SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
THE
COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 51 ISSUE 10
DRAYTON, ONTARIO
1 Year GIC - 2.39% 3 Year GIC - 2.75% 5 Year GIC - 3.09% Daily Interest 2.40%*
638-3328
THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 2018
www.jackfinancial.ca
Building department generates surplus By Patrick Raftis
Safety breakfast in Alma - The Wellington County Farm and Home Safety Association hosted its annual pancake breakfast and safety day on March 3 at the Alma Community Centre. ABOVE: Desiree D’Souza, left, shared information about chemical safety on the farm and in the home with, from left: Myelle Mulder, Laura Craven and Lily Craven of Alma. RIGHT: Jackson Wiersma of Fergus gets safety tips from Pluggie the talking fire hydrant. Additional coverage on page 8. Photos by Caroline Sealey
Council authorizes tender for new rescue vehicle By Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – Township council has authorized a tender for the purchase of a replacement rescue vehicle for the Drayton fire station. A Feb. 13 report to council from Fire Chief Rick Richardson indicates Drayton volunteer firefighters on the Mapleton Fire/Rescue apparatus replacement committee have evaluated needs and have assembled speci-
fications for the new rescue vehicle. “The current vehicle was purchased in 1998 and has served our needs for 20 years,” Richardson explained in the report. “It is now showing signs of wear and tear and it is undersized for carrying today’s equipment.” He added the committee intends to send specifications to suppliers with the goal of receiving at least three quotes for council review/approval.
The new vehicle should have a service life of 20 years, Richardson said, noting additional equipment to keep up to date with current medical, extrication and air supply requirements means the department has “outgrown” the current vehicle. He also said the committee agrees a nearly identical apparatus to the current Moorefield rescue vehicle would be an ideal replacement and “would give both stations familiarity
with each rescue truck at an emergency scene involving both stations.” “If you have two identical vehicles carrying the same equipment and you go to the call and you ask the Moorefield guy for something off the Drayton truck, here it is in the same place,” Richardson told council. “I like the fact it’s being standardized … I like the fact both stations have similar equipment,” said councillor Michael Martin.
MAPLETON – 2017 was a busy year for the township’s building department, resulting in a large contribution to the municipality’s building permit reserve fund. In 2017, the building department issued 366 permits. Septic compliance letters, penalties and other inspections make up the remainder of the revenue. For the full year 2017, the building department had anticipated revenue of $375,500. The actual revenue came in at $548,646 - $168,067 over budget. The increase was due to a higher number of permits overall as well as a fee increase in 2017, noted chief building official Patty Wright in a report to Mapleton council on Feb. 13. Total budgeted expenses for the building department for 2017 were $375,500 and the actual expenses were $330,869. Wright states the difference can be attributed to budget line items that came in under budget and staffing vacancies. The surplus of $217,776 will be contributed to the SEE BUILDING » 2
Report indicates provincial growth policies disadvantage northern Wellington region By Patrick Raftis MINTO – New provincial growth and Greenbelt policies put Minto and other north Wellington municipalities at a disadvantage compared to neighboring municipalities when it comes to attracting development, says a report from the town’s CAO. The Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe approved by the province, effective in July, “builds upon” provincial policy, but takes “precedence over” it, providing specific direction on future land use in the region, Minto CAO Bill
White explained in a Feb. 20 report to council. Minto is within the most northwesterly edge of the “outer ring” of the Greater Golden Horseshoe plan area. The plan designates Clifford, Harriston and Palmerston as “Built-up Areas Conceptual,” the same designation as Toronto, Guelph, Waterloo and other large urban centres. “Although nearly invisible on the map, both Clifford and Harriston have sections designated as ‘Greenfield Areas – Conceptual,’ but no such area is identified in concert SEE PROPOSED » 3
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Classic construction equipment - Gerry Verwey of Elmira adjusts one of the vintage construction toys he brought to the Optimists Farm Toy Show and Sale in Alma on March 4. Verwey says his collection focusses on construction equipment from the 1940s and 50s. More photos on page 4. Photo by Patrick Raftis
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