NEWS CLIPPINGS POSTED AFTER FEB. 1ST , 2006
IN THE WELLAND TRIBUNE
ARTICLE By MARK TAYTI, Tribune Staff
February 03, 2006
WATER AND SEWER RATES INCREASE
THOROLD - WATER AND SEWER CHARGES WILL DRAIN
THE WALLETS OF NIAGARA’S HOME OWNERS BY $22.20 IN 2006.
There is still the formality of approving the water and waste water budgets at the region’s budget review committee on Feb. 9, but the pattern was set during the 2005 budget when annual increases of 10 per cent for water and five per cent for waste water were put in motion.
The goal is to build adequate reserves for future capital programs.
Chado Brcic, director of water and waste water services for the region, walked the public works committee through a 19-page report at regional headquarters Wednesday.
The report showed an increase for water over 2005 of $679,339 (or about five per cent) once a one-time transfer from capital to the current budget was factored in. The year-to-date increase for waste water treatment came in at just over $1.9 million (or 7.7 per cent) once a capital-to-current transfer was accounted for. Brcic said the 10-per-cent water rate increase will impact the average home by $13.50. The waste water increase for 2006 will cost homeowners another $8.05.
The water budget includes $2.5 million for upgrades at the Welland Water Treatment Plant. The Quaker Road sanitary Sewer and Pumping Station System will be funded to the tune of $16.3 million. Reasons given for the increases included “providing an acceptable reserve” and “eliminating debt by 2008.”
Brcic also noted increased provincial pressure for the region to rein-in combined sewer overflows (CSO). He said an ongoing collaborative CSO program eliminated 38 million litres of sewage overflows in three municipalities in 2005.
Payroll and benefits will increase by $727,000 in 2006 for the waste water budget and personnel costs on the water budget will jump by $435,000.
Fuel costs and utilities will rise $546,000 on the waste water budget and $74,000 on the water account.
The public works committee received the budget without debate.
IN NIAGARA THIS WEEK
ARTICLE BY DOUG DRAPER JAN. 27 , 200
WAINFLEET COUNCIL MEMBERS NOW HAVE A PLACE TO CALL HOME.
After seven weeks, the new council chambers are completed enough to start holding council meeting in the town hall again.
“It looks great,” said township Mayor Gord Harry. “It’s something we’re very proud of.”
The dais, which is the desk the councilor’s sit at, and much of the other work done in the Town Hall was done by Anthony Malowany, building maintenance, technician and carpenter.
“It was quite a challenge,” he said. “Especially because it was all curved. There isn’t one straight piece in the entire dais.”
The dais took about seven weeks to complete, but the work isn’t done yet. He still has two desks to complete for media and visitors, which will match the dais and will be portable. A hand rail will also be built to run along the outside of the dais.
“The rail is being stained and prepared right now,” he said.
The rest of the work on the council chambers is expected to be finished around mid-February. Painting of the walls will be done, the visual presentation equipment has to be installed and the seating in the gallery will be updated.
“We’re about 80 per cent complete, but there are some things that are yet to be finished,” said Dean Ostryhon, director of operations at the township. “A lot of them are cosmetics at this point, but it’s coming along good.”
Work on the outside of Town Hall is also close to being complete and the finishing touches to the vestibule and entrance are being done.
“We expect all the exterior renovations to be completed by Feb. 1,” said Ostryhon.
There will be a formal opening of the chambers when it is fully complete. Council meetings will now be held in the council chambers ever second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The next meeting will take place on Feb. 14.
IN THE WELLAND TRIBUNE
ARTICLE By SHELAH BROOKS, Tribune Staff
Jan. 27, 2006
PUSH TO KEEP ONE OF LAST STRETCHES OF LAKESHORE IN PUBLIC HANDS 54 ACRES OF PROPERTY SERVED AS EASTER SEALS' LAKEWOOD CAMP
WAINFLEET'S MAYOR IS MOUNTING A CAMPAIGN TO SAVE ONE OF THE LAST PUBLIC STRETCHES OF LAKESHORE IN NIAGARA.
