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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 44 Issue 26
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.01% 3 Year GIC - 2.80% 5 Year GIC - 3.10% Daily Savings 1.50%
Friday, July 1, 2011
Student athletes excel - Maryborough Public School students recently travelled to Victoria Cross Public School in Mount Forest to compete in the regional track and field meet, including, from left: Liz Klosa (running long jump), Easton Bieman (high jump) and Tanner Meraw (running long jump). Several Maryborough students fared very well at the event. Kelsey Walker placed first in ball throw, Easton Bieman won second in the 400 metre race, Emily Klosa was second in running long jump, Tiffiny Huberts won first in the 100m and second in running long jump, Derek Hildebrandt won second in the 50m and running long jump, Tommy Ottens placed fifth in ball throw, and Cody Kuepfer won many ribbons, including for second and third place finishes. submitted photos
Hundreds packed new Optimist Hall for grand opening on June 24 by David Meyer ALMA - After the ribbons were cut and the speeches made, Perth-Wellington MPP John Wilkinson remarked that the new Optimist building here has “got to be the most beautiful community hall per capita in Ontario.” He might also have said that for an opening, the building attracted one of the highest percentages of a community’s population. Over 200 people fit comfortably inside the spacious building for a grand opening ceremony at noon on June 24, including a large portion of the Alma Public School student body, led by piper Liam MacDonald.
The students performed the national anthem and offered other music as well. Optimist Club member and master of ceremonies Dave Geddes said the ground breaking had been done last May, and the building seemed to grow so fast it was like, “Add water and stir.” Perth-Wellington MP Gary Schellenberger was unable to attend because of the postal dispute and parliament still sitting. Lee Gudgeon attended on his behalf and said, “Projects like this one are important.” The federal, provincial, and municipal government each came up with one third of the cost of the $1.5-million building.
“Congratulations for all your hard work in bringing this project to fruition,” Gudgeon said. Wilkinson told the school children assembled for the outdoor part of the ceremony, “Your moms and dads came together to build this.” He noted there was no provincial flag present, so he brought one along. “This is really one of the most beautiful halls in rural Ontario and you can be proud of it,” Wilkinson said. Mayor Bruce Whale said the hall project had been on the drawing board since he got on council about seven years ago, when Wallace Cumming donated the land for a park.
He noted that 20 years ago, the Optimist Club had developed another community hall from an old church, but simply outgrew it. “This project would not have been made possible without the financial contribution of the federal and provincial governments, and the contributions of the Alma Optimist Club and community members,” Whale said. Optimist Club president Les Skerritt said, “This is pretty awesome.” He said it has been a long time goal, and thanked “everybody that supported me over the last five years,” noting that there was help from the club and the community.
Councillors approve lagoon loan; upset at engineers by David Meyer MAPLETON TWP. Council here has approved a 20-year debenture to purchase land to expand its sewage lagoon for Moorefield and Drayton. Council passed a debenture bylaw on June 14 for $950,000 over the next 20 years. The money will purchase land to add an extra cell to the wastewater treatment plant, located off Sideroad 15, southwest of Drayton. The township applied for the debenture from the Ontario Infrastructure Projects Corporation. Normally, council would use Wellington County’s borrowing power and top credit rating for such a loan, but council learned a few months ago the county is not borrowing money this year. But while councillors had
no difficulty in approving the debenture, they were less than happy with R.J. Burnside and Associates, the township’s engineers for the project. Director of Pubic Works Larry Lynch told council he had received a report from the engineers four days earlier, but learned they could not meet with council before its next meeting on June 28. Councillor Neil Driscoll questioned a proposal for two cells instead of one in the lagoon. Lynch said he had learned the system “operates better split in two like that.” He said the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) and the engineers agree on that. But Lynch said he plans to ask Burnside “to defend that” and noted that is because the number of berms needed will
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increase. Driscoll asked about the quantities of fill needed for the berms. Lynch said work on the tenders is not yet completed. “I assume they will provide at least an amount of material to be moved,” he said. Driscoll said the report also stated the township will have to do its own test holes, and can’t use the ones the engineering firm did. Lynch said it will lower the costs if there is enough clay in the soil. The township had planned to add a single cell to the three already on site. Councillor Mike Downey was not amused by the news and that no representative from Burnside attended the council meeting. He said the project has been on the go for two years,
and should have been ready in January. “Burnside should be put on notice,” he said Lynch said he will make sure representatives attend the next council meeting, and noted he has questions about financing. Councillor Andy Knetsch said, “I’m not impressed with Burnside not being here tonight.” Councillor Jim Curry wondered if the engineers should be asked to attend special council meeting of June 21 for council to debate its comments to the province for the wind turbines. He said that would take about two hours and then the engineers could answer questions. But Chief Administrative Officer Patty Sinnamon said “The wind turbines will take Continued on page 3
Weekly Wag
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He said he learned “Something will happen if your keep pushing and you don’t quit.” Geddes then noted that while Cumming donated the land for the park, “He didn’t expect something like this.” Geddes then introduced Cumming’s sister, Alberta Auger, who told the audience about times in Alma many years ago. She was a teacher but taught only boys. That was just prior to World War II. “It’s a beautiful building,” she said. Geddes then introduced Mapleton councillor Mike Downey, who sat on the building committee. Downey said he was
thrilled to see the public school children at the grand opening, since many of them had attended the previous year’s sod turning ceremony. “We had a lot of community help from a lot of people,” he said. Dunn Construction built the building, and owner Al Dunn told the group, “I hope you get the same enjoyment of this building as we had in building it.” While it had an official opening at midday, Alma planned to keep on celebrating, with a second ceremony that evening that included clowns, face painting, and a dance starting at 6pm. See photos on page 2.
Township needs business directory, council hears by David Meyer MAPLETON TWP. - When the newest business directory is a decade old, it is natural to consider preparing another one. Mapleton Township Chief Administrative Officer Patty Sinnamon told council on June 14 the last directory for the township was published in 2001 and it is time to consider another one. She said at the time of the last printing, council hoped the Chamber of Commerce would re-print the directory from time to time. Instead, the chamber went out of existence. “The guide is out of date,” Sinnamon wrote in her economic development report to council, adding, “some of the
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businesses no longer exist, [there are] new services, service club contacts and community information, etc.” She was thinking of doing a request for proposals for the printing of a new guide, and also hiring a contract employee to coordinate the project for ad sales and information gathering. “The design and printing will be outsourced,” she wrote. “I anticipate the ad sales will cover all design and printing costs.” Mayor Bruce Whale, however, said printing might not be necessary. He wondered if the township should “publish, or put it on the website and print it off” Continued on page 3
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