SERVING MAPLETON AND MINTO
THE
COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 51 ISSUE 46
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638-3328
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2018
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Remembering the fallen - Services of Remembrance were held in Harriston, Palmerston and Drayton on Nov. 11. LEFT: Gary Thackary, left, of the Harriston Legion is escorted to the cenotaph to lay a wreath by branch Sergeant at Arms Ron Faulkner during the service in Harriston on Sunday morning. CENTRE: A Legion member and local cadet at the Palmerston service. RIGHT: The Legion colour party marches down Main Street to the cenotaph in Drayton. Additional photos on pages 3 and 4. Photos by Patrick Raftis and Lynne Turner
Departing CAO, politicians laud town staff, council Minto’s fire service “blossomed” during the term to take on a key communications role within the town. “Minto Fire updated its 2012 Master Fire Plan inhouse with major new initiatives in 2015 including a five-year public education plan to greatly increase the department’s social media presence,” the report states. “This was very beneficial during public emergencies as Minto Fire became the place to go to for information during ice storms, tornados and floods.” Minto achieved $105 million in building permits in the past four years while addressing many new provincial Building Code changes, White’s report notes. Aside from industrial development, there were several large agricultural projects, the Minto Rural Health Centre expansion at the Palmerston Hospital in 2015, the Harriston Co-op in 2017, and Clair Ridge Estates and Creekbank Meadows residential subdivisions in 2017. “Issues such as open fires,
By Patrick Raftis MINTO - “Any summary of term accomplishments that includes tornados, chickens, monster trucks, fire, ice, and floods has to be interesting,” stated Minto CAO Bill White, in a report reviewing the 2014 to 2018 term of council. The report from White, who is set to retire next month, was part of a series of retrospective comments at the Nov. 6 meeting, which was the last for councillor Mary Lou Colwell and deputy mayor Ron Faulkner, who did not seek re-election for the next council term. White’s report touched on several natural disasters dealt with by town officials during the term, including tornadoes that destroyed property around Teviotdale in August of 2015 and in the Clifford area in March of 2016, as well as a flood of historic proportions in Harriston and other areas of Minto on June 23, 2017. In addition to responding to incidents, White said
MARY LOU COLWELL
RON FAULKNER
ornamental ponds … and political signs, urban chickens, and downtown two-hour parking were addressed,” White states in the report. “A new animal control provider was approved and ‘life time’ dog tags introduced. A short-term lease was signed for monster truck rides in Harriston in 2015.” White also pointed out council oversaw a $26-million capital spending program during the term. “That’s a lot of money. Got a lot done. All under a shifting framework where it seemed like FCM and the province were coming at us with change after change after change to our legislation,” White told council. “You know there was a lot of to and fro-ing in the
election about how many people we had here and all that; well that’s one of the reasons. I mean we had to respond to all these things that were coming forward and the development.” White added, “I appreciate the mayor’s position on right-sizing and I think there’s an opportunity now that as people start to retire that you can start to respond and we’ll see where the new government takes you as far as its relationship. “It was a pleasure being a part to the team supporting council in its 2014-2018 activities,” stated White, who is set to retire on Dec. 14. “You’ll be a tough act to follow,” said Mayor George Bridge following a standing ovation for the outgoing CAO from council and staff. Colwell stated serving on council for the past eight years has been, “very special to me. “I was lucky enough to serve with dedicated members whose main focus was to grow our town and to truly make Minto a place where
your family belongs,” said Colwell. “We were led by Mayor Bridge and he not only was a pleasure to serve with, but he made every member of council feel heard and an important part of the decision making.” Colwell also thanked her husband Allan for his support and noted the town’s department heads and staff “have been a real treat to work with.” Colwell, who chaired the council’s finance committee, also thanked the town’s taxpayers. “I thank you for your support over the last eight years … you’ve elected a wonderful council that I know will work hard for you in this term,” she said. Faulkner said, “It’s definitely a bittersweet moment for me. My family calls it sweet because they have lots of plans for my time. “It’s been a most positive experience simply because of the great people that I had the pleasure of serving eight years on council with; people that were dedicated to mak-
ing Minto the place you want to call home. How good is that?” Faulkner thanked staff, noting, “almost without exception our employees gave opinions, listened, argued for what they believed in and have all tried to do what’s right for the Town of Minto.” Turning to members of the press at the meeting, Faulkner said, “Thank you for being accurate. That was critical to me.” Faulkner said he wished the next council well and offered some advice. “Your job is to make wise decisions for the taxpayers of the Town of Minto. Personal stuff does not belong in the political arena and I will stand and fight, even when I’m not on council, to make sure that doesn’t happen,” he stated. Bridge thanked Colwell and Faulkner for their efforts on behalf of the town. “I’m sure that you’ll take a little breather … but hopefully we can call on you in the future to do some things for the town,” said the mayor.
Proposed Harriston floodplain mapping changes to be unveiled MINTO – Proposed changes to floodplain mapping in Harriston will be presented at a Nov. 27 public meeting. The Town of Minto and Maitland Conservation have been working on new
floodplain mapping since 2015. The new mapping will be available for review at the 6:30pm meeting at the Harriston-Minto Community Centre. Minto CAO Bill White explained the new mapping adds 16 Harriston proper-
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ties to the flood zone, while removing 37 properties. White said local residents whose properties are impacted were provided notice of the meeting by the conservation authority. The CAO also noted a presentation at the meeting will include model-
ling on how various mitigation measures can impact potential for flooding. “Knowing the extent of the floodplain is an important tool for emergency management and land use planning. Floodplain mapping for Harriston was last updated
WEEKLY WAG
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By Patrick Raftis
“My motto is ‘Excelsior’ ... that means ‘upward and onward to greater glory’ ... Keep moving forward, and if it’s time to go, it’s time. Nothing lasts forever.” - Stan Lee
in 1999,” states the letter from Maitland Conservation. Mayor George Bridge said a major flood in Harriston on June 23, 2017 helped spark interest in innovation. “I’m pleased at the way things are coming together with this whole process,”
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said Bridge. “I guess having a disaster helps people get a little looser on the ability to look at other options and certainly Maitland have come a long way on that basis. “But having that mapping has really made a difference … money well spent.”
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