Dale Rutledge, for a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Go to his site and watch the video in the top right corner, where he congratulates NDACT, by name no less, in parliament.
http://www.davidtilson.ca/media/press-release/tilson-presents-30-diamond-jubilee-medals

Melancthon Council.

Nada.

Nothing.

With the exception of Councillor Malek, who worked her butt off, there was not even an elected official from Melancthon at the February 16, 2013 NDACT congratulations party.

And the only one from Mulmur was Councillor Hayes and her husband Mike.

It is almost like they don't realize or acknowledge that without NDACT doing fundraising, hiring "qualified" planners, galvanizing the country and in fact the world (Avaazz petition) and raising the awareness of the issue that we would have a giant hole dug now. 

Nada.

Nothing.

Too busy worrying about horses on an agricultural lot and entrance permits.

MELANCTHON SAYS NO TO SHITGATE

December 20, 2012 minutes of Melancthon Council:

7:30 p.m. - Hugh Welch attended Council and gave a presentation on the Southgate Proposal to upgrade 250 SR. (Presentation on File).

Approximately 20 people were in attendance for this Delegation to show their support.


Moved by White, Seconded by Crowe that Council for the Township of Melancthon reject the proposal from Southgate to use the 250 Sideroad and 2nd Line SW as a truck route and cease discussions on this issue.

Recorded Vote
Mayor Bill Hill Yea
Deputy Mayor White Yea
Councillor John Crowe Yea
Councillor Janice Elliott Declared Conflict of Interest on the issue
Councillor Nancy Malek Yea
Carried.
http://melancthontownship.ca/12council/minutes.dec20.pdf

Which is all very confusing.  Why would the shit plant to be located adjacent to residential homes and a school in Dundalk need to access Melancthon 250 Sideroad.  I mean in all the hoopala, Mayor of Shitgate, Milne assured people there was a road being constructed for haulage. 

Hmmmm.

Your move, Mayor Milne

PROACTIVE/REACTIVE

Proactive Kawartha Lakes Mayor

http://www.thepost.ca/2013/02/21/city-seeks-review-of-aggregate-royalties

“would welcome the opportunity to sit down with Premier Kathleen Wynne to discuss commencing an aggregate royalty review," Mayor Ric McGee recently told The Lindsay Post. McGee said the city had been pushing for an increase in royalties for about five years now but had so far been stymied by the province and is growing increasingly frustrated as aggregate trucks hammer the city's roads and bridges.

Can’t wait to read in the Melancthon minutes what delegations Melancthon Mayor and Council have requested at this week's ROMA/OGRA conference and what was discussed with provincial Ministers.

They can take their choice-aggregate resources act, turbines, etc. etc.

HORSE SHIT CONTINUED

Further to the December 1, 2012 blog on the issue of horses and Melancthon Council, here is something else I discovered in the minutes.

November 1, 2012: http://melancthontownship.ca/12council/minutes.nov1.pdf

10:30 a.m. - PUBLIC QUESTION PERIOD
During this time, questions, concerns, comments related to the following: drainage concerns on 250 SR, horses on residential lots and catch basins.

Then this little item:

Road Entrance on 3rd Line - Vander Zaag
Craig advised that Dave Vander Zaag has applied for an entrance on the 3rd Line south of 5 Sideroad. Council advised that there are too many entrances in that area and the preferred choice is coming off of 5 Sideroad.

Really?

No reports to council from staff with a recommendation, no numbers regarding how many entrances are in that area, although I believe the Mayor and a Councillor each added to that number of entrances when they lived on the 3rd line, no traffic study, no rationale for a snap decision, just nope, NO ENTRANCE FOR YOU. 

I am sure this isn’t personal, right? (again refer to the December 1, 2012 blog).

STOP-STOP THE QUARRY????? WTF?????

It's official! Now that the mega-quarry proposal has been withdrawn, "Stop the Quarry" has been re-branded as "Food & Water First" in a bid to ensure that foodlands and source water are not destroyed by aggregate extraction in Ontario.

www.facebook.com/FoodAndWaterFirst
Twitter: @FoodAndWaterFirst / #FoodAndWaterFirst

To take F&WF a step further, Dr. Faisal Moola of the David Suzuki Foundation (DSF), a key participant in stopping the mega-quarry, asked that we forward his report explaining that Ontarians must re-think development around the Golden Horseshoe to protect:

- local agriculture -- a thriving economic industry valued in the billions
- food security -- access to local food to feed our own population
- cleaner environment -- water filtration, plants for clean air, pollinator habitat, wildlife, natural spaces, etc.

