CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER

In 2007 a news article appeared about 401 Energy in which it was reported that two small wind farms in North Dufferin were being proposed. John Lowndes name was mentioned in the article as being a major owner of these lands, although, as usual, he was unavailable for comment. But the fact that the reporter contacted him, would make me think he was well aware of 401 Energy.

See the article: http://www.citizen.on.ca/news/2007-04-19/Regional_News/Wind_farms_feature_local_ownership.html

At the January 7, 2010 meeting of Council, Highlands forwarded a November 2009 news release from 401 Energy to be posted on the agenda (attached at this link http://www.401energy.com/home.html). Then they submitted the following questions:

Does Council support this 3,500 acre windfarm
Can Council identify where it is to be located
How does it contribute to the community. (NOW THAT IS RICH COMING FROM THEM, BUT I digress.....)

SO...here is what is curious.

Why is Highlands so interested?

Either they own the land themselves and are proposing the 3,500 acre wind turbine farm and used question period as a was of "releasing" the 401 new release OR....

Since blasting and dust created from a 2,400 acre 200 foot deep open pit limestone mine would not be helpful to the motors and structures of wind turbines, they are not happy to see this proceed.

Any other theories?

And in case you are wondering, yes, Council knew nothing about it and according to the Deputy Dawg, it was the "provinces fault" and we, NOT Council, should be writing the province.

And thanks to an anon tipster for this.

Addendum: ANOTHER anon tipster 100% guarantees that Highlands is NOT connected with 401 Energy.

Well, well, well. That is curious.

What is the Province going to do?

First they have a policy that says aggregate is more important than, well everything. BUT they also have a policy that favours Green Energy over, well, everything.

This will be interesting to see how this turns out and to watch Ferret Face Daniher squirm.

TWO FOR ONE TODAY

Since I missed yesterday, here is a double dose today.

A suggested election slogan for Mayoralty Candidate Hill:


Vote for me
I won't take you to the OMB

BUSINESS AS USUAL IN MELANCTHON

On January 5, 2010 I reported that Melancthon would be passing a demolition control bylaw at the January 7, 2010 meeting of Council.

Why did I report that? Well because it had been listed on their December 17 agenda and posted on their website that comments were required on or before January 4.

AND the bylaw was listed on the January 7 agenda.

Well, sorry to get everyones hopes up, but here is what actually transpired:

Highlands obtained 3 more demolition/burn permits in December, bringing their total to 20;

Nominations opened January 4 and Bill Hill filed his nomination papers for Mayor and sent out a two page information sheet to all voters, I mean ratepayers in Melancthon advising why he could provide the LEADERSHIP needed in Melancthon;

Comments were received at the January 7 meeting of Council from ratepayers supporting the demolition control bylaw and one letter from Highlands highly paid Bay Street lawfirm threatening to sue Melancthon from here to kingdom come if they pursed the demolition control bylaw;

Council, who clearly were more swayed by the threats of a lawsuit, than letters of support from their ratepayers decided to "defer" passing the bylaw until more comments were received.

In my opinion, Council is holding off until Highlands gets all the permits they need to blast, burn and bulldoze everything they own, THEN Council will pass the demolition control bylaw saying, see, we provided leadership and did what ratepayers ask....and oh yeah, please vote for me.

Remember, Council was asked months and months ago to implement this bylaw and our Mayoralty Candidate Hill advised it would not work and ratepayers were wrong. Well clearly, it has struck a nerve with Highlands, who knows what all of us, except Council seems to, that there are ways to fight this in advance of an application.

Perhaps Highlands should run for Mayor-they know more than the current countil and they already really run the show.

NEW FEATURE - GUEST BLOGGER

Hey, in keeping with my partner's opinion in that I ALWAYS have TOO much to say, if you would like to be a guest blogger and have your own voice to this site, let Mine Buster know via the comments section.

As the kids say, lets mix it up, man....

You can do it anon and you can have a pro OR con post - all views are welcome ........except Bumboot Polkaroo's.

THINK ABOUT THIS

For every 1 acre of land that is mined:

1 acre of farmland is lost - non renewable
1 acre of aggregate is lost - non renewable
land in the development area is paved over-once it is paved/built on, it never goes back to its original use

Do we need aggregate-yes, of course we do.

