June 10 and 24, 2019
Committee of the Whole Meetings: June 10, 2019, 9:00 a.m. – 11:53 a.m., and June 24, 2019: 9:00 a.m. – 12:21 p.m.
Regular Meetings of Council: June 10, 2019: 1:15 p.m.- 1:25 p.m. and June 24, 2018: 6:06 p.m. – 7:08 p.m.
Mayor George Cornell, Deputy Mayor Steffen Walma and Councillors Cindy Hastings, Tony Mintoff and Gibb Wishart present both days. On June 10, Steffen Walma (a member of the volunteer fire department) left at 9:50 a.m. and returned at 10:35 a.m.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
- Tiny Connect – Sign up now at tinyconnect.ca
- Festival du Loup – July 11-13, 2019, Lafontaine
- Huronia Airport Planes, Trains & Automobiles Fly-in – July 13, 2019, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
- Community BBQ – July 20, 2019, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Perkinsfield Park
- Balm Beach Family Fun Day – July 28, 2019, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Battle of Georgian Bay Re-enactment – August 8, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m., Balm Beach
- Farm Crawl – August 16, 2019
- Fire & Emergency Services Family Fun Day – August 24, 2019, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Wyevale Fire Station
- Mayor’s Charity Golf Tournament – September 13, 2019, Brooklea Golf and Country Club
- Town Hall Meeting, September 19, 2019, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. Wyebridge Community Centre
- Doors Open – September 21, 2019, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Road Closures:
Concession 2 at P2 Bridge. Closed except for bus traffic starting June 24th with full closure after June 27th for 3-4 weeks due to reconstruction.
Base Line Road South and Concession 6 East starting July 2nd due to culvert replacement.
MAY 25, TOWN HALL MEETING: According to Sue Walton’s Report about the May 25 Town Hall Meeting, 35 members of the public attended and a number of them raised concerns. In the discussion of her report, it was noted that “funding has been secured in the 2019 budget to improve signage in the parking lot [at Jackson Park], and working in conjunction with the OPP, to designate a swimming area within 300m from shore.” Also “Public Works advised that removal of sand deposits in the boat ramp area will be included for consideration in the 2020 budget.” There is to be a staff report regarding short-term rentals.
NITRATE FERTILIZER IN LAFONTAINE/GEORGIAN SANDS AREA: Melissa Carruthers, the Township’s Risk Management Official, presented a plan for dealing with elevated nitrate levels in the Lafontaine/Georgian Sands township wells. She recommended sending explanatory letters at the end of July to the 226 affected residents in the wellhead protection area recommending that nitrate fertilizers not be used because of the elevated level of nitrates in township wells in that area. The letters would be followed by an explanatory open house session in August in the Lafontaine Community Centre about alternatives. In 2020, inspections would take place to assess compliance, probably followed by a prohibition of the use of nitrate fertilizers. These policies wouldn’t apply to people outside the designated area.
Council agreed with this approach, viewing it as a pilot project, which could be followed by a township wide prohibition of the use of nitrate fertilizers.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWER AT 1445 CEDAR POINT ROAD: Rogers proposes to install a 75-metre-tall steel lattice structure near the intersection of Cedar Point Road and North Shore Drive to remedy the minimal to no internet coverage in Cedar Point.
The tower would be erected on the southeast corner of 1445 Cedar Point Road. The location is 700 metres from the nearest residence. Area residents would be alerted to the installation by signs, the township’s Tiny Connect system and Rogers will call a meeting where residents may ask questions and express concerns. If there is enough concern about the height of the tower, it is possible to install two, less conspicuous, camouflaged, shorter towers to achieve the same coverage.
Amendment to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe: The Township sent comments to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing regarding this amendment’s provisions regarding settlement area boundary expansions and agricultural and natural heritage systems. As was the case with all comments from rural areas, none of them were acknowledged or implemented.
Jamie Robinson of MHBC Planning explained the situation, and recommended that, if the Ministry does re-open the comment period in the fall, the Township should send a follow-up letter. Members of Council agreed with this suggestion and said they would follow up with the area’s MPP, Jill Dunlop. The Township’s comments are to be circulated to municipalities in Simcoe County in the hope that those with similar concerns might work together. Council also decided to arrange a delegation to the Minister at the AMO Conference in August about problems with the Growth Plan Amendment.