Toronto Star:
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/2013/02/21/urban_sprawl_is_destroying_ontarios_farmland.html

DSF Report:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/publications/reports/2013/nature-on-the-edge-natural-capital-and-ontarios-growing-golden-horseshoe/
There are many reasons why we are killing off the family farm and urban sprawl is just one. Ideally a lot would be accomplished if our society began to value farming and farmers as they should be valued. Then there would be a next generation of farmers to assume stewardship of the land. However, with their land-rich, low wage, few benefits lifestyle, we are leaving farm families little option but to sell out for development, thereby leaving our food production to large-scale farming operations by corporations.

AWARE-Ontario
Whatever the realities, it is important that we have an opinion. It is important that we know what is at stake. To that end, for my own edification, I have decided to go beyond aggregate and farming, and continue researching environmental issues that affect Ontarians.
So as a hobby I created a website to make research available to other people and, hopefully, give an unbiased viewpoint (not sponsored by companies) and save other people time.

Take a look at www.AWARE-Ontario.ca  and tell me what you think.

To be clear, the website content is gathered through volunteer private amateur research for the purpose of allowing readers to make informed decisions. While the information is believed to be reliable, accuracy cannot be guaranteed.

e-Mail Distribution
1. If you would like to be added to a "Food & Water First" distribution list specifically, send me an email and I will make arrangements.
2. If you would like to be removed from either the "AWARE-Ontario" or "Friends of NDACT" distribution lists, do not hesitate to contact me.

Enjoy your day!
Donna Baylis
www.facebook.com/AWAREOntario
www.AWARE-Ontario.ca
@AWAREOntario

Minebuster here: I have posted this guest blog-however-if it takes away from one single reader of MY important ramblings, there will be trouble!!! :)

CROWN JEWELS

First Chair of NDACT, Dale Rutledge and current Chair of NDACT, Carl Cosack have been awarded a Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal each.

Finally, crown jewels they can actually show off!!

Congrats Dale and Carl!!http://davidtilson.ca/media/press-release/tilson-presents-30-diamond-jubilee-medals
http://www.beachmetro.com/2013/02/19/genuine-thank-you-community-builders/

LEGAL BEAGLES CALLED IN

Mono, Mulmur and Amaranth have called in the legal beagles over the "uploading" of waste management.

And can you blame them?

Well yes, yes I can.  And so can you.

After all, they sat on County Council and voted for this fiasco.

NEXT time, like say when it involves the transmission tower or say the DEEP plant, ask ALL the questions first BEFORE you vote.

As a result, those municipalities hit the hardest by the waste transfer have banded together. Having not received answers to their satisfaction, they plan to seek a legal opinion in hopes of sorting things out.  “We thought we should get a legal opinion on this and see where we’re going,” Mills said.
http://www.orangeville.com/news-story/2077914-lawyers-to-join-dufferin-county-waste-takeover-talks/

 

HOTTEST TICKET IN TOWN

The NDACT celebration (and annual meeting) is tonight, but sources say the event is sold out. 

Watch the NDACT site in the next week for hi-lites and pics of the event.

SOMEONE IS ALL FIRED UP

So the Ontario Fire Marshall's office was asked, by Mulmur and Melancthon Council, to conduct a review of fire services. 

Which is odd, because when asked about it last July, the CAO in Shelburne said: "the OFM merely picks several departments across the province to audit each year, and his municipality’s name came up on its board."  Full article here: http://www.orangeville.com/news-story/1481401-fire-marshal-to-audit-shelburne-fire-department/said

Anyhew, starting at page 36 on the attached link is the report, which has 30 recommendations to improve the fire services on which we rely. 
http://melancthontownship.ca/13council/agenda.jan24.pdf

Kinda curious, however, that on page 7 of the same link above, the Shelburne Fire Department has a resolution that in effect says we aren't going to deal with an issue any more related to the underground bunker in Hornings Mills, cause it is costing them too much money. 

SO by this formula if we have a big fire in Melancthon, say a turbine or an on-farm industrial sawdust fire, and it seems costly, can the fire department from which we contract for services, just decide it isn't cost effective for them to attend?

COUPLE NEW WEBSITES TO CHECK OUT

New sites on local issues, check them out. 

http://www.aware-ontario.ca/

http://windresistanceofmelancthon.com/

TRUER WORDS WERE NEVER SPOKEN

“There isn’t a price on the health on our citizens. So tough, if you do anything, you bury it,” said Amaranth Deputy Mayor Walter Kolodziechuk. “The health of our citizens is not for sale.”

