THE
SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY NEWS Volume 48 Issue 08
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 1.90% 3 Year GIC - 2.40% 5 Year GIC - 2.70% Daily Interest 1.45%
638-3328
Friday, February 20, 2015
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Petitioners ask council to revisit decision on skate park location
Family Day on ice - Youngsters enjoy a game of pickup hockey on the outdoor rink in Moorefield during a Family Day event hosted by the local Optimist Club on Feb. 16. photo by Patrick Raftis
Four bridges placed under load restriction by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - The township has placed a two tonne load restriction on four bridges on Sideroad 17. Council approved a staff recommendation at the Feb. 10 meeting to place the load restrictions on the bridges, which are located between Glen Allan and the 12th Line
of Mapleton. In a report to council, public works director Brad McRoberts noted a 2014 bridge inspection report from R. J. Burnside engineers, presented to council on Jan. 27, recommends closure of the four bridges, “or if closure is not possible, instituting a reduced load limit of two tonnes for each structure until
the structures can either be permanently closed or replaced.” An estimate provided in the report indicates the construction cost, not including engineering and other variables, of replacing the four bridges would be about $1.75 million. Three of the bridges are on no-winter maintenance roads Continued on page 3
by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - Council here declined to again revisit the selection of a location for a proposed skate park in Drayton. Council decided on Feb. 10 to receive for information a presentation by a delegation of residents who live near the designated Kinsmen Park location. The delegation presented a petition signed by 36 residents opposing the site. Andy Spokesperson Knetsch told council the group, many of whose members were among 17 who signed an earlier petition opposing the location, came before council because “the previous council chose to ignore their valid concerns. “We believe the entire community should be invited to participate in the process,” said Knetsch, adding the delegation contacted other municipalities to obtain information on “what does it take to create a successful park and what are the pitfalls?” Knetsch told council “all the municipalities contacted were unanimous that the key component is location, location, location.” The group was also advised that “seclusion in relation to this type of facility has the potential to become problematic,” he added, citing a litany of concerns that included: graffiti, safety, vandalism, drug use and
liability issues. Knetsch stressed the group opposing the location is not “anti-youth,” as “most of us are parents and we know that a facility such as this provides a positive opportunity for youth to interact with each other.” He said the group was supportive of a skateboarding facility, “but not at Kinsmen Park. “What is critical is public or community input, as well that the location is visible, open and not secluded,” said Knetsch, adding the group wants council to “reverse the decision made by the previous council and adopt a strategy that is more inclusive of public input.” Knetsch was a member of the previous council but declared a conflict of interest through most of the site selection process due to the proximity of his home to Kinsmen Park. Councillor Marlene Ottens said some of the group’s objections seem contradictory. “You’re saying it’s isolated ... yet at the same time you’re saying it’s too close to the neighbours … that it’s going to be noisy and loud.” “You’re right, there are homes that are in proximity, however the sightlines are obstructed,” Knetsch replied. Ottens asked what the group would consider a better location for the facility. “No matter what location is
decided upon, I think its really important people within that immediate area are on board with it. Is it fair to put one in regardless of how the people feel?” Knetsch responded. Councillor Michael Martin pointed out the Kinsmen Park is in a “recreational” part of town. “I fully appreciate your concern and the concern of the rest of homeowners in the area ... it’s going to up the amount of people and the amount of traffic in the area,” Martin said. However, he also pointed out the Kinsmen Park location scored highest among the seven sites that were considered by the skate park committee and the previous council. Martin, who pointed out a public meeting was held on the proposed facility in April of 2014, asked, “how many more public meetings would it take in your opinion to gather the amount of input,” necessary? Before Knetsch could respond, Mayor Neil Driscoll halted the debate. “Yes there was a public meeting on April 10 and I did attend, and I was the only councillor of the day that did attend,” Driscoll pointed out, adding the meeting was “put together by the skate park committee. “Not to take your feet out from under you, but it’s kind of a loaded question to ask the Continued on page 3
Township’s got it made in the shade thanks to Trees for Mapleton initiative by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - One could say this township has it made it the shade, thanks to partners involved in a local tree-planting initiative. Since the launch of Trees for Peel in 2001, over 330,000 trees have been planted in the township through the initiative that became known as Trees for Mapleton in 2008. That’s $785,000 worth of tree planting, forestry specialist Mark Funk told Mapleton council during a Feb. 10 update on the program. That represents “more treeplanting projects in Mapleton than in all of the other six Wellington (municipalities) combined,” said Funk, noting the accomplishment “speaks to the leadership in Mapleton.” The planning includes over 100 kilometres of windbreaks, more than 15km of farmstead shelterbelts and 21km of trees along watercourses, as well as numerous “living snow fences” planted by landowners in cooperation with the Wellington
Gimme shelter - Over 330,000 trees, including 15 kilometres of farmstead shelterbelts, have been planted in the township through the Trees for Mapleton program. submitted photo County roads department. The totals also include some “block plantings” on marginal land, Funk added. Over the years, fundMain St. W. Palmerston
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ing for the projects has been received from various sources, said Funk, including $133,000 from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, and a $100,000
commitment ($20,000 a year for five years beginning in 2013) from NextEra Energy Canada. Wellington County provides
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imself. t a tree for h n la p ’t n s e o A man d r posterity. He plants it fo mith - Alexander S
most of the funding for plantings through its Rural Water Quality Program (RWQP) and the Grand River Conservation Authority also provides staff and resources. Funk noted the money from NextEra allowed Trees for Mapleton to set up a fund to provide grants for planting on non-farm rural properties. “We realized we had a lot of three- to 10-acre properties and there was no grants for them,” he explained. In addition to providing onsite advisory services to help plan private-land tree planting projects, Trees for Mapleton helps landowners access 80 per cent of planting costs through the Wellington RWQP, Trees Ontario and the Mapleton Rural Non-Farm program. The partnership also coordinates the planting of trees through GRCA. Trees for Mapleton has 13 projects planned for this spring, Funk noted. “Trees and tree planting are becoming part of the culture of
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this township and, I believe, could be used as part of the branding of this township,” said Trees for Mapleton chair Liz Samis. Councillor Marlene Ottens asked if the level of tree cover in Mapleton is considered low compared to other municipalities. Funk replied that with 10 to 13% tree cover, Mapleton is “definitely not the lowest.” However, noted Samis, “we’re not at the 30% that some government agencies feel we should be at.” Funk noted that level of tree cover isn’t practical in a community with prime agricultural land like Mapleton. Mayor Neil Driscoll said Mapleton should set targets and implement policies to encourage tree planting. “I’d like to see it up to a million trees. Lets give ourselves a goal,” said Driscoll. “I’d like to thank you for what you do for our community,” he told the Trees for Mapleton delegates.
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