"I HAVE GOT TO ATTEMPT TO (DO) THIS," WAINFLEET MAYOR GORD HARRY SAID AS HE CONTINUED TO MAKE A CASE FOR THE PUBLIC PURCHASE OF SOME 54 ACRES OF LAND WITHIN HIS MUNICIPALITY THAT HAS BEEN THE EASTER SEALS SOCIETY'S LAKEWOOD CAMP FOR A NUMBER OF DECADES.
HARRY RECEIVED NIAGARA REGION COUNCIL'S SUPPORT LAST WEEK FOR A MOTION URGING THE ONTARIO MINISTRY OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO JOIN THE NIAGARA PENINSULA CONSERVATION AUTHORITY, A BODY HE CHAIRS, IN OFFERING WHATEVER FUNDING IS NECESSARY TO PURCHASE THE LAND ALONG THE SHORE OF LAKE ERIE TO ENSURE IT ALWAYS REMAINS IN PUBLIC HANDS.
"THIS IS 54 ACRES OF BEAUTIFUL, SANDY LAKEFRONT THAT SHOULD NOT BE LOST AND IT WOULD MAKE A BEAUTIFUL PARK FOR THE PEOPLE OF NIAGARA."
HARRY LEARNED RECENTLY OF THE EASTER SEAL SOCIETY'S INTENTION TO DISPOSE OF THE LAKESHORE PROPERTY WITHIN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE MONTHS, AND OF ITS DECISION TO SELL THE LAND TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER IN ORDER TO HELP PAY THE COST OF OTHER CHARITY OPERATIONS IT OPERATES IN OTHER PARTS OF THE PROVINCE. HE HAS SINCE WRITTEN A LETTER TO ONTARIO NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTER DAVID RAMSAY, URGING HIS MINISTRY TO CONSIDER "THE OUTRIGHT PURCHASE OF THIS LAND AS PART OF OUR PROPERTY ACQUISITION STRATEGY."
IN HIS INTERVIEW WITH THIS WEEK, HARRY STRESSED THAT EVERY EFFORT SHOULD BE MADE TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY BECAUSE THERE ARE FAR TOO FEW BEACH AREAS ALONG NIAGARA'S LAKES LEFT THAT THE PUBLIC HAS ACCESS TO.
ON HIS END OF THE REGION, RESIDENTS ARE STILL MOURNING THE LOSS OF A BEACH AREA ONCE KNOWN AS "THE SAND HILLS" TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS. AND THE FATE OF MARCY'S WOODS, A RICH NATURAL AREA RECENTLY PURCHASED BY PRIVATE CONCERNS, REMAINS IN LIMBO.
"IF THIS (THE EASTER SEALS SOCIETY'S LAKEWOOD CAMP) FALLS INTO PRIVATE HANDS, I THINK WE WILL ALL LOOK BACK AND ASK OURSELVES WHY WE ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN," SAID HARRY. NIAGARA REGION'S COUNCIL APPROVED A MOTION URGING THE PROVINCE TO PURCHASE THE PROPERTY.
"I THINK THIS IS REALLY VITAL TO THE REGION," SAID NIAGARA'S REGIONAL CHAIR, PETER PARTINGTON. "WE DON'T HAVE VERY MUCH LAND LEFT (ALONG THE LAKES) THAT IS IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN."
IN THE DINNVILLE CHRONICLE
ARTICLE By KAREN BEST/Chronicle Staff Writer
FEB. 01, 2006
NEW RATE CALCULATION WILL CHANGE
WATER BILLS IN DUNNVILLE
For Marie Hewitt, a new rate structure will cut profits and, for Vicki Pettigrew, it will establish equity.
The two woman represented disparate positions in the decision facing Haldimand County council members at their committee meeting this week.
After receiving a KMKConsultant group report and residents’ comments, councillors reviewed options for new water and sewer rate calculations which could finance operating costs and plant and water pipe maintenance.
Councillors considered eliminating a block rate discount for businesses, including Hewitt’s Dairy and Bicks, which use large volumes of water. Under existing rate calculations, homeowners were using 30 per cent of the water and covering 50 per cent of the cost.
After more than an hour of resident input and discussion, council decided to phase out the discounted high volume rate over five years. This move will increase water revenues for the county.