Do we need to be more thoughtful of the way in which aggregate is used?

Think about this: at the west end of Orangeville there is a mega grocery store, that used to be a Garden IGA (in the same plaza where the beer store is). It is sitting empty. It was occupied for less than 10 years. I wonder how much aggregate went into that little construction project.

The Dairy Queen at the east end of Orangeville-lease came due, Dairy Queen moved to a newly constructed building (wonder how much aggregate was used there) and their old location was bulldozed (wonder how much aggregate was used there).

These big box stores are constructed with about a 25 year life span.

Many of the houses that Highlands just bulldozed and burnt had stood for almost 100 years. Think about that.

OFF FOR A FEW DAYS

Taking a break....see you Monday.

Things to do, people to see, politicians to "out"

Gone fishing? Not quite, just fishing for the truth.

FIRST ONE OUT OF THE GATE

Came home Wednesday night to a steak dinner and was all ready to enjoy the evening. Lo and behold sitting beside the dinner plate was......no, not a cold beer, but rather Bill Hill’s notification that he has filed papers to run for Mayor of Melancthon and is looking for my vote.

(NOTE: THE TWO PAGE FLIER IS TOO DETAILED TO OFFER A REBUTTAL ON EVERY STATEMENT HE MAKES SO I AM PICKING OUT THE ONES I FIND THE MOST OFFENSIVE/PUZZLING/TROUBLING)

Where to start? Where NOT to start?

Firstly he makes a statement in bold, advising the activities in his life are driven by three very basic beliefs:

Knowledge is power – I would have to agree

If you don’t tell lies you don’t need a good memory – well I would also have to agree with that

What goes around comes around –WHAT??? Hold on.... What the hell does that mean? Is he out for vengeance against anyone who has crossed him or spoke out against his decisions (or lack of them) on Council this term?

But wait, the next statement he makes sounds promising: “Some residents have been critical of the decisions that Council has made this term. In some instances the criticism could be justified."

Well there you go. Sounds like perhaps he has learned something over the past few months about humility, grace and respecting ratepayers.

Oh, but wait, the next statement clears up THAT misconception because he states: “As with anything there are two sides to every story”.

Right. I would presume that would be the ratepayer’s version and then the CORRECT version being that of Mr. Hill.

He is going to offer a travelling road show beginning in March to LISTEN to VOTERS, I mean ratepayers concerns. Wow, that will be a change.

This is the same Deputy Mayor who, when challenged by any ratepayer on inaction by this Council in taking steps IN ADVANCE of an aggregate application to better position Council in fighting this mine, would make statements like, "I am personally offended by (fill in the blank)"....or better still take the time to put his offended feelings in writing, telling the ratepayer(s) over and over again why he couldn’t do anything about anything, because well, EVERYTHING was the fault of the province and local Councils had no authority.

Well then, what do we need a local Council for?

In fact I have personally heard Mr. Hill state on numerous occasions in Council meetings that ratepayers should be writing to the provincial government to object to what they are doing.

I am sorry, but I thought it was a politicians role to actually do some politicking. The Deputy Mayor had the opportunity at OGRA/ROMA in Feb 2009 and AMO in August 2009 to request meetings with all Ministers in all Ministries to bring the issue of the open pit mine and what Highlands is doing to the community and applying pressure to the provincial government to change their aggregate policies. Did he do this – NO HE DID NOT.

Finally he states: “I can apply effective leadership”. I guess he can only do that if he is elected as Mayor of Melancthon, which would mean he can’t provide effective leadership until December 2010.

Why do I think he has to wait? Well he has been on Council for term after term after term and has done NOTHING to support ratepayers in their concern with what Highlands is doing.

EXAMPLES??? Let me give you three:

Nine proven violations of the County tree cutting bylaw by Highlands in Melancthon Township and Mayor Hill did not move a resolution at County Council to fine Highlands. Well, to be fair, he wasn’t even actually at the meeting, skipped out. He refused to support ratepayers requests for a local tree cutting byaw.

