CommunityNews N O R T H
W E L L I N G T O N
Volume 53 Issue 04
Thursday, January 23, 2020
Mapleton water, wastewater RFP draws multiple proposals PATRICK RAFTIS REPORTER
Legion donates to hospital – The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 409 in Palmerston presented the Palmerston and District Hospital Foundation (PDHF) with a cheque for $10,000 on Jan. 16. The donation was made from proceeds of the Legion’s popular Catch the Ace draw, held each Friday night at Branch 409. Dale Franklin, development officer for PDHF, said the foundation would not have made its radiothon goal of $100,000, to pay for hospital building security upgrades, without this donation. From left: Bill Dobson, sergeant at arms; Stan Schmidt, Legion executive and Catch the Ace committee member; Franklin; Allan Toner, Legion president; and Aaron Small, Catch the Ace committee member. Photo by Mike Wilson
MAPLETON – The township has received multiple proposals from prequalified parties in response to its RFP for the provision of municipal water and wastewater services, Mapleton officials announced on Jan. 16. “We are very pleased with the number of proposals received and the quality and creativity associated with those proposals,” said Mayor Gregg Davidson in a press release issued by the township. The release states Mapleton and its legal and consulting advisors have now begun the process of evaluating the proposals and it is anticipated that Mapleton council will make a final
determination on the selected proposal, if any, by March 31. Council passed a resolution on May 28 calling for RFPs (requests for proposals) for companies to invest in, and propose solutions for, the township’s water and wastewater systems. At the time, council approved issuing RFPs to six groups of companies, all of which were deemed qualified by council through a request for qualifications (RFQ) process. The new approach to financing and updating the water and wastewater systems was adopted by council in December 2018, when consultants Borden Ladner Gervais LLP were engaged to explore alternative financing and infrastructure renewal for the systems.
Contracts announced for Meeting to outline process for Arthur Business Improvement Area on Jan. 29 local broadband projects MIKE ROBINSON REPORTER KENILWORTH - An Arthur BIA (Business Improvement Area) meeting is being held at the Arthur community centre on Jan. 29. A presentation outlining the functions of the new organization will start at 7:15pm. In an email to the North Wellington Community News, Wellington North’s economic development officer Dale Small explained a letter was sent to all commercial property owners and business owners within the BIA boundary. “We heard the concerns that the process was moving too fast or people were not aware, so this is an opportunity for them to learn more about the
BIA,” said Small. “We hope that individuals who are interested in sitting on the board and being part of the decision making process moving forward will put their names forward.” The letter sent to owners states, “Over the past few months there has been a significant amount of discussion around the creation of a Business Improvement Area (BIA) in Arthur. Some has been positive discussion, and some has not. “We want to ensure everyone is aware that at the Wellington North council meeting on Dec. 16, 2019 council did pass a bylaw to create a BIA in Arthur.” The letter notes the BIA boundary includes all 55 commercial properties from the area of Clarke and
Smith Streets to the intersection of Wellington Road 109 and Highway 6. At the Dec. 16 council meeting it was also decided that prior to approving a budget or appointment of a board for the new BIA, the township would hold another information session. “We also want to be very clear that the information session is not to determine whether or not to establish a BIA. Council have already made this decision,” stated Small in the letter. “The information session is being setup to ensure everyone has the opportunity to become better informed about the BIA. “We will also be looking for business or property owners who want to become more involved, in a positive SEE MEETING » 11
COMMUNITY NEWS STAFF WELLINGTON COUNTY – A Jan. 20 announcement of contracts to expand high-speed broadband services to nearly 2,900 homes and businesses in Wellington County includes agreements for projects in Mapleton and Wellington North. A total of $7.5 million in provincial and federal funding has been awarded by Southwestern Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) to support four broadband infrastructure projects across 15 under-served communities within Wellington. The total value of the projects is approximately $12 million, including nearly $4.5 million in contributions from service providers. Requests for proposals for the projects were issued
in August. “Reliable internet throughout Wellington County’s urban and rural communities is essential for both residents and businesses” said Wellington County Warden Kelly Linton. “Wellington County is excited to move forward with this first phase of high-speed broadband expansion and we look forward to the improvements and opportunities that will result from the SWIFT initiative.” County councillor and Minto Mayor George Bridge stated, “We have been working towards this action for some time now and it is great to see this next phase of infrastructure being built in our communities.” Bridge, economic development chair of the Western Ontario Wardens’ SEE BROADBAND » 3
County fee hike sparks discussion about hiring township planner PATRICK RAFTIS REPORTER MAPLETON – Rising fees for county planning services sparked discussion among Mapleton councillors about hiring a township planner. In 2019 Mapleton council endorsed a plan to develop a fee structure to cover all the associated costs for planning services by the year 2022. In December, the County of Wellington, which provides planning services to the township, adopted and implemented “significant changes” to its billing structure for both site plan applications and rezoning application fees, notes a report from Mapleton finance director John Morrison. “Given the size and significant impact of these changes, it became immediately apparent that our current fees are insufficient to cover the increase in charges from the County of Wellington,” Morrison explained in a report presented to council on Jan. 14. Wellington County council supported new fees for rezoning and site plan applications of $6,580 and $2,280 respectively.