Water rates for other customers will remain frozen until 2015 when a two per cent annual inflation increase will be needed.
To cover sewage system costs, the sewer surcharge will increase to 103 per cent of the water used. The current charge is about 20 per cent lower.
Because the consultants based their report on current information, their calculations of water bill impacts are expected to be accurate. This year the average household bill for water and sewer will increase by $7.
For Hewitt, her bill will soar. The average commercial business using 500 cubic metres of water a month will be charged about $490 more each month. In 2010, the monthly will be $1,815, more than double last year’s monthly charge.
After discussions with people served by septage haulers and county staff, the consultants dropped a blended treatment rate for hauled waste. Short term increases are proposed for holding tanks from $2.34 to $3.03 a cubic metre and for septic tanks from $10.71 to $16.29.
Rick Beaudet was pleased to see the blended rate dropped. Ninety-five per cent of the holding tanks are located on the lakeshore, he noted. He is concerned that costs will creep up to the original proposed 400 per cent increase.
With reasonable rates, people will conserve, said Helen Coons who lives at the lake in Port Maitland. She urged council to think outside the box to explore a new bio-filter system for nodes like Peacock Point.
Coons emphasized that rural residents are paying toward water and sewer systems. Later treasurer John Ford confirmed her point. Through bulk water and septage and holding tank waste charges, rural users are paying for water and sewer plant operating and maintenance costs. They do not pay for water mains in towns.
All users also pay for everything from the lake to the plant and the pipe up to the bulk station. The option selected by council is affordable, said Pettigrew. Residential consumers cannot afford to subsidize anyone, she noted advocating that all consumers pay for what they use.
During council discussions, Coun. Jo-Ann Cole argued to keep the discount rate. If industries and businesses close due to high water bills, residents will pay anyway, she said. Many businesses cannot afford their bills now and, with competition like Wal-Mart and No Frills coming to town, store owners cannot afford to increase their prices, she pointed out.
Ford told her that very few municipalities have a two tier rate system.
A user pay system is based on the principles of fairness and usage, said Coun. Craig Ashbaugh.
“No one is taking this lightly,” stated Coun. Lorne Boyko. He is confident that Haldimand will not lose businesses to Hamilton, where property taxes are higher. The lack of a serviced industrial park and connection to a 400 series highway or mid peninsula highway has a greater impact on economic development, noted Coun. Buck Sloat. He reminded council about the Conservative Party promise for municipal infrastructure funding and suggested lobbying Haldimand Norfolk MPDiane Finley.
Mayor Marie Trainer expressed opposition to three proposed options. When Boyko asked her for an alternative, she dodged the question. “It’s all bad but we have to do something,”she said.
Cole is looking for an alternative. On Monday, she plans to bring a suggestion to council to strike a compromise between business and residential rates.
At Hewitt’s dairy in Hagersville, the profit margin will be reduced by the terrific’ impact of water rate changes. Hewitt hoped that jobs were not at risk.
Conservation is not an option. There is a limit to economizing in a business where water is used to cool and sterilize milk and to clean equipment and trucks. The dairy has a large pay roll and pays a lot of taxes, she pointed out, noting that it was an election year.
“I think they should put residential up a bit to help industries and businesses,” said Hewitt.
On Feb. 6, council will make a final decision on how county water rates are calculated.
IN THE FORT ERIE TIMES
ARTICLE by DIANNE DUCKETT
Feb. 03, 2006
RESIDENTS BAND TOGETHER IN OPPOSITION
A Ridgeway-based citizens group is insisting Town Hall change its policies regarding new development not only in the west end, but across Greater Fort Erie.
Dubbed Development Without Destruction, the group is growing in numbers as more and more people express concern over the loss of Fort Erie’s natural environment to make room for new subdivisions, particularly in Ridgeway where two are underway in the Prospect Point Road/Thunder Bay Road area alone.
Development Without Destruction formed in late January under the leadership of Ridgeway residents Brigitte Bonner and Lisa Susin, both of whom have publicly stated they want the Town to change its policies with regard to new development to better protect Fort Erie’s natural areas.
