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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 47 Issue 22
Drayton, Ontario
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Friday, May 30, 2014
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Nine candidates vie for Perth-Wellington seat PERTH-WELLINGTON Nine candidates are vying for the Perth-Wellington seat in the June 12 provincial election. Incumbent Progressive Conservative MP Randy Pettapiece is being challenged by Liberal Stewart Skinner, NDP candidate Romayne Smith Ful-
lerton, the Green Party’s Chris Dejardins, Irma DeVries of the Family Coalition Party, Libertarian Scott Marshall, Robby Smink of the Freedom Party, Equal Parenting Party candidate Marie Roth, and independent candidate Matthew Murphy.
The Alma Optimist Club was to host an all-candidates meeting on May 27 at the Alma Community Hall. Watch for coverage in the June 6 issue of the Community News. For profiles of Perth-Wellington candidates, see this week’s Wellington Advertiser.
Council authorizes purchase of tandem
Rockin’ the gala - Ed Sullivan’s Cavalcade of Stars, including “Buddy Holly,� provided entertainment at the Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation Starlight Gala at the PMD Arena Complex in Drayton on May 24. Final fundraising totals were not available at press time, but a live auction of donated items brought in over $45,000. photo by Patrick Raftis More gala coverage on page 8
by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – Council has agreed to spend $112,726 on a new tandem truck cab and chassis to replace a 1992 model in the township’s fleet. However, council deferred a decision on a staff recommendation to purchase a box and plow and other features that would bring the total to more than $200,000 until it receives further information. A report from fleet manager Henry Blancke and CAO Patty Sinnamon recommended
the vehicle and equipment be purchased form Viking-Cives. “The price of $112,726 includes $6,500 for an automatic greaser and $2,000 to up-size the rear axles to 46,000 pounds for the cab and chassis plus $95,650,� the report states. “Our fleet and safety manager also advised that he is recommending that the extended warranty on the engine for seven years be purchased at an additional cost of $5,500. This will bring the complete
package price to $213,876 plus taxes.� Not wanting to hold up ordering the truck, which will take several months for delivery, council agreed the cab and chassis be ordered now, while council should take time to review the other options in the report, which council received the day of the May 13 meeting. “This is a major, major deal here in the township. This is a lot of dollars and we get this report in the afternoon?� said councillor Andy Knetsch.
Maryborough Public School 60th anniversary reunion highlights school carnival on June 13 by Patrick Raftis MOOREFIELD - A barbecue and reunion will be the highlight of 60th anniversary celebrations at Maryborough Public School in Moorefield on June 13. Organizer Ginny Franklin says the reunion event is being held in conjunction with the school’s annual spring carnival. “So we’re going to support
the barbecue and then we’re going to have celebration cake and ice cream,� Franklin said. She added that Wib Brown, who was the first principal at Maryborough PS when the school opened in 1954, initiated the reunion event. Brown, currently living in Waterloo, “wanted to see how many students he could reconnect with.� Franklin said there will be
photos of the class of 1954 and some other memorabilia on display during the evening, which she said will be an informal come and go-style event. “It’s for anybody that’s interested in the school or who wants to reconnect with someone,� she said. The event will be held at the school on June 13 from 4 to 7pm.
60th anniversary - A reunion celebrating Maryborough PS’ 60th anniversary is set for June 13.
Business retention and expansion focus of joint economic development meeting by Patrick Raftis MOOREFIELD - Business retention and expansion was the focus of a joint Mapleton, Minto and Wellington North economic development meeting at the Maryborough Community Centre on May 21. Guest speaker Rebecca Mustard, economic development officer for Durham Region, described a business retention and expansion (BR+E) study conducted in Scugog Township, providing numerous points of comparison to a similar Wellington County study that has reached the implementation phase. “Our objectives are really similar to your objectives,� Mustard said, citing goals such as enhancing relationships between the business community and the municipality, identifying and addressing business concerns, and increasing competitiveness of local businesses. Mustard complimented Wellington County on its own BR+E efforts. “You have a fabulous project, it’s a great read and it has some really interesting actions to it,� she said.
Business focus - A joint Mapleton, Minto and Wellington North economic development meeting was held in Moorefield on May 21. During a break guest speaker Rebecca Mustard, centre, economic development officer for Durham Region, chats with University of Guelph professor Jim Taylor, left, a member of the Wellington North Economic Development Committee, and Mapleton Mayor Bruce Whale. photo by Patrick Raftis
Scugog township is a largely rural region with a population of about 22,000 people, built around the tourist hub of Port Perry. About 75 per Main St. W. Palmerston
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cent of local residents “leave the community to work somewhere else,� said Mustard. “If everyone in Scugog wanted to work in Scugog, there is not
enough jobs for them.� Like Wellington County, agriculture plays a major role in the Scugog economy, said Mustard.
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“Agriculture is probably Scugog’s second largest industry,� she said. Scugog’s study showed that 38 existing businesses were looking to expand, prompting the municipality to consider its role in facilitating that goal. “That raised the question of how do we help them expand? Or how do we get out of the way of this expansion?� said Mustard. Part of the answer to that question is obvious from the fact 44% of Scugog businesses cited business taxes among the top five barriers to doing business locally, while 36% cited issues with the local approval process. However, the Scugog study also revealed finding skilled workers is a concern in the region, cited by 35% of study respondents. Lack of internet access in some areas was also a problem. Mustard said through the interview process Scugog officials also realized there is a need to make development charges “more feasible� for businesses. “Time and time again we were told, ‘You wanted $50,000 from me before I ever
put a shovel into the ground,’� she explained. Citing broadband and labour force issues specifically, Wellington North Mayor Ray Tout noted many of Scugog’s business concerns mirror issues often raised in Wellington County. “It’s interesting to note we’re ... hours apart, but we still have a lot of the same issues,� said Tout. In a presentation on the local BR+E study, Wellington County economic development officer Jana Reichert said the county is now ready to accept applications from lower tier municipalities for up to $25,000 each in funding for BR+E plans. “We’re looking forward to seeing some of the implementation plans,� she said. Minto Mayor George Bridge offered “kudos� to Wellington County council for the decision to offer a total of $175,000 to the county’s seven lower tier municipalities. “There’s no use starting the business retention and expansion study if you’re not going to put some money on the table to implement it,� said Bridge.
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