THE
SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY NEWS Volume 48 Issue 12
Drayton, Ontario
1 Year GIC - 2.15% 3 Year GIC - 2.35% 5 Year GIC - 2.55% Daily Interest 1.25%
638-3328
Friday, March 20, 2015
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Township won’t pay for unauthorized alterations to Optimist meeting hall
Detailed display - Brayden Blenkiron, left, and Kevin Garner, of the Alma area, share a table at the 24th Alma Optimists Toy Show on March 15 at the Alma Community Centre. It was Blenkiron’s first time at the show and Garner has not displayed his collection for 20 years. The pair took two weeks to put the display together and Blenkiron has booked his table for next year already. photo by Caroine Sealey
Council defers decision on requests for discounts on local hall rentals by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – Council here has deferred a decision on three requests for a break on rental fees at municipal recreation facilities, until it has more specific information on the actual costs. Mayor Neil Driscoll said he wants council to have ‘the right information” before making a decision. In a report to council at the March 10 meeting, CAO Patty Sinnamon explained the municipality receives three or four requests each year for a reduction of rental fees. Three such requests have been received already in 2015 and all three have entered into rental contracts and were advised the municipality would be reviewing rental rates early in the spring, and their requests would be put forward at that
time. The three requests come from: - the Norwell District Secondary School prom committee, for an unspecified discount amount; - Gospel Echoes of Canada, to allow an hourly rental rate, rather than a full-day rental be charged for a weekend event using the PMD hall and ice surface (hourly rates are normally only available on weekdays); and - the Drayton Kinsmen asking for their total fee for use of the PMD arena complex for their annual farm show, to be capped at $2,600. “With regard to the request for the farm show, one of the factors in the rate this year is that while the show ends on Thursday, April 2, some exhibitors will not be able to disman-
tle their booth until Saturday because of Good Friday. That has the result that the facility is booked for one extra day. Council could consider waiving the fee for the Friday to keep the rate the same as 2014. The facility is typically booked for four days for this event,” the report stated. A financial statement provided with the report shows that for the 2014 farm show, the municipality waived the entire $4,975 rental fee. In total, the report indicates the municipality generated $27,610 in 2014 rental fees at the PMD arena complex and Maryborough Community Centre, but also provided $11,287 in discounts. The discounts were divided among four groups, including the Drayton Kinsmen for the farm show. Other discounts Continued on next page
by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – The township is refusing to provide funds for a new peak roof installed at the Moorefield Optimist meeting hall without a building permit or township approval, and the new structure will have to undergo a full inspection. The township gave the Moorefield Optimist Club a 20-year lease on the building, formerly a fire hall, for $1 back in 2012. The arrangement calls for the Optimists to be responsible for general cleaning and maintenance and paying for utilities. The agreement also calls for the township to set aside $5,000 per year in a fund for repairs to the building. Mapleton public works director Brad McRoberts reported at the March 10 meeting the Optimists had requested access to funds in the hall reserve for some repairs and upgrades. The work included repair and replacement of some windows, and the addition of some insulation and repairs to some drywall and soffit on the south peak. McRoberts also noted the club has installed a three-foot peak roof with eavestrough along the entire north side, with about a six-foot extension along the east side of the building. “This roof covers the sidewalk leading to both the front and side doors of the building as well as the walk beside the designated wheelchair parking. The club has reported significant ice build-up during the winter months, which was creating a slip and fall hazard,” the report said. Since the peak was installed, “The club reports that the roof has eliminated the ice build-up on the sidewalk.” McRoberts pointed out the club proceeded with the work without requesting written permission from the township, despite a clause in the agreement that states the club,“shall not alter the premises in any way without the express written approval of the township.” The club requested the
Peak extension - Mapleton council has balked at paying for a peak roof at the Moorefield Optimist meeting hall, which was added to the municipally-owned building without prior township approval. photo by Patrick Raftis
township provide just over $3,600 to cover repairs and taxes, including about $2,500 for the peak project. McRoberts’ report recommended council authorize staff to proceed with repairs to the Moorefield Optimist Hall, drawing the funds from the hall reserves, up to a maximum of $1,000. “Did you have any conversations with the Optimists at all? I know permission was not granted, but were conversations held at least?” asked councillor Michael Martin. McRoberts explained Mayor Neil Driscoll, who is also an Optimist, made him aware of the peak extension. He stressed the terms of the agreement call for a “written” request to the township. Driscoll suggested “an email may have been sent” but the situation was the result of “lack of communication” because club members weren’t sure, “about the right people from the township to contact. “It was just a matter of timing and how things were going. I think sometimes you just assume, ‘we didn’t hear anything back, so let’s go ahead.’” Councillor Dennis Craven asked if it would have made
any difference if the club had requested permission to add the peak roof? “I would have brought that request to this council,” said McRoberts. “I like that approach, Mr. McRoberts, that you are taking and I think we need to apply it across the township,” said Martin. However, he added, “I am struggling with, if things were run a bit differently in the past, perhaps the expectations were a little bit different. I really think we need to … just remind people what the expectations are from the township.” McRoberts replied, “One of the concerns we have to think about is that any decision outside the terms of the agreement will set a precedent … ‘Go ahead and do what you need to do and they’ll figure it out.’” He added, “If these organizations are not going to be aware of what’s in their agreements, then that’s not our fault.” “It’s still $2,500 that’s not going to go to the community,” said Craven. Councillor Lori Woodham asked if a building permit would have been required for the peak. Continued on page 3
Local farmers upset about load restrictions on Sideroad 17 bridges
by Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – Members of an area farming operation are unhappy about a decision to place load restrictions on four bridges along Sideroad 17. Council approved a staff recommendation at its Feb. 10 meeting to place two tonne load restrictions on the bridges, located between Glen Allan and the 12th Line of Mapleton. An engineering inspection
report had recommended the bridges be closed or restricted until they could either be permanently closed or replaced. The construction cost, not including engineering and other variables, of replacing the four bridges was estimated at about $1.75 million. “We don’t understand why it has to cost so much to fix these bridges; why not put in a culvert?” asked a letter signed Main St. W. Palmerston
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by seven representatives of De Vries Farms Ltd., including John De Vries who spoke for the group at the March 10 council meeting. De Vries said it appears the township is looking at a “Cadillac” solution when only a “Mazda” might be needed. The letter states the farm operation uses the Sideroad 17 bridges often during spring and fall seasons to move farm
equipment and manure. “Taking Sideroad 17 with manure tanks and other equipment saves us a lot of time, we also feel for safety reasons it is better to take the side road instead of bigger busier roads.” Public works director Brad McRoberts said the bridge work is in the township’s proposed capital budget, but the decision to proceed will be up to council.
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Mayor Neil Driscioll suggested it would be helpful “if we can find that ‘Mazda’ culvert to put in that will meet our needs. “The worst thing we can do is budget $80,000 for a project and find out it’s a $320,000 fix,” he added. Driscoll noted municipal bridges and culverts are subject to strict regulations, which add to the time and cost involved in
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such projects. “If it was on your farm, you’d put it in on a Saturday,” he told DeVries. Devries quipped that perhaps the township could just divert the road across his property, put in a culvert and “call it Sideroad 17.” “And we’re not averse to private public partnerships whatsoever,” Driscoll responded.
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