SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
THE
COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 51 ISSUE 19
DRAYTON, ONTARIO
1 Year GIC - 2.46% 3 Year GIC - 3.05% 5 Year GIC - 3.25% Daily Interest 2.40%*
638-3328
THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2018
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Wind storm wreaks havoc on region Township hires By Patrick Raftis director of assets and infrastructure MAPLETON – Strong winds, with gusts estimated at up to 120km/h struck the area on May 4, downing trees and power lines, damaging property, blocking roads and leaving area residents without power for varying stretches of time. Some residents in the Alma area were without power from 3:30pm on Friday until 4pm on Sunday after a hydro pole snapped on the 12th Line near Wellington Road 12, damaging a transformer. Following the storm, shingles could be seen missing from numerous houses around Mapleton. The storm caused widespread damage, and three deaths, two Milton men and a Hamilton resident, across Ontario. Hydro One reported as many as 180,000 customers were without power at various points in the storm. River Grand The Authority Conservation closure the announced of four parks, including Belwood Conservation Area and Elora Gorge Park, as well as sections of the Elora Cataract Trailway, due to downed trees, power lines and other safety concerns. In the Town of Minto, downed trees also caused
MAPLETON – The township has a new director of assets and infrastructure. Mayor Neil Driscoll introduced Mohammad Ammad at the April 24 council meeting. Ammad, who has been infrastructure coordinator in Renfrew County since 2012, has a masters degree in civil engineering from the University of Waterloo
Blown away - RIGHT: A hydro pole brought down a power line on the 12th Line of Mapleton during the windstorm on May 4. ABOVE: The storm blew the welcome sign down at the southern approach to Drayton. Many local residents were without power for hours due to the late afternoon storm. Environment Canada estimated wind speeds reached 120km/h. Photos by Caroline Sealey property damage and power outages. Many Harriston residents were without power from late afternoon until around 9pm Friday night, and many rural residents without power well into Saturday. firefighters Minto responded to a call for
Plans for buffering around new kennel outlined for council By Patrick Raftis
downed power lines on Regency Road near Drew around 4pm and dealt with a fire at a Harriston apartment complex later that evening. On May 7, the County of Wellington announced fees for wood debris from the May 4 wind storm will be waived through May 12 at county
waste facilities that accept wood waste: Riverstown, Harriston, Belwood and Aberfoyle. The county notes large loads of waste may be redirected to the Riverstown landfill. Check the county’s website for landfill hours and locations. - With files from Caroline Sealey
OCWA provides review of 2017 activity for Mapleton Township By Patrick Raftis MAPLETON – The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA), the township’s water and wastewater system operations contractor, presented council with a review of 2017 activity on April 24. OCWA business development manager Natalie Baker explained OCWA is Canada’s largest water and wastewater systems operator. The agency currently services 75 per cent of the existing outsource market in Ontario, with clients including municipalities, First Nations, industries and institutions. Province-wide, OCWA manages more than $20 billion in municipal infrastructure, including $4.4 million in water and wastewater
assets for Mapleton, which in 2017 renewed its contract with the company. Baker pointed out both Drayton and Moorefield water treatment systems received a 100% rating on inspections by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, with no non-compliances, in 2017. She also noted no noncompliance issues were revealed in external drinking water quality audits for both the Drayton and Moorefield water systems. In terms of asset management OCWA managed $213,900 in capital projects for Mapleton in 2017. The company also: - facilitated the installation of high efficiency blowers at the Drayton wastewater treatment facility; - completed full fire flow
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and a CET designation from the Ontario Association of Engineering Technicians and Technologists. Driscoll said Ammad, who replaces previous infrastructure and asset manger Paul Hinsperger, has 10 years of asset management experience between his work with Renfew County and in private sector construction.
testing and hydrant identification in Drayton; and - installed a new supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system for Drayton water distribution and supply system. Out of a total of 299 work orders executed by OCWA on Mapleton’s behalf, 195 were preventative in nature, 87 were operational and 15 were corrective, Baker stated. One was related to capital while another was issued on an emergency basis. “Over the past year OCWA has assisted you with two weather-related flooding events,� Baker noted. She explained the agency has five emergency response teams located across the province that can be dispatched to help out when “additional support and equipment is required.�
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In response to a question from councillor Dennis Craven, Baker said the emergency response teams are generally able to be on the scene within one or two hours, while local operators are on hand within minutes to access any potential emergency situations. Mayor Neil Driscoll thanked the OCWA delegation for its efforts and results. “One hundred per cent compliance. That’s something that Mapleton was lacking in the past,� he said. “And since we’ve got everyone working together now it seems to work out a lot better. So thank you to you and your team for that.� Baker replied, “We really value the partnerships we have made in Mapleton.� Council accepted the report as information.
WEEKLY WAG
“Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it.� - Winston Churchill
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MAPLETON – Plans for sound buffering on the site of a planned kennel in the township were presented to council on April 24. Jennifer and Bob Walter have applied for a zoning amendment to allow the creation of a kennel at a property on Concession 9 in former Peel Township. The applicants plan to use an existing 1,500 square foot shed on the 100 acre property for a dog kennel. The land is currently zoned agricultural and occupied by a dwelling, drive shed, two poultry barns and a shed. The proposed amendment would permit a commercial kennel to operate on a site-specific basis on the property. Current bylaws restrict the use in all zones unless specifically permitted by an amendment. At the April 10 meeting, council directed that appro-
priate sound buffering be included in a draft bylaw for the zoning amendment. In a report at the April 24 meeting, Wellington County senior planner Curtis Marshall indicated he had discussed fencing and buffering with the applicants. The report notes a two metre (6.7 feet) high steel fence has been installed along the entire outside of the dog runs. The fence extends to the edge of the agricultural field, which is tile drained, and the applicants have indicated they intend to also spray foam insulation along the inside of the fence once the weather gets warmer, Marshall stated. He noted planning staff recommend four pine trees should be planted along the side of a board fence on the property. “The applicant has explained that it would not SEE BUFFERING Âť 7
Candidates meetings set in Alma, Harriston PERTH-WELLINGTON – Three meetings in Wellington have been announced for Perth-Wellington candidates in the June 7 provincial election. The Alma Optimist Club will host a candidates meeting at the Optimist Hall in Alma on May 17 at 7:30pm. On May 29 at 2pm a meeting hosted by the Minto Retirees Association will
be held at the Harriston Community Centre. On May 29, the Wellington County Federation of Agriculture will host a candidates meeting in Kenilworth. So far, four parties have confirmed riding candidates in advance of the May 17 nomination deadline. Incumbent Progressive Conservative MPP Randy SEE ELECTION Âť 7
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