SERVING THE MAPLETON COMMUNITY
THE
COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 49 ISSUE 38
DRAYTON, ONTARIO
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Council agrees to waive hall rental fee for anti-turbine group By Patrick Raftis
A great run - The Drayton Terry Fox Run has raised about $24,000, with donations still coming in as of Sept. 20. Organizers and volunteers include, from left: front, Louise Elllis, Dale Franklin, Mary Downey, Linda Dickieson and Lisa Kirkconnell; back, Terry Downey, Nicole Runstedler, Robyn Runstedler, Carly Ellis, Kyle Ellis, Lindsay Brown, Tyler Franklin, Kristyn Franklin, Dan Galinna and Andy Kirconnell. More coverage on pages 2 and 8. Photo by Amanda Belec-Newton
Terry Fox Run brings in $24,000 By Patrick Raftis DRAYTON - Organizers estimate about $24,000 was raised at the 2016 Terry Fox Run here on Sunday. Coordinator Louise Ellis said about 162 participants and 10 volunteers were on hand for the Sept. 18 event. “It was a great day. It’s always a great community day,” she said.
Ellis notes the total is a “bit of a moving target” at this point, as post-run donations continue to roll in. Last year’s run, the 35th annual, was at about the same mark immediately following the run and ended up reaching a local record total exceeding $30,000. The local run regularly places in the top 10 in per capita fundraising and has
raised more than $400,000 since its inception. Ellis noted the current group of longtime organizers has indicated their intent to step aside to make way for a fresh group to take over. Anyone interested in becoming part of the organization is encouraged to contact any current committee member.
Council seeks solution to problem of motorized vehicles on trails By Patrick Raftis MAPLETON - Township staff have been directed to work with neighbouring municipalities on the possibility of crafting a bylaw regulating the use of ATVs on local roads and trails. Staff were directed to investigate the issue after Mapleton council received a letter from Drayton resident Dean Dajko regarding motorized vehicles using the Conestogo River trail in the area of River Run Road. “There are numerous ATVs and motorcycles speeding along this trail and it is only a matter of time before someone gets hit” states Dajko in the letter. “Many of my neighbours along with myself have called the police and on one occasion, we witnessed one of the motorcycle drivers (mainly kids under 16 driving) getting stopped by the police because one neighbour reported him after he almost
hit him and his son while driving at excessive speeds.” Dajko notes riders must be getting to the trail by driving on the roads, although ATVs are not allowed on village streets. “I realize that some of this is probably more of a police issue than a township issue, but I do believe that something has to be done on the walking trails, perhaps blockades at both ends and more signage,” he suggested. Councillor Michael Martin said he is aware local citizens have been “voicing their concern” on the issue over the summer, and “it’s clearly an issue.” However he isn’t convinced barriers are the answer. “As far as potentially putting barriers at he main entrances to that trail … I’m not really sure its worth our money and staff time to throw up barriers like that especially when you have access from so many different points,” he stated.
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Councillor Dennis Craven said passing a bylaw might not work either. “Bylaws are good and they’re not hard to make, but they’re awful hard to enforce,” he pointed out. “If someone’s on the trail with the ATV and you phone the bylaw officer, by the time the bylaw officer’s out there they’re in the next county.” Councillor Lori Woodham suggested asking CAO Brad McRoberts to investigate the situation and recommend possible solutions. McRoberts pointed out there were some discussions among area municipalities last spring about creating bylaws to regulate use of ATVs on municipal roads. He suggested contacting other northern Wellington municipalities about getting together to work on a bylaw to bring forth to the individual councils for review. Council directed staff to proceed with discussions and report back.
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MAPLETON – Township council has agreed to waive the rental fee for use of the Maryborough Community Centre by an organization opposing a potential wind power project in the area. Concerned Citizens of Wallace and Mapleton asked council to waive the $225 fee for a Sept. 6 public information meeting the group hosted at the Moorefield hall. “This would be very beneficial as we don’t have a budget and are out of pocket for signs, hall rentals, printing fees, etc.,” stated organizers Doug and Lee Anne Andriessen in a letter received by council at the Sept. 14 meeting. Councillor Dennis Craven, who said he attended both the Moorefield meeting and an earlier gathering hosted by the group in Listowel, said he was asked at both meetings about Mapleton council’s position on wind turbines. “I had to tell them I had no idea,” said Craven, pointing out the current council has never discussed the issue. Mayor Neil Driscoll is the only holdover from the previ-
ous council. Councillor Michael Martin noted the previous council passed a resolution declaring Mapleton “not a willing host” for wind power projects. The resolution was passed in 2013, after NextEra Energy established the Conestogo Wind Energy Centre near the township’s northeastern border. “Does that still stand?” asked Martin. “As long as the resolution remains on the books, it stands,” replied CAO Brad McRoberts. “I wouldn’t normally entertain a request such as this from a special interest group, regardless of whether I support their interest or not,” said Martin. However, he added, “the question is, would it be considered more appropriate because of our designation (as a non-willing host)?” Martin continued, “It’s kind of a slippery slope – if we support this particular request, I know its not precedent setting - but it is in a way.” Councillor Lori Woodham said she has never felt comfortable “having this power”
to decide which groups would get donations and fees waived and which would not. She said she prefers to stick to the policy of having groups apply in advance so funds can be budgeted. “Is this a worthy cause? Who’s to say if it is or it isn’t? I would love it if we just followed our policy,” said Woodham. “Are you saying that they had to ask in advance?” asked councillor Marlene Ottens, who chaired the meeting in Mayor Neil Driscoll’s absence. “But, a group like this couldn’t possibly … they didn’t know they were going to exist 10 months ago.” Ottens suggested one factor in the decision could be if council felt the group is “working on behalf of all citizens. “If you go by Mapleton’s official position, they are,” she pointed out. Craven suggested, “I’d be willing to support this, but down the line we may have to have the willpower to say no to a group that may have a similar, but not the same request.” A motion by Martin, seconded by Woodham, to waive the fee was approved.
Barn blaze - A barn fire on Wellington Road 8 near Goldstone on Sept. 16 killed 72 cattle. Photo by Caroline Sealey
Dairy barn blaze kills 72 cattle By Caroline Sealey and Chris Daponte MAPLETON - A serious barn fire last Friday night on Wellington Road 8 near Goldstone left 72 cattle dead. A woman working in the barn escaped uninjured and one heifer was saved, but the rest of the cattle perished in the blaze, which completely destroyed the dairy barn. Firefighters from Drayton, Moorefield, Palmerston and Arthur stations responded to the fire call just before 6pm on Sept. 16.
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Mapleton Fire Chief Rick Richardson said the barn was fully engulfed in flames when the firefighters arrived. They focused on keeping the nearby drive shed and house cool, said Richardson, adding crews hauled water to the site for several hours. Firefighters remained on the scene until about midnight. Richardson assumes the fire started in a straw chopper and spread to straw below. A damage estimate for the blaze was not yet available on Sept. 19.
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