SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
THE
COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 50 ISSUE 18
DRAYTON, ONTARIO
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638-3328
FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017
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Racers - ABOVE: Norwell District Secondary School students Josh Morrison, left, and Tara Hill manned one of the stops during the Amazing Race, a fundraiser held in support of the Troy McLaughlin Sports Foundation. “Blue Piranhas� teammates Cedar Vanstavel and Kadin Johnson completed the task of reviving “Charles� the training manikin. RIGHT: Members of the “e-lemon-aters� and “Team #9� took the cookie decorating challenge at the Foodland in downtown Palmerston. Each competitor was required to decorate a large chocolate chip cookie with the Norwell Redmen symbol. Photos by Caroline Sealey
‘Amazing Race’ event raises funds for Troy McLaughlin Sports Foundation By Caroline Sealey PALMERSTON Participants in Norwell District Secondary School’s inaugural Amazing Race took to the streets of Palmerston on April 26. The event, organized by the Norwell Student Council, was created to raise funds for the Troy McLaughlin Sports Foundation in honour of Troy McLaughlin, who was tragically killed in a car accident in Mapleton in 2014. Troy’s mother Cindy McLaughlin, the guest speaker for the event, recalled the day that her son died. “It was October 26, 2014. Troy and I were to go to Anna Mae’s Restaurant for breakfast. We enjoyed a mother-
son conversation on the way to the restaurant and forgot that it wasn’t open on Sundays,� McLaughlin said. “The conversation continued during our trip to Listowel and at the restaurant there. He even opened the car door for me. “I didn’t know it would be our last mother-son conversation.� Troy had just purchased a new car and was excited about the pockets in the interior of the car where he could store his wallet. McLaughlin did not know at the time she would need to find his wallet later that night at the accident scene. The family had just picked up a new puppy. “Troy loved the puppy
CINDY McLAUGHLIN and teased me about being an OCD mom who caved and got a dog,� McLaughlin said. “He laughed, smiled, gave me a huge hug and left to go out.� There was a brief call to his mother that afternoon
from Troy. The next call brought the family the devastating news that Troy had been in a car accident. “I am truly broke without him. A piece of the family was lost that day. I have to carry on because he would kick my butt for being down,� McLaughlin said. Out of tragedy comes a silver lining. Five people became recipients of Troy’s organs following the accident. “One month before the accident Troy had talked about organ donation with me. I was unsure but when he said to me, ‘Mom it’s what I really want to do,’ I told him that I would honour his wishes,� McLaughlin said. Of the five to receive
organs, one 17-year-old girl who had been on the organ donation list for a year was able to use Troy’s kidney and pancreas; two people who were legally blind were able to see; and a new born baby was given an eye lens. In Troy’s memory, 954 people signed organ donor cards. The family continues to raise awareness around organ donations. “Thank you to the organizers and the teams who are involved with the Amazing Race today. The proceeds from the race will benefit the Troy McLaughlin Sports Foundation,� McLaughlin said. Amazing Race organizers briefed the race participants on the rules. Fourteen
teams consisting of two to four members followed clues to businesses in Palmerston that hosted various challenges. Each challenge was to be completed in 15 minutes or a two-minute penalty was assessed. Seven local businesses hosted challenges for the participants that ranged from decorating cookies at the grocery store to counting and rolling nickels at the bank. Norwell principal Paul Richard summed up the event stating, “It’s about engaging students with the community and raising an awareness about the Troy McLaughlin Sports Foundation and organ donation. “We are hoping to make this an annual event.�
Conditions, deadline added to commitment to repair tile By Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – Township council has added some conditions and a deadline to a commitment to pay for potential future repairs to a private drain crossing a township road. On March 28 Mapleton council agreed to rectify any future damage to a tile crossing Sideroad 17 until 2032. Council agreed to the repairs after being presented with documents supporting a resident’s contention the road was used to transport turbine components during construction of the Conestogo Wind Energy Centre (CWEC) in 2012.
On April 25 councillor Michael Martin introduced a motion to reconsider the decision. Resident Dunc Lamond initially came to council about the issue on March 8, asking who is responsible for future repairs to a tile drain that crosses Sideroad 17 near his farm. He told council the transportation route outlined in the agreement between the township and NextEra Energy Canada indicates trucks would use a series of back roads off Highway 6. Yet he said he and other area residents saw blades and turbine components transported straight to the
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site along Sideroad 17 from Wellington Road 109. He said he believes the heavy loads caused the road to settle and disrupted the tile outlet. The township investigated Lamond’s concerns, including contacting NextEra officials, who stated the company never used Sideroad 17, and declined to take further action. On March 28 Lamond presented council with a copy of a Transportation Management Plan for the CWEC project that he received from a NextEra official on March 2. The plan shows Sideroad 17 as delivery route for turbine components and a
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NextEra official also mentioned the road as part of the delivery route in a telephone conversation with Lamond. Although CAO Brad McRoberts noted a drain crossing a township road would not be allowed under current policies without a legal agreement, council approved a resolution agreeing to pay for any repairs to the drain until 2032, the estimated life of the tile. The resolution indicated the township would make “best efforts� to recover costs of any repair from NextEra. “I guess ... my struggle is with connecting the dots,� said Martin at the April 25 meeting.
WEEKLY WAG
“Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.� - John Steinbeck
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“Are we just assuming that it was those heavy trucks that created the damage?� After council approved the motion to reconsider the March 28 resolution, Martin introduced a motion obligating the township to undertake repairs to the tile within the municipal road allowance under the following conditions: - documented proof of damage to the field tile within the township road allowance must be provided by Lamond; - the documentation of damages must be provided to the township on or before Dec. 31, 2017 at which time
any claim for damages will expire; - future damage(s) are not eligible for any claim; and - Lamond must enter into a standard road crossing agreement with the township. Public works director Sam Mattina told council that on April 11, staff excavated the tile and the ditch line in order to determine its condition. “It was found to be intact and functioning,â€? said Mattina. “Based on that the tile is in satisfactory condition from what we saw.â€? Councillor Lori Woodham asked how Lamond could SEE TOWNSHIP Âť 8
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