Dufferin Wind has proposed burying the transmission line through Shelburne, especially near a local elementary school there. County council wants to see that same courtesy extended to everyone living near the proposed transmission line.

“Bury it along the whole rail corridor,” Kolodziechuk said. “It seems as if you have 200 children, you’re important, but if you’re a family of five, you don’t count and you can move

http://www.orangeville.com/news-story/2074285-county-to-stand-firm-on-dufferin-wind-proposal/

NDACT PARTAY FEBRUARY 16,2013

If you haven't got your ticket yet, you better, it will sell out fast now that Hobo Wally has been confirmed.  I am sure he will be headlining with his hit, King of the Road. 

Watch it here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76urC3_XYxQ

It pretty much sums up the entire fight.

COUNTY CHRONICLES

Apparently, county officials weren't aware the TSSA, which regulates fuel standards and safety, should have been notified when 1,200 tonnes of contaminated soil was unearthed at the Primrose Operations Centre near Shelburne....
http://www.orangeville.com/news-story/1936336-county-fuel-leak-not-reported-to-proper-authorities/
Wow, this is pretty standard stuff that any farmer with a fuel tank, trucker, etc. knows you call the TSSA. 

But the highly paid experts at the County apparently didn't know. 

At the time, the staff person in charge was Trevor Lewis. 

The SAME staff person in charge of the waste management upload who somehow managed to convince (apparently very guillible) councillors to upload waste management without putting a pencil to paper to figure out the cost/benefit analysis until it was a done deal.

And now, seemingly without a public process he, since his recent retirement, is now a paid consultant for the County in charge of.....the DEEP process. 

God help us.

MEGA CELEBRATION PARTAY

By Bill Tremblay Orangeville Banner-GREAT STORY BILL!!!
Full Story Click here: http://www.orangeville.com/community-story/1938892-mega-party-marks-melancthon-quarry-s-mega-death/

In the absence of craters, Melancthon is dancing for taters.
The North Dufferin Agricultural Task Force (NDACT) hosts the Taters Not Craters Dance at the Honeywood arena on Feb. 16 from 6 p.m. to midnight.
The dance celebrates The Highland Companies withdrawal of its application for a licence to mine 2,316 acres of land for limestone in Melancthon, as well as the group’s second mission for an overhaul of the provincial Aggregate Resources Act (ARA).
“It’s an intermittent victory because we strongly feel that this thing is not done, until the ARA review is complete,” said NDACT chair Carl Cosack.
To help celebrate the victory, Our Lady Peace drummer Jeremy Taggart has assembled a band to entertain NDACT’s party guests. The group includes fellow Our Lady Peace members Steve Mazur on guitar, bassist Duncan Coutts and keyboard player Robin Hatch.
“It’s our absolute pleasure to entertain the actual farmers and residents of the town that were most concerned,” Taggart told The Banner. “I can’t wait to celebrate this unbelievable victory for the people. I’m so excited I can’t believe it.”
Taggart, who will also emcee the party, said his band plans to perform cover songs during the event.
Taggart grew up in Mansfield and was told about the quarry plan by a childhood friend, leading to his involvement in the fight to stop Highland.
“The Honeywood arena is going to be amazing. I used to go skating there as a kid,” Taggart said. “I remember as a kid seeing Eddie Shack and the oldtimers playing hockey there.”
Tom Barlow joins the party’s lineup and will perform Fighting in a Burning House, a song about the community’s struggle to preserve its farmland.
“We’ve written a song inspired by all these shenanigans that have been going on these past few years,” he said.
Barlow joined the effort to stop the quarry after McMaster University professor John Varty’s cross-Canada tractor tour stopped in Melancthon to raise awareness for the issue. Barlow performed during the tour’s stop and he later returned for Foodstock.
“We’re looking forward to getting up there and seeing a lot of the people we’ve worked with for quite a long while,” Barlow said. “I think everyone is quite excited. It went so well.”
Fighting in a Burning House has not been released. Barlow explained he’s been tinkering with the tune as the situation developed.
“It’s sort of been changed and modified as the years went on,” Barlow said.
Rounding out the musical roster is Hobo Wally, Danny Beaton, Ed Roman, Grand Canyon and the Hamilton-based alternative country rock band Harlan Pepper.
“We’re looking forward to it. Anything that can support homeland and home farmers is really important to us,” said Harlan Pepper bass player Thompson Wilson.
Cosack said the musicians who helped in the fight to stop the quarry are part of a critical mass determined to preserve farmland and increase food security.
“They’re not in there to gain fame, because there isn’t any in that sense. They’re already at that level,” Cosack said.
“They carry the conviction this is the right thing to do, to move society along its way.”
Taggart added the need still exists to keep a watchful eye on potential threats to farmland and water supply.
“As much as I’d like to think our government has our back … I still think people need to continue to keep their eyes open,” Taggart said.
The celebration also includes a local food showcase by several chefs, including Philip Patrick, executive chef at the Ridge at Manitou Golf Club, Caesar Guinto and Samuel Holwell of Creemore Kitchen, Shawn Adler from The Flying Chestnut & The Flying Spatula, and Gareth and Julie Carter from Men With Knives Catering.
“It just ties in everything that we’ve been about,” Cosack said.
Before the celebration begins, NDACT hosts a meeting and public open house at 7 p.m. During the meeting, University of Guelph professor Rene Van Acker will speak about the need to protect prime farmland. Cosack will also deliver a message about “round two” of NDACT’s mandate.
“It gives us a chance to let people know where we’re going,” Cosack said.
The musical portion of the night begins with square dancing by Gary Heaslip & Band.
“On the fun side, some good country people can teach square dancing to our city friends,” Cosack said.
Tickets to the dance, which are limited, are available through ndact.com and cost $20 to cover the cost of the event.           

