FREE PRESS ~ NEWS WEEKLY
THE WELLINGTON ADVERTISER
Volume 48 Issue 30
www.wellingtonadvertiser.com
Stage set for Emmanuel Christian High School addition
Guelph-Eramosa council approves large hike to water and wastewater rates by Jaime Myslik BRUCEDALE – Residents who use municipal water and wastewater services in Guelph-Eramosa will soon see base rate hikes of about 138 per cent. In 2016 the rate will increase to $10 from $4.20 this year. The rate is scheduled to jump to $10.82 in 2020 based on the latest Watson and Associates Economists Ltd. water and wastewater rate study. The overall annual water bill for both the Hamilton Drive and Rockwood water systems will increase more than 50% over the next five years. Currently the township collects a base fee plus a usage fee for both water and wastewater. Officials say the significant rate increases are a result of the township trying to gear up to make the water systems sustainable long term, based on an asset management plan. “We know exactly what it is we need to do to theoretically sustain this water system going forward,” Mayor Chris White told the Advertiser in a phone interview. “So what that means is (a) bump in the rates to start and then they’ll plateau out, but that allows us to maintain a safe, clean sustainable water system.” White said the hike is also necessary to put Guelph-Eramosa back on the same level as other municipalities and to gain funds for reserves, which will finance long-term infrastructure needs. “Looking at the water rates where they need to be in order to make this a sustainable system going forward, we need to invest more in the capital,” he said. “We need to get some more reserves.” Finance director Linda Cheyne said a portion of the increased base rate will go directly to reserves. Hamilton Drive For the Hamilton Drive water system, the total volume rate will continue to increase. Next year the rate Continued on page 24
Friday, July 24, 2015
Festive weekend - Main Street in Mount Forest was packed as visitors enjoyed the Kin Club’s classic car show at the Mount Forest Fireworks Festival on July 18. More photos on page 14. photo by Jaime Myslik
GRCA warns of invasive species at Elora Gorge by Olivia Rutt ELORA - The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) is warning anglers about the round goby, an invasive species spotted at the Elora Gorge Conservation Area. The fish is a small bottom dweller that eats fish eggs and competes with native species of the area. “They are an aggressive fish. They’re referred to as a nest invader, so they will actually eat the eggs from other fish nests,” said Crystal Allan, natural heritage supervisor at the GRCA. “A round goby has the ability to reproduce several times a year… so it allows their population to expand that much more quickly.” The fish is native to eastern Europe and popped up in the Great Lakes in the 1990s. It was spotted in the Belwood reservoir about 10 years ago, explained Allan. She said the round goby may have been brought to Belwood as live bait and accidentally released into the water. However, this is the first time the GRCA has seen the round goby as
Invasive species - The round goby is an invasive species that has been spotted for the first time at the Elora Gorge Conservation Area. Ministry of Natural Resources far as the Elora Gorge. Officials are asking anglers to know how to identify the fish, to not release them back into the water, and to report any sightings to the invasive species hotline at 1-800-563-7711. Anglers should also be aware that possessing or using the round goby as live bait is illegal. Identified by the predominant black dot on their top fins, they have a fully scaled body and
they have a fused pelvic fin, which acts like a suction cup. “The thing with any invasive species … is they can be a threat to biodiversity in watersheds,” said Allan. “The complex biodiversity is what makes the system adaptable and resilient so when you start to chip away at that then you don’t have that resilience or adaptability for when changes do come along.”