Took the position in January 2009 that he would NOT be attending the meeting in Honeywood that was organized by concerned ratepayers and farmers to discuss the issue of Highlands because he was not PERSONALLY invited. He had only received a notice in his mailbox, like every one else. It was ONLY after raising public pressure and anger by ratepayers that he decided to attend what turned out to be a meeting attended by more than 400 concerned citizens.

He refused to support ratepayers requests for a demolition control bylaw to stop Highlands destruction of the community in Melancthon. In fact he stated the ratepayer who suggested this solution was WRONG. Finally after 20 permits were issued to Highlands for demolition of century homesteads, THEN he decides to do something. Coincidentally it was at the beginning of an election year.

CAMPAIGN SLOGAN?
He should use the same catchphrase for his campaign slogan that he utters in Council ad nauseum which is: – we can’t say no to anything or else we will have to go to the OMB.

His biggest success this term??

I would have to say it is a tie between belitting and shutting down ratepayers who ask questions at Council meetings OR voting to protect Melancthon from the invasive species, Giant Hogsweed.

I just can't decide.

UPDATE ON DEMOLITION PERMITS

Two posts for the price of one today:

Since Council woke up in December and decided to consider passing a demolition control bylaw (must have realized it was an election year), Highlands not only issued a letter to Council threatening a legal challenge over the bylaw, they also ran out and got THREE more burn/demolition permits.

West Part Lot 18, Concession 3 O.S. Total Assessment 205,500

West Part Lot 23, Concession 1 O.S. Total Assessment 288,750

East Part Lot 19, Concession 2 O.S. Total Assessment 242,750

Brings their total up to 20. Nicely done.

THEY AREN'T DOING IT FOR THE MONEY

In case you are thinking of running, here is what Melancthon Councillors get paid.

Remember, salary doesn't vary, but they get an additional stipend for each of the committees on which they sit. Mileage varys for each as well.

Mayor County salary $14,466.29
Melancthon Salary - $13,148.28
Mileage 507.09
Meetings 1800.00

D Mayor County salary $5,140.00
Melancthon salary - $8,519.90
Mileage 327.57
Meetings 2,160.00

All Councillors
Salary - $8,217.78
Mileage 262.96
Meetings 2,520.00 (can vary between each Council member)

NDACT PUBLIC MEETING

The North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce (NDACT) has posted notice of a public meeting on their website http://www.ndact.com/

Details:

January 16, 2010

Honeywood Arena

10 am - noon

Let others know about this meeting and please make the time to attend.

NO LONGER A WOLF IN SHEEPS CLOTHING, JUST THE WOLF

The claws are out.....

When Highlands begain their systematic destruction of century homesteads in Melancthon in 2008, ratepayers begged and pleaded with Council to enact a simple bylaw under Section 33 of the Planning Act to negate the damages to the tax base, the loss of cultural and heritage homes and the community.

Section 33, in a nutshell states, that in order to demolish something, you must first obtain a building permit to erect something else.

Council, and their highly paid planner insisted this would NOT work. Finally, after permits had been issued to Highlands for the destruction of 17 century homesteads (UPDATE: As of December 31, 2009 there was a total of 20 permits issued) Council obtained an opinion from yet another planner who stated that yes, they should enact this bylaw to protect the interests of all ratepayers. This matter is to be considered at the January 7, 2010 meeting.

Guess what??

Highland Companies...you must remember them...the benevolent owners of much of the prime agricultural land in Melancthon, who want to establish a 2,400 acre, 200 foot open pit mine and rail line to ship the stuff out of the country...the deep pockets who paid for a fridge at the Hornings Mills Hall, a zamboni, clock at the arena, the Stanley cup day in Honeywood and who want to bring you a $12 million YMCA in the town of Shelburne...the guys who only want what is good and right for Melancthon, like 400 "local"jobs, etc. etc.....the guys who are going to establish a carbon neutral 2,400 acre, 200 foot open pit mine with NO impact on water or the environment....you know....those guys...?????

Well they sent a letter to the Township of Melancthon that threatens legal action if Council passes the bylaw. Why?? Well clearly this slows down their destruction of Melancthon as we know it.