EVERYTHING THAT IS WRONG WITH THE AGGREGATE INDUSTRY

Zero appetite for going below the water table says Guelph Eramosa Councillor: :

click for article: http://www.wellingtonadvertiser.com/index.cfm?page=detail&itmno=15434

Then there is this gem.  A 500 acre pit, a James Dick proposal, is the SECOND pit in the area.  The first is a 600 acre pit, a Dufferin Aggregates proposal, made under an existing license issued more than 30 years ago which is DIRECTLY across the road from the 500 acre proposal.

EXCERPTS:
There is not expected to be any noticeable impact on water levels in local private wells,” the study says. “The pit ponds’ restricted size was designed to minimize water level effects on local private wells.”

IN THE NEXT BREATH:
"No hydrogeologist in the world will give you a definitive statement,” Harrington said. “There is always the potential for something to happen that is unforeseen.”
click for article: http://www.brantnews.com/news/new-pit-proposed-in-brant/

SOUND FAMILIAR, FARMING AT THE BOTTOM OF A PIT?
Glenn Harrington, a landscape architect working on the project said the site will be progressively rehabilitated into both wetlands and farmland as the operation continues. “It can go back to being as productive as it was,” Harrington said. “
click for article: http://www.brantnews.com/news/burford-gravel-pit-concerns-residents/

The group fighting this madness is Concerned Citizens of Brant. 

Send them an email of support. http://ccob.ca/

COUNTY CHRONICLES

Have they learned nothing from the garbage fiasco?

Not a single pencil was put to paper to figure out what "uploading" waste management to the County would cost until AFTER it was voted on and RFP's put out and then it was too late to cancel when it was discovered there would be less service and more cost to most municipalities.

Now the transmission line on the rail corridor.

"County Warden Laura Ryan said refusing use of the corridor is not an option.

“I don’t believe it would be in anybody’s best interest to refuse,” Ryan said.
A lease price between the county and Dufferin Wind is not yet set. Ryan said after OEB approval, the county would begin negotiations. "
http://www.orangeville.com/news-story/1939326-rail-easement-approval-likely-for-dufferin-wind-consultants-say/

For Fxxks Sake.

And they want us to believe they have the staff and political expertise to deal with a DEEP facility?

IT AIN'T OVER TIL THE FAT LADY SINGS

The opera isn’t over till the fat lady sings,” is a quotation attributed to Washington Post journalist Dan Cook in 1978.


I view Cook’s opera as a metaphor for the Nov. 21 cancellation of The Highland Companies’ application to construct a mega quarry in Melancthon Township.

Since I have written in the past about potential problems such a project might cause, I was pleased at Highland’s action.
http://www.orangeville.com/opinion-story/1937717-reflecting-on-melancthon-s-mega-quarry-proposal-column-/

TWEET FROM DUFFERIN COUNTY

Dufferin County@DufferinCounty

PUBLIC MEETING TONIGHT CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER. New date is Tuesday, February 5 - 7:15 p.m.