Vol. 10 No. 49
THURSDAY, December 5, 2013
YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER COVERING NORTH DURHAM
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Scugog seeks repayment of ice rescue bill BLAKE WOLFE The Standard
A CEREMONY OF CAROLERS: The Monday Morning Singers gave a rousing performance of Benjamin Bitten’s ancient English Christmas suite in celebration of Bitten’s 100th birthday, on Sunday, Dec. 1 at Trinity Church in Uxbridge. They were joined by renowned harpist Sharlene Wallace and BENJAMIN PRIEBE The Standard accomplished soloists Grace Rogers and Stephanie Laderman.
Dagmar resort set to undertake major project DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard
UXBRIDGE: Citing safety concerns, a local ski hill approached councillors this week to pitch a largescale restoration project that could begin as early as next summer. Operators at Dagmar Ski Resort made a presentation to council at their meeting on the morning of Monday, Dec. 2, to pitch the plan that will see the importation of 240,000 cubic metres of fill over the next three years in order to carry out site alterations and grading improvements. Throughout their presentation, representatives from Dagmar assured councillors of their commitment to conducting the operation in a safe manner for the local environment, promising a fully transparent operation,
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along with weekly progress updates to township staff. “Under no circumstances will we take any risks that may jeopardize the environment or our business,” said Dagmar CEO Alex Nagy. “We’ll do whatever it takes to keep the dirty dirt out.” Dagmar representatives later disclosed that they have been in contact with crews responsible for the 407 extension about excess fill removed from the site being imported to carry out the regrading at the local ski hill. “Time is of the essence, and we don’t want the opportunity to work with the 407 to slip by because it’s just down the road,” Mr. Nagy said. While councillors did not formally endorse the project, several members of council congratulated the group T U R N TO PAG E 4 on such a through presentation.
Nearly 11 months after the incident took place and made headlines across the country, Scugog councillors have decided they’ve heard enough about why an Oshawa resident will not pay a nearly$5,400 ice rescue bill - an invoice that will now go to a collection agency should its recipient continue his refusal to pay. Angler Neil Robbescheuten returned to council chambers this Monday (Dec. 2) to once again appeal the bill from the Scugog Fire Department following his Jan. 13 rescue from the mud off of the northern shore of Scugog Island. Mr. Robbescheuten, who previously appeared before council on March 4 to appeal the bill, stated that although he has reconsidered some of his actions on the lake since the incident (such as venturing out alone), he refuses to pay the bill “in principle” due to it being “ethically and morally wrong.” While Mr. Robbescheuten still contended that the ice he was fishing on was safe (despite spring-like temperatures in the area that day) it was a thick fog that caused him to become disoriented and wander onto thin ice, which he fell through to become stuck in the mud. Following the rescue call, which brought police, EMS and 29 firefighters to the scene, Mr. Robbescheuten was asked for his name and address, later receiving the bill in the mail. Similar to the March 4 discussion, councillors showed little sympathy to Mr. Robbescheuten’s plight and questioned many of his actions that day as well as his staunch refusal to pay the bill. An offer to make a $500 charitable donation in lieu of paying the bill - as was previously discussed in March - was also shot down by council. Mr. Robbescheuten again stated that he believes the billing practice will deter calls to 911. However, Chief Miller clarified that the invoice was for a fire department service fee, as opposed to a 911 fee, as Mr. Robbescheuten said multiple times during the presentation. The chief also added that in discussion with other area fire chiefs, including Oshawa’s Steve Meringer, no incidents have been recorded where victims of an emergency were hesitant to call for help out of fear of receiving a hefty bill. T U R N TO PAG E 5