the
Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 45 Issue 01
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 1.90% 3 Year GIC - 2.25% 5 Year GIC - 2.70% Daily Interest 1.75%
Friday, January 6, 2012
2011: The Year in Review by Chris Daponte MAPLETON TWP. - The Community News would like to wish everyone a safe and happy 2012, as it takes a look back at an eventful 2011. The following is just a small sample of what made headlines in Mapleton Township over the past 12 months. January The township’s first baby of 2011 was Alexis Vandenberg, born on Jan. 3 at 4:56am at Groves Memorial hospital in Fergus. Alexis, who weighed in at 9lbs 6oz., was welcomed by parents Chantel Robinson and John Vandenberg and big sister Breanna, of Drayton. Mapleton Township received a $50,500 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation for new playground equipment at ABC Park in Drayton. The old play structure was destroyed by vandals. Drayton Entertainment was also on the receiving end of a grant when the federal government announced $359,000 in funding for theatre upgrades and new equipment at three of its venues. About $47,500 was spent on the Festival Theatre in Drayton, which was matched by Drayton Entertainment, for a total project cost of $95,000. During a public meeting on Jan. 11, neighbours expressed concerns about the proposed 196-unit Glenaviland Estates subdivision and nine-hole golf course on the west side of Wellington Road 8 in north Mapleton. Concerns included parking, water and sewer capacity, lower property values and sidewalk access. Mapleton council reaffirmed its position of refusing to fill out the consultation forms necessary for companies like NextEra Energy to set up wind farms in the township. The municipality also repeated the call for an independent study to determine the possible impact of wind turbines on human and animal health. An annual report revealed Mapleton councillors were paid a total of $78,328 in 2010, up 2% over the total for 2009. February Council decided to hire a consultant to help develop a parks and recreation master plan for the township. The 2011 insurance program was approved by council, with a total premium of $151,752 - up 2.6% over the 2010 figure. Wellington County council approved its 2011 budget, including a 2.7% tax levy increase. Local residents rallied around fired crossing guard Michelle Choma, while township officials remained quiet on the issue, refusing to allow
a delegation to speak about it and also refusing (for at least two prominent township officials) to speak to the Community News about it. Choma said she was fired by Sinnamon for “leaving her post” (after a verbal altercation with an alleged aggressive driver), even though there were no more children that needed to cross the street. Officials with the Wellington Waterloo Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) said they received good feedback during a “regional round table discussion” held in Drayton about health care in northern and rural Ontario. Council proposed several changes - including some increases ranging from 50 to 100% - in its fees and charges bylaw. The changes were later approved. An engineer’s report showed four bridges in Mapleton were in need of “fairly immediate” upgrades. Township council approved a Feed-in Tariff (FIT) application for a 170-kilowatt, $1-million solar project on the roof of the PMD Arena in Drayton (in partnership with Essex Energy). Council also approved paying its portion of the 2011 levies from the Grand River Conservation Authority ($78,285) and the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority ($7,884). March A large fire completely destroyed a Mapleton home and hangar/garage on Wellington Road 11, just south of County Road 109. Damage from the blaze, the largest structural fire the local fire department had handled in about five years, was estimated at over $1 million. Wellington County council told the Ministry of the Environment it has no interest in taking part in the public consultation process that would permit the construction of wind farms within the county, due to “significant deficiencies” in the approval process. The county announced plans to hire a fire training officer to work with seven lower tier municipalities. The county later hired Jonathan Karn to fill that role. Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) officials revealed they are still unsure how they will fund the construction of a $20-million emergency spillway for the Conestogo Dam, expected to be completed by 2015. Mapleton Township added another 27.5 acres to its industrial park in Drayton at a cost of $305,710. The Shoes for Haiti cam-
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paign was a remarkable success, collecting close to 30,000 pairs of shoes to be shipped to Haiti, including about 2,000 from the Mapleton area. Councillor Jim Curry was credited with much of the campaign’s local success. A panel of three Superior Court judges in Toronto ruled the 550 metre setback for industrial wind turbines is legitimate. Prince Edward County resident Ian Hanna had argued that in coming up with the new setback, the provincial government failed to properly consider how the turbines can affect human health. The junior and senior girls volleyball teams at Norwell District Secondary School both captured CWOSSA gold medals on their home court at the regional championships in Palmerston. Councillors expressed concern with a new property standards bylaw that didn’t “feel like Mapleton Township.” The bylaw, proposed by bylaw enforcement officer Bruce Brockelbank, was criticized by councillors for being too stringent and was deferred. Meeting investigator Norm Gamble ruled the township was correct in its handling of a closed session council meeting to discuss the firing of crossing guard Michelle Choma. The complaint was filed by Choma’s mother. Mapleton Township batted .500 in grant applications, securing $174,000 (over three years) in funding for the Closer to Home seniors program, but losing out on a $37,000 application to the federal government to make the Maryborough community hall more accessible. NextEra Energy’s application for a 10-turbine wind farm southwest of Arthur was accepted as complete under the Renewable Energy Approval process, despite the refusal of both Mapleton Township and Wellington County to take part in the consultation process. John Wilkinson, at the time the MPP for Perth-Wellington and also the Minister of the Environment, had previously assured local councillors and residents this exact scenario would not occur. Around the same time, NextEra officials boasted that changes to their application (including turbine and transformer locations and the collection route) offered a “net benefit” for local residents. The Drayton Defenders peewee rep hockey team captured the Ontario Minor Hockey Association ‘D’ championship, after defeating Marmoro/ Madoc 3-1 in the best-of-five final OMHA series.
