KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT AGAINST HIGHLANDS OR WE MAY BE FACED WITH THIS

(STOLEN OPENLY AND SHAMELESSLY FROM THE STOP THE QUARRY FACEBOOK SITE)

THANKS

A shout out to Hill (of beans) and Knowlton for checking this site several times a day.

Helps puts my stats over 200 a day. 

Thanks-nice to know someone is interested ;)

MY NEW BESTEST FRIEND

Not sure what Baupost did to piss off Kim Palacios, but all I can say is this person is my newest bestest friend.

Third installment written by Kim about Baupost and little old Melancthon.

Thanks from the bottom of my cold black heart Kim, I think it thawed a little when I read this.  And honestly, thanks. 

EXCERPT
The economics of The Baupost Group’s Ontario mega-quarry investment continue to unfold strangely, with new statements made in a January 12th Town Hall Meeting between Highland Companies executives and local parties adding clarification. 

Back-of-the-envelope math once told a story that estimated $43B profits for the mega-quarry project. This was based on the assumption that most or all acreage named in the proposal (2,316 of Highland’s 9,000+ acre holdings) would be used for the extraction of aggregate, and would yield an estimated $18M revenue per acre. Yet, pointed questions around the specific use of the land told a different financial story.

Most notable are extraction volume projections that fall far below early estimates, a useful life operating period that doubles the benchmarked average, a reinforced commitment to limit the market to Ontario Province, and cost concessions that will further erode profits. Messrs. John Lowndes (a co-owner), John Scherer and Joseph Izhakoff, all principals of the Highland Companies supplied the referenced clarifications at the meeting.

Full article here:
http://www.valuewalk.com/2012/01/baupost-might-lose-money-on-mega-quarry-investment/#.Tyct6MX2a8A

CONNECTING THE DOTS

Recent article in Canadian Business magazine written by Mike Coates, title Putting Canada's Economy First-No Apologies.....

Pretty hard hitting article that takes the position jobs at all costs and go fuck yourself anyone who is a radical environmentalist (and I am paraphrasing here).......well you read it here for yourself...
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/article/66246--putting-canada-s-economy-first-no-apologies

But who is Mike Coates?

At the bottom of the article it states: Mike Coates is the president and CEO of Hill & Knowlton Canada.

You know, that PR firm that was hired by Highlands aka Baupost Group aka Seth Klarman to part the waters on their 2,300 acre 200 foot below the water table open pit limestone mine fiasco.

WHO IS THE PUPPET AND WHO IS THE PUPPET MASTER

For those of you who may not be following twitter (and tweets) here is my analysis in a nutshell.

Teamhighland (bad guys) will post a spin.

Teamheadwaters will blow them out of the water.

Teamhighland will revise their tweet and/or Highlands website to respond to Teamheadwaters (good guys) tweets.

Wow.

GOOSE STEP

What a feel good story.

A wild goose who was raised by a woman was snatched by the bureaucrats at the Federal Ministry of Environment for violating the wildlife act (or something).

The woman feared her goose would be cooked (sorry, couldn't resist)

Launched a facebook campaign.

And lo and behold, Peter Kent, our own Federal Minister of Environment stepped in and saved the day.

Wonderful, wonderful.

Entire story here:
http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/01/24/after-intervention-by-environment-minister-peter-kent-lucy-the-goose-goes-home/

So now, Minister Kent that you have this issue contained, and have gotten all the good P.R. out of it, do you think you could turn your attention to Melancthon?

We have turtles, bobolinks, cardinals, geese, all sorts of wildlife that need your help. 

2,300 acres, 200 feet below the water table gone, gone, gone.

Please order a panel review....now.

SOUTHGATE SHITUATION MEETING

Lystek (aka LIES-TEK), the proponent who wants to truck human untreated sewage and awful, I mean offal from the GTA to Dundalk is having their "open house" meeting tomorrow.

Main Street Dundalk from 4-9.

Drop by to hear the corporate message which is how can they make this palatable....

.

UPDATE FROM HIGHLANDS APPEARANCE AT COUNCIL

Here is THEIR version of events.  http://www.melancthonquarry.ca/index.php/site/latest/questions_and_answers_highland_companies_representatives_january_12_2012

That isn't what I heard from where I was sitting.

We would know if their version is right...if only someone had thought to tape record the meeting.....

SOUTHGATE SHITUATION UPDATE

Public Information Meetings to inform citizens of where citizens of the actions of Southgate Council and information on the Eco Park.