This is NOT an attack on Council, this is an attack on EVERY SINGLE ratepayer in the Township of Melancthon.

Click on this link and go to page 3 for the vile letter from their solicitors, Goodmans: http://melancthontownship.ca/10council/unfinished.jan7.pdf

Their letter ends by stating:

"In conclusion, we believe that demolition control in Melancthon is unnecessary, contrary to Township Policy, potentially subject to legal challenge, and an unfair and discriminatory cost on its taxpayers."

I say, bullshit..

I also say, please support the ratepayers of Melancthon in this battle, by supporting and encouraging Council to fight this blackmail at ALL costs.

Send your emails in support of Council addressed to Mayor and Council at: dholmes@melancthontownship.ca

And if at all possible, attend the Council meeting this Thursday January 7 at 9:00 a.m and offer your support.

You do NOT have to be a ratepayer to support this cause-you just have to someone who cares about your water source, your food source and your future.

AWAY TO THE RACES

And they are off......

Today, January 4, 2010 marks the first day that candidates can file their nomination papers to run for municipal council.

You can pick nomination papers up at any municipal office.

I have attached a link to Municipal Affairs and Housings Candidate guide to assist you:

http://www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page219.aspx

Also a link to the Municipal Elections Act:

http://www.e-laws.gov.on.ca/html/statutes/english/elaws_statutes_96m32_e.htm

The filing fee is $100.00 for a council position and $200.00 for Mayor-cash certified cheque or money order payable to the municipality in which you are running.

Election day is October 25, 2010 and you can NOT start campaigning or raising money for your campaign until you have filed your nomination papers.

The last date for filing is September 10, 2010 at 2:00 p.m.

Good luck!!

NEW YEAR UPDATE PART 2

July 2009 - December 2009

July 2009 – Highlands holds a public meeting which has a strong police presence

July 2009 – ratepayer brings extensive information to Council regarding water issues related to mines and in Melancthon in general

August 2009 – Delegation to Council regarding passing a bylaw under Section 33 of the Planning Act to stop demolition of structures. Council took no action and in fact said the information being presented by ratepayers was not true

Aug 2009 – Delegation to Council with a menu of options and steps to take action PRIOR to an application being filed

Sept 2009 – Council holds a public meeting with Ministry representatives in attendance

Sept 2009 - Highlands continues to demolish and burn structures including century homes

Sept - Dec 2009 - Melancthon citizens lobby against a YMCA until it is determined how much it will cost Melancthon ratepayers and how it will impact the existing Honeywood arena

Dec 2009 – Municipal Planner Jorden advises in a letter to ratepayers that Section 33 will NOT stop the demolition of existing homes

Dec 2009 – Council pays for an opinion from another planner and asks for public input on a bylaw under Section 33 of the Planning Act to stop the demolition of homes

Dec 2009 – Court of appeals at Osgoode Hall hears Orangeville’s appeal on railway conflict of interest-defers decision to 2010. Large presence of Highlands lawyers in attendance, who sat very close to Orangeville lawyers and conferred during breaks

Dec 2009 – The lobbyist organization Ontario Sand and Gravel Association, who advocates on behalf of aggregate operations, attends a Melancthon Council meeting on the invitation of the Mayor and offers to assist Council through Highlands process

To date Highlands has NOT filed for an aggregate license.

NEW YEAR UPDATE

This little guy kinda reminds you of minion Mikey, doesn't it?

2006-June 2009

2006-2009 – Lowndes/Highlands purchases large tracts of prime agricultural land in Melancthon, under the guise of “merely having the world’s largest potato operation”. They pay about $1-$2,000 an acre above the going rate. To date Highland, under a variety of numbered companies, owns about 6,000-7,000 acres of prime agricultural land in Melancthon

2007 – Highlands begins clear cutting thousands and thousands of trees in contravention of the County tree cutting bylaw

2007-2009 – citizens make repeated calls to the County regarding the illegal tree cutting. County staff reply to all complaints that there is nothing untoward going on

2008- Orangeville signs an agreement with Highlands to sell their portion of the rail line for $5 million, contingent on Orangeville “ensuring” that a portion of the rail line that Orangeville does not own (but the County does) gets sold to Highlands. Orangeville stands to realize an additional $2 million to ensure this sale happens. Note: Orangeville has a weighted vote at the County and as a result has the required votes at County to ensure this happens