Shopping crew - Maryborough Public School students Katie Zwart, Tiffany Huberts and Curtis Ridolls were the winning team in the “Shop with a Cop” event held just before Christmas. The team was joined by Mapleton Fire Chief Rick Richardson. See article and photo on page 5. submitted photo April Council voted unanimously not to proceed - as an owner, partial owner or even as a lessee of the space - with a $1-million solar project on the roof of the PMD Arena. Council’s concerns included an unwillingness to borrow $300,000 and also feedback from residents who suggested such a project should be left up to private businesses. Township officials were encouraged by the Ministry of the Environment to take part in the consulting process for the NextEra Energy project, although councillors said they still had concerns about the 10-turbine proposal, including what they saw as poor communication by the company. Mapleton Township helped out grieving neighbours in North Perth by providing fire department back-up and also extra barricades during the memorial services for firefighters Raymond Walter and Ken Rea, who tragically died during a huge blaze at a Listowel dollar store. Mapleton council passed a new tow truck bylaw aimed at curbing accident solicitation, despite the plea from one operator for a deferral. The Wellington County Tow Group was in favour of the bylaw. The 30th annual Drayton Farm Show was a great success, attracting over 2,300 people to the annual event at the PMD Arena. Council approved the 2011 budget, including $3.4-million in capital projects, which resulted in a 6.3% increase to property taxes. The owner of the average home worth
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$270,145 paid an extra $55 in township taxes as a result of the increase. Candidates in the PerthWellington federal election race addressed a number of issues at debates in Alma and Arthur, including energy production on farmland, large wind farms, income splitting, tax cuts, veteran services, immigration policies and the long gun registry. Drayton native Nick Spaling advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs, after scoring the series-winning goal that lifted the Nashville Predators over the Anaheim Ducks. Nashville would go on to lose its second round series against the Vancouver Canucks. Mapleton farmer David Ellison and lifelong friend Matthew Klumpenhouwer, of Perth County, announced they would appear on an episode of the OLN television show Mantracker in May. Ellison was the only one to cross the finish line, but both called the experience a great team victory. May Incumbent MP Gary Schellenberger won his fifth consecutive election on May 2, defeating four other candidates in the Perth-Wellinton riding. Schellenberger garnered 55% of all votes cast in the riding. Paul Day was honoured at a county council meeting as the volunteer of the year for Mapleton Township. Day is an active member of the Trees for Mapleton group as well as the local historical society. Despite an increase in local break ins and domestic disturbances, OPP Inspector Scott
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Smith said Mapleton Township remains a very safe place to live. Hall revenue at the Maryborough Community Centre topped the list of concerns expressed by over 50 people who attended the town hall meeting at the Moorefield centre. Other issues included water meters, wastewater costs, the condition of local sidewalks and roads, and changing road signs to read Mapleton instead of former township names. Mapleton blood donor Allen Martin was recognized by Canadian Blood Services for making 75 donations. The Ministry of the Environment announced the opening of a 60-day commenting period for NextEra Energy’s application for a 10-turbine wind farm southwest of Arthur. The Palmerston Legion received a $69,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to provide a more accessible and energy efficient building. Council unanimously approved a 20-year, $950,000 Infrastructure Ontario loan application to cover the purchase of 59 acres of land to make room for a new lagoon at its wastewater treatment facility. The township received the loan and in July passed a bylaw officially approving the debenture. June The township’s auditor announced Mapleton will have to spend $4.8-million per year just maintain its current infrastructure assets. Council unanimously Continued on page 2
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