by Mike Robinson ELORA - Centre Wellington council is giving the go-ahead for an addition to the future Emmanuel Christian High School at the corner of Tower Street and Belsyde Avenue in Fergus. On July 20, councillors agreed to remove the holding provision on the property and issue a heritage permit to allow construction of a one-storey addition to the former Fergus high school building. The addition is part of the overall renovation to the building and site to allow its continued use as a high school. In June, Centre Wellington received a heritage permit application to construct an addition to the building. Work on the property is to be completed in accordance with the approved heritage conservation plan prepared by Robinson Heritage Consulting. The conservation plan addresses repairs, stabilization and preservation activities, as well as long-term conservation, maintenance and monitoring measures to ensure the identified heritage attributes of the property are properly maintained. The heritage application includes the following proposed work: - retention of the existing building fabric; - retention of the existing doors and windows; - removal of existing greenery/ vines from façade; - repointing of existing stone as required; - retention of existing boys and girls entrance signs; - addition of new one-storey structure to the north façade of the existing building; - masonry of the new addition will consist of three bands of differing material to complement existing stone; and - windows on new addition will Continued on page 23
Puslinch no longer accepting large-scale site alteration applications by Mike Robinson ABERFOYLE - Puslinch won’t be accepting any new large-scale fill applications in the near future. On July 15, township councillors finally dealt with councillor Matthew Bulmer’s notice of motion asking the township to stop accepting new applications until the township revised its current fill bylaw. Bulmer explained some changes from a previous motion he introduced included closing a potential loophole regarding individuals who dumped fill without a permit. “I wanted to close the loophole so that they could not bring in more,” said Bulmer. He explained if the individual is given an order to deal with the fill, they should be able to get a permit to deal with what is there - even if it is to remove it - but not to allow more fill to be brought in. The township’s current alteration
bylaw, passed in 2012, was adopted to permit the placement of fill while mitigating impacts to the natural environment, residents quality of life, and liability to the township. The bylaw distinguishes between projects greater and less than 1,000 cubic metres, but Bulmer noted there is currently no formal arrangement between the township and conservation authorities to address fill projects. Bulmer’s motion noted projects larger than 1,000m3 have a greater potential to negatively impact the natural environment and residents’ quality of life. He also said those projects also have a greater potential to be divided across regulatory boundaries such as conservation authorities, which do not consider quality-of-life impact to residents as part of their review. The motion recognizes that current fees for projects over 1,000m3 may not be sufficient to cover costs of all proj-
ects. There was also recognition that the current fill bylaw has already been amended once since its first passage and that it has been identified for further improvements. There have also been new best practices passed since passage of the original bylaw that could be used to enhance the township bylaw. The move to temporarily cease accepting applications for new site alteration projects greater than 1,000m3 will provide staff and council time to work with conservation authorities to create a coordinated approach to deal with future applications. Council’s review of the current bylaw would also look at whether an upper limit needs to be established for site alterations project (currently there is no limit). Reviews would also look at the potential of scalable fees for projects over 1,000m3 . Bulmer thanked staff for assisting
him and taking the time to work on the motion. “It is not meant at all to be a criticism of the existing bylaw. But I think that with anything in life, we’re at our best when we learn as we go,” said Bulmer. Mayor Dennis Lever agreed, noting, “This has been a very big learning experience for council.” Bulmer said “we’ve had the opportunity to see the strengths and areas which could be improved.” He said he considered the existing bylaw a good foundation. Councillor Ken Roth remained concerned about what might happen if a company such as Maple Leaf needed a fill application while the bylaw putting a hold on such applications was still in place - “Because this is going to take a long time to sort out.” Lever replied all council would need to do is pass an exception to the bylaw for a specific case. The mayor
agreed that revisions to the existing bylaw “will take a considerable amount of time.” Roth also said in some ways the approach seemed to reward individuals for illegal dumping and encourage it if the township provides permit for materials already dumped. “I don’t agree with that at all. I think if someone dumps illegally, they should have to remove the material no negotiations - no nothing,” said Roth. Bulmer said the exception only applies to projects that have already happened. His concern is there may be one or two sites that have received orders to take action - and are looking to take advantage of the laws of the land today. “They are entitled to the opportunity to fix those sites,” said Bulmer. “But once this passes, that door of opportunity will close.” Continued on page 23
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