However, a proposed $4,900 minor variance application fee recommended by consultants Watson and Associates was reviewed and replaced with an hourly rate of $150 based on the level of county staff involvement in the application. If county planning staff are required or requested to attend committee of adjustment meetings, a meeting rate of $300 will apply.
flat fees are significantly a departure [from what] we had experienced in the past. In order for municipalities to continue to keep down our costs, we need to pass this on to applicants.” The report explains staff initially proposed an increase in application fees for a zoning amendment over a three-year period, with the fee to be set at $3,500 in 2020, $4,655 in 2021 and $5,810 in 2022. An application for
‘We don’t want to discourage people from coming in here and getting their minor variance application and so on...’ - MAPLETON COUNCILLOR DENNIS CRAVEN Given the county’s move to hourly rates on minor variances, Mapleton staff recommended no changes to that application fee. However, Morrison told council, “The county has made some very significant fee increases in two areas: zoning and site plan control. These
a garden suite renewal amendment would rise from $2,000 in 2020 to $2,660 the following year and $3,320 in 2022. “Our fee structure was based on a combination of our costs for administration as well as the County of Wellington’s fee and other third-
party expenses we incur,” the report explains. However, in order to compensate for the county’s move to a $6,850 flat fee for zoning amendments and still achieve cost recovery, finance staff revised its recommendations upward. The new fee proposal would see the township fee set at $9,150 in 2020, rising to $10,070 and $10,990 over the next two years. With the county now billing $2,280 per site plan application and the township also responsible for engineering and courier fees from deposits collected, the report recommends revising the township’s holding deposit requirement, and also increasing fees. The report recommends raising the deposit for new site plan control applications from $2,000 to $4,280, with the fee set at $2,500 for 2020 and rising to $3,325 and $4,150 in 2021 and 2022 respectively. “I’m just looking at zoning amendments. And averaging at 15 zoning amendments a year over past three years, more or less, and this increase in fees, that’s over $100,000 in additional fees,” said councillor Paul Douglas.
SERVING MAPLETON, MINTO & WELLINGTON NORTH
“I’m just wondering if it’s worth having discussions at this point exploring more options for planning services. That’s pretty much a planner’s salary. I would expect we could get a planner on staff full time for just that increase in zoning amendments alone. Or exploring other consultants, or sharing resources with other municipalities, or sharing a planner with other municipalities.” Douglas suggested staff bring back a report outlining options. Morrison said that could be part of an ongoing review. “We’re already making certain changes in our accounting practices this year. One of the issues is we’d like to know what are the precise costs that we’re actually paying to the county for the services,” Morrison explained. “In the past, my predecessors were very efficient in the way they were accounting for it, but it also hides the cost.” Morrison said another problem “is that given that increase … is that going to impact the number of applications coming forward? Will people be seeking other ways to avoid these SEE COUNTY » 3