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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 46 Issue 08
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.10% 3 Year GIC - 2.25% 5 Year GIC - 2.65% Daily Interest 2.00%
Friday, February 22, 2013
Council considers motion to commit to preservation of agricultural land
Pioneering - Throughout the month of February, students from Community Christian School in Drayton have been learning about life in the early Canadian pioneer times. Staff from the Wellington County Museum hosted a series of demonstrations and workshops at the school that included making old fashioned candles. Clockwise, from front right, are: Kirsten Duimering, Finley DeVries, Rebecca Mohle, Elisa VanderKooi and Dyson Parker. submitted photo
by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - A motion which would commit the township to supporting farmers and “policies that protect integrity of agricultural lands” was introduced at the Feb. 12 council meeting here. Moved by councillor Mike Downey and seconded by councillor Andy Knetsch, the motion states, “The Township of Mapleton is protecting the integrity of the prime agricultural land base by prohibiting the creation of lots for new residential uses, including farm retirement lots and residential in-filling, on these lands.” The motion further states the benefits of this approach include: - increased protection of agricultural uses by restricting the introduction of potentially noncompatible uses in these areas; - promotion and protection of all types, sizes and intensities of agricultural uses and
normal farm practices; - increased flexibility for siting of livestock operations and ability to comply with the Minimum Distance Separation (MDS). The MDS is a planning tool used to determine a recommended distance between a livestock facility and other sensitive land uses. The objective of the MDS is to prevent land use conflicts and minimize nuisance complaints related to odour; and - further the Township of Mapleton shall defend these policies at whatever level necessary, including, but not limited to, the Ontario Municipal Board. Councillor Jim Curry expressed concern that adopting the policy would impact the municipality’s ability to expand the boundaries of existing urban areas. “In the village of Drayton, before long, we’ll be moving toward some agricultural land
or else we’ll have to stop growing altogether,” Curry said. Mayor Bruce Whale questioned the idea of creating a policy that would compel future councils to pursue specific matters to the OMB. Downey explained the wording of the motion was taken directly from a provincial policy on the subject. “This is actually provincial policy. The only thing I changed was the Township of Mapleton, instead of Province of Ontario. I want to know if we endorse this provincial policy,” he said. Whale suggested, municipalities “do have some flexibility,” in applying the policy to individual situations. However, Downey disagreed. Council agreed to defer the motion pending further information and discussion on provincial policy regarding agricultural land and MDS guidelines.
by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – Council here has agreed to a lower rate for auditorium rentals during games at the PMD arena for the local Senior AA hockey team. Minto-Mapleton 81’s president Uwe Claussen attended the Feb. 12 meeting to ask council to reconsider a local parks and recreation committee decision not to grant the team relief from
paying the going rate for the auditorium, which the team uses as a “Blueline Club” for liquor sales during intermission. Claussen requested the club be allowed to continue renting the hall at the same rate as they have for the past two seasons, rather than paying the current rate ($510 including HST). He pointed out the club generally only makes about $400
from liquor sales at a game, “so there’s no point in having a Blueline Club,” if compelled to pay the full rate. He explained that when the club plays homes games in Palmerston, the Blueline Club is profitable even though the team receives only 40 per cent of liquor sale proceeds (as compared to 100% in Mapleton) Continued on page 3
Township to work with GRCA on funding for Drayton flood prevention project Hockey team gets break on hall rental cil dredging might not be the if the funding can’t be obtained, by Patrick Raftis
MAPLETON - Council here has directed staff to work with the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) to develop a plan to fund a clean-out of the Conestogo River to reduce the risk of flooding in Drayton. Dwight Boyd, senior water resources engineer with the GRCA, attended the Feb. 5 meeting to discuss the situation, in response to a previous request made by council. At the Jan. 8 meeting councillor Andy Knetsch said he feels the river should be dredged through parts of the village, considering the investment local residents have made in businesses and homes in the area. However, Boyd told coun-
answer to avoiding a major flood. “Lowering the channel would probably reduce the frequent flooding in the fairgrounds, but when you get into a major flood, you get into bridge capacity issues,” he pointed out. Nonetheless, Boyd said “a clean-out would help things.” He told council provincial funding for the project may be available through the Watershed Erosion Control Infrastructure (WECI) program, but the deadline to apply for this year is fairly tight. If WECI funding is available, the project could be done with a combination of WECI and GRCA funding. However,
the cost could be split between the conservation authority and the municipality. The scale of the clean-out chosen will impact the cost of the project, and the amount of paperwork involved, Boyd noted. “If you don’t really want to do a lot of excavation and just want to trim the vegetation back a bit, there’s really no permit required for that,” he explained. Council authorized public works director Larry Lynch to work with the GRCA on preparing an application for WECI funding. Railway embankment Both council and GRCA Continued on page 6
Public input sought on strategic plan
by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - Council here is seeking public input on a draft community-based strategic plan. Approval of the plan in draft form at the Feb. 5 council meeting set in motion a public consultation period that ends March 23. The process of creating the plan began in January 2012 and Mapleton residents provided input through participation in a “conversation café” at the PMD arena, as well as an online survey. In a report at the Feb. 5 meeting, CAO Patty Sinnamon said the strategic plan should be “a living document” which
is continually referred to by council and staff. Rather than set out timelines for completion of actions suggested in the plan, Sinnamon said township staff prefer to use the document as “a day-to-day tool; one that will guide our day-to-day activities, budget process and long-term planning.” She also said the plan would “create an opportunity for ongoing dialogue between council staff and the community.” Among the goals outlined in the 17-page draft is to “align available financial and staff resources to meet council and community objectives.” The draft plan also outlines
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a number of priorities and challenges anticipated in the next 10 years, including: funding challenges, communications technology, economic development, maintaining infrastructure and planning for growth. The municipality is inviting residents and business owners to comment on the plan, which is posted on the township’s website (www.mapleton.ca). Hard copies can be obtained at the municipal administration centre. Comments will be accepted until March 23 and will be taken into consideration when the plan is presented for adoption at the April 9 council meeting.
Whale receives Diamond Jubilee medal
by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - Mayor Bruce Whale was presented with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal at the Feb. 12 council meeting. Whale was nominated for the medal, which was presented by Mapleton CAO Patty Sinnamon, by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. “This comes as a surprise,” said Whale, who was elected mayor in 2010 after serving seven years on council. After graduating from the University of Guelph with a bachelor of science (agriculture) degree, Whale spent three years working in Thailand with CUSO and travelling before returning to Mapleton. He has also been involved with PMD Minor Hockey, Peel/Maryborough Mutual Insurance, George Morris Centre, Dairy Farmers of Ontario, and Dairy Bureau of Canada. Noting the medals are awarded based on community involvement and volun-
Weekly Waagsy when
s mighty e a Farming look il, and you’re c n e p a is w field. your plo om the corn fr s e il m d n a thous isenhower - Dwight D. E
Jubilee medal - Mapleton Mayor Bruce Whale was presented with a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal at the Feb. 12 township council meeting. photo by Patrick Raftis teerism, Whale, who operates a Mapleton dairy farm with his wife, Deborah, suggested medals should also be awarded to the spouses of recipients. “The only way you can do that, working in the job that we
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have, is that one has to cover for the other,” he said. Whale noted that while only five years old at the time of the Queen’s coronation, “I remember my parents getting really excited about it.”
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