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Serving the Mapleton Community
Community News Volume 47 Issue 41
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.08% 3 Year GIC - 2.27% 5 Year GIC - 2.70% Daily Interest 1.45%
638-3328
Friday, October 10, 2014
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Wastewater, economic development top list of local election concerns
Coalition for youth - The newly-formed North Wellington Coalition for Youth Resiliency announced a 36-month initiative on Oct. 2. Among those present at a launch event at the Wellington County OPP station in Teviotdale were, front: Community Youth Resiliency Worker Alison Vasey; middle, youth from the local GLOWW organization; back from left: Brett Friessen of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Suzanne Trivers of the Mount Forest Family Health Team, Stuart Beumer of Wellington County Ontario Works, Susan Leuty of the Ontario Trillium Foundation and PerthWellington MPP Randy Pettapiece. photo by Patrick Raftis
Service providers form coalition to benefit youth in north Wellington
by Patrick Raftis TEVIOTDALE - A new initiative aimed at helping at-risk youth access services in north Wellington was launched here on Oct. 2. A new organization, the North Wellington Coalition for Youth Resiliency, announced a 36-month initiative, thanks to a $216,300 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF). The coalition made the announcement on behalf of the Mount Forest Family
Health Team, which is administering the grant on behalf of the 15-member coalition of service providers. A secondary grant that will bring free recreational “STEP Well” programming to youths in north Wellington (Mapleton, Minto and Wellington North) was also announced at the launch, held at the Wellington County OPP station. Wyndham House of Guelph has been approved for a 12-month, $54,434
grant through the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. This is a collaborative project with GLOWW (Giving Light Offers Worth and Wellness), the Town of Minto, Wellington-Guelph Drug Strategy, WellingtonDufferin-Guelph Public Health and the County of Wellington. STEP Well programming is expected to start in north Wellington by November of 2014. Continued on page 3
County confirms new Drayton works garage to be built at township office site by Patrick Raftis GUELPH – Wellington County’s current Drayton public works garage will be replaced with a new facility on or adjacent to the Township of Mapleton’s administration centre property. County council confirmed the roads committee decision to build a new shop on Mapleton Sideroad 16 at its Sept. 27 meeting. Funding for the Drayton garage replacement will be budgeted for 2016 in the upcoming five-year-plan, a roads committee resolution states. The move will allow for sharing of some facilities between the county and the
township, which is also planning to build a new shop at the location to replace one that burned to the ground in December. County councillor Lou Maieron, mayor of Erin, asked why the Drayton shop replacement was moved ahead of the Erin shop replacement, which is also in the five-year plan. “We did have Erin scheduled but due to circumstances happening in Mapleton with loss of their garage there are some advantages to relocating” the Drayton facility sooner, explained county engineer Gord Ough, who added “concerns with the Drayton garage relative to the wellhead,” also
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factored into the decision. “There are some things that are going to have to be spent on in Drayton if we stay very long so it makes sense to take this opportunity to dovetail with Mapleton.” Ough also pointed out the Erin garage is used only in the winter, while the Drayton shop is a year-round facility. “I understand the synergies make sense,” said Maieron, who then asked how far back the Erin project would be pushed. Ough suggested the Erin garage replacement could be expected to happen, “a couple or three years after the Drayton shop.”
by Patrick Raftis DRAYTON – Wastewater management and economic development emerged as major concerns as about 350 people packed the PMD arena auditorium on Saturday morning to hear Mapleton candidates make their pitch for votes in the Oct. 27 municipal election. “The (municipal) corporation is a business and we must run it this way,” stated Jim Curry, a current Mapleton councillor who is vying with fellow councillor Neil Driscoll for the mayor’s seat. In his opening remarks Curry stressed his leadership skills, noting he has “chaired most committees over the years” and currently chairs the township’s wastewater management committee, which he said is working “to solve our present wastewater problems.” “You the ratepayers deserve to maximize your return on your investment in Drayton and Moorefield to increase our assessment with more residents and growth,” Curry stated. Driscoll, a first-time councillor, said the past four years “gave me a great chance to see how our municipality is operated. “I believe the mayor needs to be a strong leader to make decisions that benefit our whole municipality,” he stated. “We have to figure out a way that we can have sustainable growth that we can afford,” said Driscoll, noting he has also served on the township’s wastewater committee and has “seen some changes that are going to move our community forward in the future.” The Conestogo Lake Cottagers Association hosted the Oct. 4 meeting and member Chris Schaefer asked the mayoral candidates “what we get from Mapleton Township?” While noting fire protection is provided by the municipality, Schaefer said, “We do our own water, we do our own sewers we look after our garbage ... We’re feeling like the ugly redheaded stepchild.” Driscoll pointed out the township actually keeps very little of the roughly $345,000 in property taxes paid by cottagers. “Of that we keep $101,000; $65,200 goes to the school board … the county, who actually plow your roads get $169,456,” Driscoll explained. “I would ask you to petition very hard to the GRCA and ask them why they aren’t providing some of these services.”
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Candidates meeting - A Mapleton candidates meeting was held at the PMD arena auditorium in Drayton on Oct. 4. From left: county council Ward 2 candidates Gregg Davidson and John Green and mayoral candidates Jim Curry and Neil Driscoll. photo by Patrick Raftis
Curry pointed to a number of recent road upgrade projects the township has undertaken in the cottage area and stated, “We also pay to the GRCA $80,000 back out of the money we receive,” in reference to the annual levy paid by the township to the conservation authority. “We’re here to make sure we work with the cottagers,” said Curry. Another questioner pointed to continuing annual reductions in provincial funding through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund and asked how council will make up the shortfall. Curry said he would aim to “keep the tax increase to an absolute minimum because taxes are high already.” Driscoll noted Mapleton’s recently-reconstructed 16th Line “was paved in two portions and it was paid for in two portions. That’s one of the creative ways this council is trying to stretch those dollars further.” Councillor candidates Candidates for councillor also focused on wastewater and economic issues during their opening remarks. “Solving our wastewater issue is probably our biggest issue here,” said Mapleton native Marlene Ottens, who added a healthy local economy is integral to a flourishing community. “When business and industry are thriving, then residents stay, the tax base increases,” said Ottens, who warned the next council needs to be ready to deal with a tight-fisted provincial government. “When they want to balance their books, often they download things to municipalities and cut transfer payments,” she pointed out. “I also think the biggest issue is wastewater capacity,” said Paul Douglas. “It’s key
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to our economy … it creates permit fees and development charges for township.” Douglas, who said he would like to see tax dollars spent efficiently, said he felt his experience in engineering would be helpful at the council table. Dennis Craven stated he feels current taxes are too high. “A very high percentage of township income comes from taxes,” said Craven who suggested the municipality needs to “finish developing the economic land behind the arena and support industrial growth in other areas in Mapleton.” Craven also said, “I fully realize the importance of agriculture to jobs in Mapleton,” and cited his past local council experience and “extensive community involvement” as assets he could bring to the next council. Michael Martin moved to Moorefield in 2011 and is a member of the local volunteer fire department. While he has no direct experience as a councillor, Martin said a 14-year career in the public sector as a paramedic and experience with union management committees demonstrates leadership ability that, along with a focus on transparency and communication, “would be very useful as a councillor in Mapleton.” Martin said serving on council would be “my way of giving back to my community,” and promised his votes would be “fully educated on the subject.” Angie Culp said she often talked about the idea of running for council while growing up in Mapleton. “I’m running because I’m ready. I’m ready to pore over budgets, policies and procedures,” she said. “I love this community. It’s where I was born it’s where I was raised. Mapleton is ready to be the Continued on page 6
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