The Creemore
Echo
Friday, April 20, 2012 Vol. 12 No. 16
thecreemoreecho.com
News and views in and around Creemore
BUDGET TRIMMED AGAIN Increase now sits at 4.11 per cent heading into final Council meeting by Brad Holden A diminished team of Clearview Council members took another look at the 2012 budget Monday afternoon, reaching an uneasy consensus on a slightly smaller tax increase that will be debated once more and possibly passed at their April 30 meeting. While there was much talk of “efficiencies” and some movement toward developing a method of finding them in the future, the net tax increase was whittled down by just a little less than half a percent – from 4.5 per cent to 4.11 per cent. To achieve this, $55,670 was removed from this year’s budget, with $28,930 being deferred until next year. Among the cuts was a deferral of $30,000 to replace the Gowan Park pavilion until 2013, although Council
agreed to spend $5,000 on the existing structure this year to address ongoing health and safety concerns. There was also a decision to withhold $15,000 each from two reserve accounts – the Winter Standby account and the Winter Plowing accounts – reflecting that this past winter was a light one and gambling that next November and December will also be kind. The budget had included $20,000 for job recruitment advertising to help replace the Township clerk and director of public works, both of whom will be retiring in the spring of 2013. That amount was cut in half on Monday, with $10,000 now set aside for that purpose. Several small changes were made to the Clearview Fire Department’s budget, with $3,300 in extrication equipment purchases deferred until 2013, extrication practice reduced by $3,000 this year and fire prevention efforts reduced by $5,000. (See “Treasury” on page 3)
Wpd/Beattie legal action grows by Brad Holden John and Sylvia Wiggins no longer stand alone in their legal battle against wpd Canada and members of the Beattie family who are under contract to host wpd’s industrial wind turbines should the Fairview Wind Farm, proposed in the vicinity of County Road 91 and Fairgrounds Road, be approved. An announcement was made late last week that, after multiple meetings with Eric Gillespie, the lawyer for the Wiggins in their inital lawsuit filed in January, 20 additional neighbours of the project have now become participants in two seperate actions. The first group, comprised of 15 landowners, are now also plaintiffs in the Wiggins action, brought against wpd Canada and Beattie Bros. Ltd., who intend to host six turbines on lands north of County Road 91. In addition, a second action has now
been started to the south of County Road 91, where five landowners have brought action against wpd Canada and another Beattie family, Ed Beattie & Son Ltd., who intend to host two turbines on their property. Both claims are for alleged property devaluation and loss of use and enjoyment of the plaintiffs’ lands. “All of these landowners near the proposed wind turbine development are clearly upset that 50-storey turbines are being foisted on them arbitrarily,” said John Wiggins in a press release issued at the time of the announcement. “These groups are establishing a model that other groups across Ontario will now be able to follow – a snowball effect that wind companies, landowners and the Ontario government should take note of.” The total value of the two claims now exceeds $17 million.
GET GROWING The Creemore Horticultural Society was working in the
Horticultural Park on Monday, prepping the gardens for summer and splitting plants for their annual plant sale. Here, David Bruce Johnson displays the correct technique for splitting plants. For those in the gardening mood, be sure to visit the Creemore Home and Garden Show at the Creemore Arena this Saturday and Sunday. For more information,see page 3.
INSIDE THE ECHO
Earth Day Cleanup NCPS does its part.
AIDS Fundraiser at Station Coco Love Alcorn to headline.
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