“The developers have a legal right to build,” Bonner said last Saturday as she and Susin took The Times on a tour of the forested area behind the Ridgeway-on-the-Lake subdivision currently underway in Ridgeway. “But the residents aren’t happy about it.”
Bonner said the members of Development Without Destruction, which also includes Helen Lewis - the mother of Coun. Tom Lewis - are not opposed to growth, but rather the way that growth is being handled.
New residents are attracted to Ridgeway for its country-like charm, Bonner said, but she fears the 40-foot-wide lot sizes proposed for new homes in the area will rob the village of that charming quality and mimic the urban designs of neighbourhoods in larger centres.
Lewis added there is an opportunity for the Town to capitalize on spacious lots while preserving Ridgeway’s country-like setting.
“Instead of making it into a townhouse-looking (development), why not make it into bigger lots and charge more?” Lewis said.
Susin had a laundry list of concerns surrounding the subdivisions going in literally across the street from her Prospect Point Road home.
First and foremost, she is concerned about the vegetation being clear cut to make room for hundreds of new homes in the area, particularly the dozen or so oak trees off of Thunder Bay Road that are believed to be about 200 years old.
Susin said the trees were brought to the attention of Robert Mills, the developer behind Ridgeway-on-the-Lake, and an employee did walk through the woods with her and mark the trees. He said the feasibility of keeping them intact and included in the development would be explored.
Susin also expressed concern for the deer and other wildlife that will be displaced when the forested areas are eliminated.
“They (the deer) move back and forth to the water every day,” she said. “No one has taken them into consideration.”
Furthermore, Susin said Ridgeway needs more greenspace and parkland, something she believes isn’t being adequately addressed in subdivision plans.
Bonner said according to her research, a minimum of five per cent of the land of any new subdivision is supposed to be set aside as greenspace, but she has been told a developer can pay a fee to the Town in lieu of including greenspace.
The result is destruction and congestion, she said.
“The developers are demolishing as they go along. People move here to get away from (congestion). It’s a safe, quiet village, but it won’t be when they’re done.”
She added she foresees problems with safety and traffic as time goes on, particularly along roads leading to the nearest QEW exit.
“Where are these people working?”Bonner said. “If they’re commuting, they’ll be clogging the one road that leads to the QEW.” On Thursday, the group hosted a meeting at the Crystal Ridge branch of the Fort Erie Public Library and encouraged others with similar concerns to join in and discuss a means to convince the Town to revamp its development policies.
The group is also circulating a petition that requests Town council not approve any proposed applications or new applications for subdivisions, or to amend any zoning applications in Fort Erie, until the public has had a chance to provide input on current zoning and development practices. Anyone who wasn’t able to attend Thursday’s meeting but who would like more information about Development Without Destruction can contact Susin at 894-7170 or by e-mail at developmentwithoutdestruction@gmail.com.
IN THE FORT ERIE TIMES
ARTICLE by JOEL HOIDAS
Feb. 03, 2006
COUNCIL SETS DEVELOPMENT CAP
The cap Town council put on new subdivision developments in Ridgeway and Thunder Bay might not be as air tight as council had hoped, the Town’s director of community and development services warned, Monday.
By a 5-1 vote, Council approved a motion brought forward by Mayor Wayne Redekop to turn away any new applications for subdivision development in the Ridgeway and Thunder Bay urban areas until a Ridgeway neighbourhood plan is completed and approved by council.
But Rino Mostacci, the Town’s acting CAO and director of community and development services, warned developers will be able to go over council’s head to appeal the no-development motion and will likely win. He said the Town is obligated under the Planning Act to receive applications for new subdivisions and to provide a resolution or recommendation to the applicant within 90 days.
He added if council decides to ignore the application, the developer can then appeal to the Ontario Municipal Board, which will likely side with the developer.
“I can’t pull any punches here,” Mostacci said. “In terms of the legal basis for it, it is up for a challenge.”
Mostacci said the developer will argue that the Town’s neighbourhood planning process is beyond his or her control and they should not be punished because of it.
Despite its apparent flaws, the majority of council still voted in favour of the cap.
Redekop’s motion only applies to applications for subdivision developments that have not yet been submitted to the Town. There are four draft subdivision plans, two of which have received draft approval, inside the subject area that will not be affected by the cap.
