The Creemore
Echo
Friday, October 1, 2010 Vol. 10 No. 40
Inside the Echo
DECISION 2010
This week, the Creemore Echo brings you all you need to know to vote thoughtfully in the Clearview or Mulmur municipal elections. See pages 9 to 22 for profiles of all candidates running for office in each Township, as well as those vying for a spot on the Simcoe County District School Board.
News and views in and around Creemore
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SCHOOL BOARD OUTLINES DUNTROON CLOSURE SCENARIO “Alternate accomodation option” would mean 40 more students for NCPS by Brad Holden Long-standing suspicions regarding the Simcoe County District School Board’s ideas about the future of Duntroon Central Public School were confirmed last week at the first meeting of the new Clearview Elementary School Accomodation Review Committee. While most of the meeting was devoted to procedural matters, it also included something that did not happen in the last round of ARCs called by the School Board: as per new Ministry regulations, the Board’s planning staff revealed its “alternative accommodation option,” the scenario it sees as best solving the declining enrolment problem at several local schools, prior to hearing input from the ARC. Sure enough, as expected by those following the situation for the past few years, the staff option included the closure of Duntroon Central. What was surprising was the time frame: SCDSB head planner David Few, who made the presentation, pegged June 2011 as the potential closing date. (See “Board” on page 3)
LOCAL WINNERS Avening’s
Bailey Redfern (centre) and Creemore’s Katja Awender (left) were crowned the Senior and Junior Ambassadors of the 2010 Great Northern Exhibition last Friday night, as presenter Brenda Wilson looked on. For more pictures from the fair, see page 6.
A COLOURFUL GREETING The drive into Creemore from the west was a magical one last Saturday evening with this rainbow guiding the way. You might want to take a look around your backyards for any stray pots of gold!
FARM BUILDING FEES UNDER FIRE
by Brad Holden A proposal by the Clearview To w n s h i p B u i l d i n g Department to correct a problem with the fee structure for agricultural buildings met with criticism from the farm community during a public meeting at Council Monday night. The Township’s current Building Permit Fee Schedule came into effect in 2008, after a review by an outside consultant. It’s one of the first in Simcoe County to make an attempt at 100 per cent cost recovery. However, Creemore cattle farmer Dave Millsap approached Council in June, pointing out a problem with the new fees for agricultural buildings. Under the 2008 schedule, any new farm buildings under 10,500 square feet are subject to a building permit fee of $2,000, and any over 10,500 square feet are charged $0.19 per square foot. Additions, alterations and accessory buildings are subject to a lesser fee of $300 up to 5,000 square feet and $0.19 per square foot for structures larger than that. As Millsap pointed out, however, small buildings, (See “Farm” on page 8)
Echo Briefs
Time to Fill Your Bookshelves
Creemore’s biennial literary tradition, the Station on the Green Big Book Bash, takes place on Saturday, October 2 from 8:30 am to 2 pm. The quantity and quality of used books for sale at this event are always astounding, and all proceeds go towards maintenance and upkeep of the Station.
Emerging Artist at Bookstore
Stayner artist Darla Anderson will be featured as the Curiosity House Emerging Artist for 2010, with her art on display at the bookstore for the month of October and an opening reception taking place from 2 to 4 pm on Saturday, October 2. Curiosity House reserves each October for artists who have never had their own solo show.
New “Tree Society of Creemore”
The 20-year-old Creemore Tree Committee was renamed the Tree Society of Creemore at Monday night’s Council meeting, part of an effort to formalize the organization’s relationship with the municipality and ensure that tax receipts for donations can still be issued in Clearview Township’s name. Now an official Clearview Municipal Service Board, the Society includes Rowlie Fleming (president), Tracey Kolowska, Marnie Hillier, Liz Smith, Jim Morrey, Corey Finkelstein, Ingrid Schillings, John Fuke and Councillor Thom Paterson.
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