Aug 2008 – Highlands demolishes the first of 17 homes, and takes all unsorted refuge, including insulation, wiring, glass, brick, appliances to the Melancthon landfill. Mayor Fawcett denies at a public meeting in July 2009 that the house went to the landfill

Aug 2008 – a group of concerned ratepayers attend Melancthon council re: demolition of houses and business transactions between elected officials and Lowndes

Aug 2008 – a private citizen makes a presentation to Council about their options to fight the proposed open pit mine. Council takes NO ACTION

2009 – The County commences an action against Orangeville regarding the rail issue, claiming Orangeville has a conflict of interest due to the $2 million “side deal”

Jan 2009 – a group of concerned farmers and ratepayers hold a meeting in Honeywood attended by more than 300 concerned ratepayers. The North Dufferin Agricultural and Community Taskforce (NDACT) is formed. Highland spokesperson is asked about their intentions and he NEVER reveals a 2,400 acre, 200 foot open pit mine

Jan 2009 – a private citizen begins a campaign to have Melancthon Council post agenda items in advance of meetings. Council responds with a legal opinion from Osyany stating that would be a violation of privacy issues. The ratepayer responds with a $2,400.00 legal opinion from George Rust’D’Eye that in fact Melancthon MUST post agendas to be in compliance with the Municipal Act, 2001. Council starts posting agendas

Feb 2009 – immediately after NDACT’s January meeting in Honeywood, at which it was revealed by a ratepayer that in fact Lowndes/Highlands has been in touch with at least 3 provincial ministries regarding his plans for an open pit mine, Highlands issues a news release stating they have never denied their intention of searching for aggregates.

Feb – June 2009 – NDACT lobby’s Melancthon Council and County Council regarding illegal tree cutting pursuant to the County’s bylaw. Melancthon washes their hands. NDACT proves to the County that Highlands contravened the tree cutting bylaw NINE times, but Council decides not to fine Highlands.

Feb – June 2009 – NDACT lobby’s Melancthon Council to move the “impacted lands” into a special agricultural designation. Council refuses to consider the request.

Apr 2009 – County gets a ruling that Orangeville is violating the Municipal Conflict of Interest legislation regarding the “deal” on the rail line.

Apr 2009 – John Lowndes of Highland Companies invited to attend a meeting of Council to defend the number of local jobs that were included in Highlands DVD that was sent out-to date has never showed his face inside the municipal building since that time.

May 2009 – Melancthon issues Highlands the second of what will be a total of 17 permits to demolish century homes and barns. At a public meeting in June Highland spokesperson stated the homes were all declared unfit (the Building Inspector denies this) and further states Highlands the number of homes they will be taking down will be “less than double digits”

May 2009 – Highland advises they will be filing for an aggregate license within 3-6 months

June 2009 – NDACT holds a public meeting attended by more than 400 individuals.

Continued tomorrow.....

BUMBOOT POLKAROO

Nuff said, right?

LAST POST

Last post of 2009.

See you in the New Year.

SUNDAY IS FUN DAY

Lets add to Lowndes wet dream and help him name his new kingdom....after all, it appears he wants to own all of Melancthon and he is practially running Melancthon Council meetings, so he should get the privilege of giving it a new name:

Here are a few to get you started:

Municipality of Mikey

Jurisdiction of John

Region of Limestone Ridge

I would expect when he gets his fortress built, it will have to have a dry moat, because of course there won't be any water.

And he will need a powerful air exchanger because of the dust...just some thoughts.

Have some fun and add your own.

SHUT THE BARN DOOR BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE...OOPS, TOO LATE

Dates on which citizens expressed grave concerns to their elected officials regarding the demolition of houses in Melancthon by Highland Companies:

August 2008; June 2009; July 27, 2009; August 13, 2009, November 25, 2009. Action taken by Council –NONE.

What did Highlands continue to do-demolish home after home after home. To date they have taken out 17 burn permits.