Once completed, the four subdivisions will add 224 single homes and 94 townhouse units to the Ridgeway-Thunder Bay area.
“There is still a significant amount of land in Ridgeway that isn’t covered by plans of subdivisions,” Redekop said. “It’s important that we at least put a cap on development until such a time as that development plan can be embarked upon.”
One aspect of the motion that frustrated Ridgeway and Thunder Bay residents can look upon as a positive is that council has now, unofficially, committed to a Ridgeway neighbourhood plan.
Couns. Richard Berry and Tom Lewis have repeatedly protested the majority of council’s decision to choose Bridgeburg for the Town’s next neighbourhood plan.
Despite numerous Town staff explanations to the contrary, Berry maintained that council decided it would follow up its Crystal Beach neighbourhood plan with one for Ridgeway and even budgeted funds specifically for it.
Mostacci explained again on Monday that the Town originally planned to do a neighbourhood plan of Crystal Beach, Ridgeway and Thunder Bay together, but it was later decided it was too large of an area with fundamentally differing community priorities for just one plan.
Upon completion of the Crystal Beach plan, Town staff re-evaluated all of the town’s various neighbourhoods and decided Bridgeburg was in more urgent need of a neighbourhood plan.
By passing the motion, council has committed to doing a neighbourhood plan for Ridgeway following the completion of the Bridgeburg plan.
The Bridgeburg plan is expected to be completed in July or August, though staff said it’s hard to commit to a specific completion date.
It was because Redekop’s motion did not have a specific start date for the Ridgeway plan that Berry voted against it.
“I would like to see a definitive date,” Berry said.
IN THE FORT ERIE TIMES
ARTICLE by JOEL HOIDAS
January 20, 2006
DEADLINE FOR OPT-OUT REPORT EXTENDED AGAIN
Local News - Town council, at it’s meeting on Monday, again extended the deadline for Town staff to submit a report on the logistics of Fort Erie opting out of regional government.
Council passed a motion requesting the report on Sept. 26 with the intention of possibly placing a question on the ballot for the upcoming Nov. 13 municipal election to ask voters if they would favour opting out of regional government.
Town staff was given 60 days to submit the report, but due to the resignation of chief administrative officer Harry Schlange and the time-consuming preparation of the 2006 budget, staff was granted its second two-month deadline extension on Monday, to March 20.
“The current staff has decided to focus on the budget,” Mayor Wayne Redekop told The Times this week.
Redekop brought forward the motion asking staff to investigate the Town’s options for opting out of the Region.
Coun. Richard Berry brought forward a similar motion in October 2004 requesting an opt-out question be placed on the election ballot.
At that time, Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, John Gerretsen responded to Berry’s motion saying the Province would never allow any such question on the ballot.
Redekop said he expects the same response from the Province this time around, adding the Town might hold a referendum separate from the election to poll voters.
“I think it’s pretty clear the Province is not going to allow the question on the ballot,” he said, “which means we would have to look at other ways that we can approach the public with respect to this.”
Mayor Gord Harry
PHONE: (905) 899-2625EMAIL: gharry@township.wainfleet.on.ca Alderman Evan Main PHONE: (905) 899-2633 or (905) 899-1250 EMAIL: emain@township.wainfleet.on.ca Alderman Patrick Robson EMAIL: probson@township.wainfleet.on.ca Alderwoman Barbara Henderson PHONE: (905) 386-0977 EMAIL: bhenderson@township.wainfleet.on.ca Alderman Rudy Warkentin PHONE: (905) 899-1358 EMAIL: rwarkentin@township.wainfleet.on.ca MPP -ERIE-LINCOLN TIM HUDAK , MPP PHONE: (905) 382-0322 FAX : (905) 382-0315 EMAIL: timhudak@niagara.net MPP JOHN MALONEY PHONE: (905) 788-2204 FAX : (905) 788-0071 EMAIL: malonj@parl.gc.ca PROJECT MANAGER , Regional Niagara BOB STEELE EMAIL: bob.steele@regional.niagara.on.ca
They are listening and know we aren't going away!
Here's hoping for some changes to the problems .