This is a combined effort of both the "Concerned Citizens of Southgate" (CCOS), and the "Southgate Public Interest and Research Group" (SPIRG)

Don't read the words Southgate and think it doesn't concern you. 

Better find out where the haul route is because this proposal involves transporting offal and human sewage in trucks that require no more coverage than tarping.



Feb.1st - Highpoint School at 7:30pm


Feb.2nd - Holstein Optimist Centre at 7:30pm

SO LONG

Just wanted to acknowledge the retirement of Helen McKelvie and her column Town and Country.

Happy retirement Helen and thanks for all the news over the years.

You were Shelburne's original "blogger"!!

UPCOMING MEETING

From the facebook site:

Main Topic: Environmental Assessment

When: Saturday, February 4, 2012
Time: 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: North Dufferin Recreation Centre (Honeywood Arena), Upstairs in the Norduff Room, Honeywood, ON
As always, there will be time for questions.

Speakers:
Laura Bowman (from Iler Campbell LLP Barristers & Solicitors) - will speak about the Environmental Assessment

Mackenzie Rutledge (grade 7 student) - will give her speech on the proposed Mega Quarry

Melancthon Mayor Bill Hill - will briefly speak about which stage the township is, in this issue

Bruce Davidson - will speak about the Walkerton water disaster

And this thanks is issued in all sincerity to Mayor of Melancthon for taking the time to speak at the meeting.  It is truly appreciated by all.

HERE IS HOPING

At the Melancthon Council meeting at which Lowndes finally appeared in the flesh, albeit surrounded by hired suits and a couple of locals who Highlands thinks will generate some community buy-in based on their family names (one will, the other definitely NOT), the following article appeared in the Orangeville Banner:
http://www.orangeville.com/news/local/article/1280599--highland-sitting-on-the-fence-regarding-potential-omb-bill

It was written by reporter Bill Tremblay.

In a column written in the same issue by Bill, he noted:
Melancthon’s council has decided to ban all audio and video recording as well as still image cameras from their public or open meetings. According to Mayor Bill Hill, the decision to ban recording stems from a dishonest video editor, who twisted council words into false statements. (minebuster note: really, lets have some disclosure, exactly when and where did that happen?)

The policy is a disservice to Melancthon residents. Council’s are elected to represent their constituents, not broadly punish everyone as a failsafe to their own reputation.  The Highland quarry is a contentious issue and I’m certain others would have liked the opportunity to record their answers for further analysis or to share with others.  (minebusters note: you are SO right)  Hill said Highland’s answer would be posted to the municipal website, but nearly a week later, I can’t seem to find them. http://www.orangeville.com/opinion/columns/article/1281603--don-t-punish-everyone-for-mistakes-of-a-few

Funny thing is, Highlands reps have been taping NDACT public meetings for years now and NDACT doesn't seem to have a problem with video editor's twisting their words into false statements.

And the Mayor sits at County Council where tape recording goes on all the time and I have yet to hear that the County's words are twisted.

I am glad someone other than the ratepayers have raised this issue, particularly that Melancthon residents deserve better, because Council has not been listening to their ratepayers. 

Hopefully with a third party Council might start to see that this is a new century where open data is just that, data for each to disseminate on their own. 

That way, people wouldn't have to rely on this stupid freaking blog for information.  And in my opinion that would be the biggest benefit to all.

FROM THE DEATH AND DUST BLOG

An excerpt from a blog showing what can happen....in Ontario....

To my friends who are fighting against the Mega Quarry


With what has happened concerning my small stand against what happened to my wife and myself I only wish to say.

From the moment that my dear late wife and I began to complain about the gravel pit, where are home was located we were met with total unwillingness to help. I still remember the propaganda offered in their own brochures put out by the MNR. We asked the MNR in a polite and civil way if we could find some ground where both parties could find a solution to our complaint. That was met with unwillingness to do anything. In wanting to sell the right away that separated two pits we stated our objection and views. We asked the township for an environmental assessment which we were denied. We spoke directly to the gravel pit owner who assured us he would mitigate the dust, he did nothing. After my wife died I called Kingston MOE twice, I never received a return call. I sent a letter to Premier McGuinty I received a reply that stated"Mr. Cressey, my colleagues and I continue to echo our belief that our province’s high quality of life and sustainable economic growth are contingent upon strong environmental protection. That is why it is a priority of this government. We understand that all Ontarians deserve to live and work in clean, safe communities – communities in which the environment contributes to our health and well-being."