What could Council have done to stop this? As they were advised over and over and over again they could simply pass a bylaw under section 33 of the Planning Act, which in a nutshell states, that prior to receiving a demolition permit, a building permit must have been issued. In other words if you take something down you have to replace it with something else.

But suddenly at their December 17, 2009 meeting of Council, they decide to take a look at passing a bylaw under Section 33 of the Planning Act. They are asking for comments to be submitted to them on or before January 4, 2010.

Lets review, shall we?

Council had the option to pass this bylaw months and months ago BEFORE Lowndes demolished just under 20 homes, and in fact residents were BEGGING them to. It seemed almost as if Council waited until Highlands were done with their seek and destroy mission before passing the bylaw.

I believe in their minds they think they have managed to keep everyone happy. They can say to the ratepayers see, we passed the bylaw that you wanted. And they can still rest assured that by putting off passing the bylaw that Highlands is happy, because by delaying the passing of the bylaw, it gave Highlands the time to demolish houses on everything they own, without having to comply with the pesky bylaw to stop what they were doing.

Don't worry about picking up the pace Johnny and Mikey enjoy your Xmas break. By the time this Council gets around to actually passing the bylaw you should have everything single home, barn, outbuilding, tree and stick on your properties long gone.

HISTORY OF AGGREGATE POLICIES IN ONTARIO

In about 1993 the aggregate industry wrote a report titled the "Aggregate Resources of Southern Ontario, A State of the Resource Study" in which they stated aggregate was a non-renewable resource and there was an impending shortage and it was important to the survival of the world as we know it (I am paraphrasing here) to dig as many holes, I mean pits and mines as possible IMMEDIATELY. As a result provincial policies were implemented that favour aggregate over everything and I mean everything, even water and food.

The province is looking at their aggregate policies again. At the "consultation table" is Conservation Ontario, Ontario Profesional Planners Institute (OPPI), Niagara Escarpment Commission, and several ministries (OMAFRA, MNR, MEI, MTO and MAH) and oh yeah a group that is registered with the Provincial government as a lobbyist organization known as the Ontario Sand & Gravel Assocation (OSGA).

Couple things to note here. The OSGA is funded by the very VERY wealthy aggregate industry and OSGA champions their cause which is basically making money.

The Niagara Escarpment Commission has a mandate is to protect the escarpment, yet curiously that hasn't stopped aggregate companies from operating in the escarpment. Oh yeah, did I mention there is an individual from the lobbyist group Ontario Sand & Gravel Association on the NEC-surprised?

Seriously, you can still be surpised by this type of nonesense?

Another item to note: the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MEI) and Ministry of Transportation (MTO) are two ministries with some of the largest budgets after health and education and are both in the business of growth, which requires what? Everybody, say it together-aggregate.

Hm, wonder what the recommendations are going to be that come out of this "consultation"?

Please write our illustrious Premier, while he is still in office and express your concern about the representation at the aggregate consultation table to:

Dalton McGuinty, Premier

Legislative Building

Queen's Park

Toronto ON M7A 1A1

FAX: (416) 325-3745

OR

email address at this link:

https://www.premier.gov.on.ca/feedback/feedback.asp?Lang=EN

SUGGESTIONS FOR ELECTION CAMPAIGN SLOGANS

They may be toast, but should the 4 "seasoned" sitting Melancthon Councillors decide to run for Council in the 2010 municipal election, here are some suggested campaign slogans for them.

Have some fun and match the catchphrase to the Councillor. Here is where your regular attendance at Council meetings will pay off.

"Worry? Why, what is going on"

"It is the province's fault"

"What you do on your own private property is no ones business"

(editor's note-go ahead and put that ethanol plant on your property, it isn't anyone's business according to this councillor's muddled logic)

"With all due respect everyone is wrong except me, being the resident legal, planning, local government and legislative expert"

"Anything I can go out of my way to do for you, Mr. Lowndes?"

"Are there any questions? Actually, you can't ask questions at this time, I mean, yes I am calling for questions, no, seriously yes, questions please now, just not from you"

"We have to vote yes or else it will go to the OMB"

(TRICKED YOU, this is a slogan that is applicable to all 4 of them)

Have fun, add your own.