December 12, 2007
Ontario

Reeve outraged by MPP’s comments

Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Township Reeve Ben Van Diepenbeek is outraged at comments by Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell

Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Township Reeve Ben Van Diepenbeek is outraged at comments by Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell regarding the township’s wind turbine setbacks.

Mitchell made comments last week on FM 101.7 radio stating that the township is “dragging their feet” by not passing their wind turbine bylaw. She said “the township should move so the Kingsbridge II wind project can begin.”

Firstly, Van Diepenbeek said the township is not passing a wind turbine bylaw but rather a consolidated bylaw for the three wards. He said the township’s consolidated bylaw is not ready to proceed yet and will still have to go through a public process before it can be passed.

“We are not going to pass one part of the bylaw now; we want all of the consolidated bylaw complete,” he said. Van Diepenbeek said Mitchell should know that it is not the township “dragging their feet” but the Ministry of Environment. He said Mitchell was with council when they met the minister several months ago and they have been waiting for information since then so they could move forward.

He added that it will be early in the new year when the township should have all the information needed to be able to proceed and pass the consolidated bylaw.
Rent agreement Huron County’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Township have come to an agreement for renting the Ashfield shed.

At township council’s Dec. 4 meeting, council learned that the EMS committee has agreed to the township’s decision to decrease the rent by $50, leaving the monthly rental cost at $450, retroactive back to January 2007.

The EMS committee believed $500 was too much to pay for the former Ashfield council building. Earlier in the year, the committee proposed that the rent be decreased by $200.

David Lew, EMS manager, stated in a letter to council that the building is not being supplied with paper products or housekeeping services by its owner, and they believe that due to these factors, a reduction in the rental agreement was warranted. Lew also was concerned with the building’s water supply, and had suggested that the township provide EMS staff with bottled water.

Reeve Ben Van Diepenbeek said the township will test the water as well as remove the snow in the winter and pay for the hydro year round. He said the building gives ambulance staff a more spacious and comfortable space to monitor emergency calls outside of the vehicle.

Ball’s Bridge

The municipalities of Central Huron and Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh have passed a joint agreement for the ownership of Ball’s Bridge.

Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Township council signed the Ball’s Bridge agreement at their Dec. 4 meeting. Reeve Ben Van Diepenbeek said the agreement is similar to one between the township and the Municipality of Huron-Kinloss for the Lucknow and District Sports Complex.

Van Diepenbeek said the Ball’s Bridge board will consist of two council members from both Central Huron and Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh as well as members of the Friends of Ball’s Bridge committee. He noted that the board chair will alternate each year between the municipalities but the chair cannot be a member of the Friends of Ball’s Bridge.

Insurance quote

Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Township council reviewed their insurance quotes for the new year.

Terry Patterson, of Jardine Lloyd Thompson, and Jeff Coleman and Wayne McDonagh, of Frank Cowan and McDonagh Insurance, presented insurance quotes for 2008 at council’s Dec. 4 meeting. Currently, the township is insured with Jardine Lloyd Thompson.

Patterson reviewed the policy quote for 2007 which showed the premium was $63,162 plus applicable taxes. The quote for 2008 is $55,989 plus applicable taxes for the blanket limit and accident to object limit being $8,143,557.

Coleman and McDonagh reviewed the insurance quote from Frank Cowan for 2008, showing $59,698 plus applicable taxes with the total amount of insurance coverage being $8,298,000.

Van Diepenbeek said council requested more information from the companies which they hope to have for their next council meeting.

By Sara Bender
Signal-Star Publishing

Goderich Signal-Star

12 December 2007


URL to article:  https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2007/12/12/reeve-outraged-by-mpps-comments/