The Ministry of the Environment stated"The photographs and videos of the quarry that you provided, along with your wife’s journal entries have been helpful in understanding the conditions at the site during the time of your concerns. As you may know this quarry is licenced by the MNR and must comply with several licencing conditions including a requirement to manage dust."

The MNR’s response reminded the operator of his obligations under the aggregate resources act and the environmental protection act.

I objected to that decision and filed an affidavit . Stating that we were given assurances by the gravel pit owner that he would mitigate the dust.

A crusher was put in front of our home that just sent us into total insanity with noise and dust.

The Township refused in any way to deal with the complaint we were told" they can do anything they want from 6:00 am. till 9:00 pm"

It has been two years now since my wife passed away and in that time all that was ever done was a charge of failing to have a Certificate of Authorization to crush on this site. The outcome of that was a plea bargain with the MNR Prosecutor which resulted in "The MNR prosecutor reviewed all your video/photo evidence and as you know,, there was a plea agreement made prior to court which resulted in Crains' Construction Ltd pleading guilty and was fined $1000.00. Thanks for your evidence and willingness to be a witness....

Entire blog here:

http://deathanddustmystory.blogspot.com/p/to-my-friends-who-are-fighting-against.html

DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES

CFRB had a commercial on today from the Ontario Sand and Gravel Association. 

They should think about advertising on Goldhawk too (hee, hee)

ENTIRE ECONOMIC BENEFIT TO MELANCTHON IF HIGHLAND'S DOES THE BIG DIG

Mayor Bill Hill asked what financial benefits the quarry would bring aside from employment.
(Minebuster Note: employment are 300 truck driving jobs eventually and another 150 over the 100 year life of the quarry)


“We would continue our corporate sponsorship,” Scherer said, adding the quarry would create economic spin-offs.  (Minebusters Note: economic spin offs include jobs in other countries who make things to enable them to dig the hole, money that Baupost share holders make and can spend on private yachts and stuff, there is no limit to the economic spin offs-no truth either, just no limit)

Hokey smokes, start digging the hole, we really need their corporate sponsorship as we were on the verge of collapsing as a community before they slinked into our midst.

What has been their corporate sponsorship to date?

A failed YMCA bid

A clock at the Honeywood arena

Offering housing to a physician that the recruitment committee might land to work in Dufferin and to date not one single physician has ever lived in a Highlands house (the ones that haven't been demolished)

Sponsoring some sports teams......

Money to "assist" with the renovation of Hornings Mills Hall-despite the fact Highlands could have purchased an elevator and paid for the monthly inspection fees forever out of Seth Klarman's pocket money
 
Funding a study to identify ways of reducing snowdrifting on County Road 124 (note this was NEVER released to the public so not sure how this is helpful to anyone except Highlands)
 
blah, blah, blah

COMMENTS

Complaints galore.

If you are having trouble viewing comments you have to delete your cookies and browsing history. 

This task is not for the faint of heart and I don't know much about it, other than to say ask someone before you do it.

You find the delete history and cookies somewhere on your internet browser.

Make sure you are only deleting cookies and history, not all your favourites, passwords, etc. etc.

Godspeed!!

IF this doesn't solve the problem and you still can't view comments, it may be because after today's meltdown all comments are on moderation-I will review before they are posted. 

That is the beauty of having your own blog-I get to be the decider.

COMMENTS REMOVED

This is NOT an NDACT site. 

If you have questions, comments or accusations for NDACT, please direct them to NDACT.  http://www.ndact.com/

ONE FLEW UNDER THE RADAR

In all the excitement about Lowndes showing up in the flesh to the January 12, 2012 Melancthon Council meeting, the long awaited Official Plan update from the contract planner was missed.

Remember, we were promised his report in November, then December, then the first meeting in January 2012.

Nada, nothing.

Can someone remind me how Melancthon taxpayers pay $100,000 a year for his services? 

No transparency-no reports, no invoices etc.

And no output, except for the bills he generates to Melancthon.

HOW MANY SUITS DOES IT TAKE

How many suits does it take for Highlands to persuade anyone that what they are doing it good and for everyone's benefit?

Well more than what showed up at the Melancthon Council meeting on January 12, 2012.

The general consensus is Melancthon Council asked all the right questions.

The answers provided by Highlands were more of the same old, same old.

Lowndes did, however, state that HE and Baupost were the ONLY investors in the project.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES