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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2014-07-16, Page 66 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, July 16, 2014 letters to the editor Reader wants answers to concerns to about K2 Wind Project To the Editor; This is a letter that I am sending to K2 Wind asking for answers to issues that affect myself, my farming operation and everyone in our commu- nity. If anyone has similar con- cerns, they can use this letter or any part of it to raise the issues and seek answers. July 4,2014 K2 Wind Ontario 46 Victoria Street North Goderich, ON N7A 2R6 Attention: Mr. Jay Shukin Dear Mr. Shukin: After trying to work with you by making enquiries, request- ing answers and awaiting responses, it would appear that my efforts have fallen on deaf ears. You have not answered my questions adequately or given any assurance that my rights as a property owner will be protected. This is not acceptable. Again, if there is reduced development ability, damage or loss of income on my farm due to the K2 Wind Project, who do I contact? What information, records and/or documentation will I need to provide? I require a legal document and protocol allowing me to be able to safely spray with a helicopter when need be. Your wind t Arlin I! __# e 4--4--• PP You are invited to attend these area churches ST. THOMAS CHURCH 21Jarvis St. Seaforth Rector The Rev. Karine Snowdon Rectory 519-482-9071 Church Office 519-527-1522 Sunday. July 20th ST. JAMES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH WELCOMES YOU 14 Victoria Street, Seaforth 519-345-2972 Sat. Mass 5 p.m. Sun. Mass 9 a.m. Worship at 9:30 a.m. EVERYONE WELCOME ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN Sun. Mass 11 a.m. FR. CHRIS GILLESPIE BETHEL BIBLE CHURCH An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 519-527-0982 Pastor Mark Kennedy SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE 10 a.m. Tuesday Evenings • Youth Groups - Junior & Senior High 6:30 to 9 p.m. • Vacation Bible School Aug. 11-15 6- EVERYONE WELCOME EGMONDVILLE UNITED CHURCH Pastor Steve Hildebrand Youth Coordinator - Laura Nakamura WORSHIP JULY 20th at 10:30 a.m Youth Sunday School at 10:30 a.m. For more information view our web site www.egmondvilleunitedchurch.com and Like us on Facebook. NORTHSIDE UNITED CHURCH MINISTER MARY FLETCHER Welcomes you Holidays No Service Until August Visit our Sunday School Food Booth At The Seaforth Street Festival Fri. July 18 54 Goderich St. W. 6. 519-527-1449 'II www.cavannorthsideunited.ca .1 FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 59 Goderich St. W. Seaforth 519-527-0170 Student Minister lan Marnoch Lorrie Mann - Organist Worship Sunday, July 20th, 11:15 a.m. All Welcome Nursery Provided. — Office hours: Wed. 9 a.m. - Noon turbines do turn when we could spray, contrary to what you have stated. This is a right this wind project has taken away from me as a farmer in the project area. I also require information on how K2 Wind intends to address the issue of air ambulance ser- vice to ACW. What protocol is in place to ensure that turbines will be shut down if an air ambulance must be dispatched to an acci- dent scene in the Township? As with the aerial spraying, turbines pose a risk to pilots required to operate or land in an area affected by turbine turbulence. Water well testing should be provided to any non -participating landowner for contaminants before and after K2 becomes operational. If a well goes dry or is contaminated up to 1 year after construction has ended,1<2 should bear the cost of replacing the well for the landowner. If something unforeseen were to happen at a 1(2 site (example -.oil spill), then a longer time frame would be appropriate. I believe there will be properly devaluation within the project area to more than just a few non- participating private properties. K2 Wind should address the devaluation of property issue and acknowledge the placing of restrictions onto neighboring properties (ice throw, building restrictions). We, the non -partici- pating citizens, have the right to the peaceful and unencumbered use of our property at all times. There are many problems that non -participating landowners must endure. A few examples are: ice throw, increase in day- time and night time noise from turbines and substations, vibra- tions through the soil from tur- bines and substations, electrical dispersions, increased electrical magnetic radiation, lost ability to locate a building site in a place of the non -participating landowners choosing. These example issues were nonexistent before the K2 project and are only a few of the restrictions to the peaceful enjoy- ment to our non -participating pri- vate property. How will K2 address this issue of restrictions placed by the K2 project onto non -participating private properties? As well, I require a dictionary definition of "ice throw" as it relates to wind turbines and I need to know if ice throw will impact my family and/or my property. A basic property right will be taken if we cannot use our property at any time. We cannot be worried about the www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com possibility of being hit with chunks of ice from your tur- bines next to our property. With respect to stray voltage, I require protocols, which you will be using for testing, monitoring, recording and resolution of issues. These protocols must stand up in a court of law. We need a base line for stray voltage — set up testing for a minimum of two weeks, 24 hours/day, four times a year. Testing should be done before the project starts producing power and after the project produces power for the life of the project. The protocol should set out the type of meters, recording method and how records of readings will be retained. As well, there will need to be a procedure for how any issues related to stray voltage will be handled. An independent authority would need to oversee this procedure - Andy Stenning of Hydro One and a qualified inde- pendent contractor of landown- ers choosing - and all the costs should be paid for by K2. I would also like confirmation that there will be NO induced voltage transferred to our local phone lines or fiber optic lines by substations, transmission lines, or collector lines. How does K2 plan to achieve this? I do not expect any poles down Tower Line from Belfast Road to Glens Hill Road. If you do not have enough room to bury your cables and follow your three -metre setback from my property lines, you have the option of going around the other side of the block or through the property of project participants. I am prepared to help by phys- ically marking out our infrastruc- ture, laneways and tile systems along our property, and for which we have paid, so that you do not disturb or cut anything when you bury your cable. This will be done as you bury these cables. This will be necessary since your company has had problems in the past with such matters (i.e. cutting down trees, ignoring biosecurity signs, damaging pri- vate property and not being accountable for your actions). I am now in the unfortunate position of needing to put you on notice that these issues must be addressed by July 31, 2014.1 must do what I need to do to protect my interests as a property owner and resident of this township. Yours Sincerely, George Alton Glammis' Allan Thompson seeking Huron -Bruce federal Liberal nomination Special to the Expositor Glammis native Allan Thompson today announced that he is seeking the Liberal Party of Canada nomination in hopes of becoming the Huron -Bruce riding's Liberal candidate in the 2015 federal election. "I'm running because I want to restore principled leadership and integrity to Canadian politics," said Thompson, who was born and raised on a farm just outside the village of Glam- mis in southern Bruce County, in a media release. "My decision to run is based on my commitment to democracy and my concern that the current prime min- ister is undermining the pil- lars of our democracy," Thompson said in the media release. "I think the people of Huron -Bruce deserve an effective MP who is part of a government they can be proud of." Thompson, 50, a journal- ism professor at Ottawa's Car- leton University, is a former political reporter for the Toronto Star. He went to school at Bruce Township Central Public in Underwood and Walkerton District Sec- ondary School and began his journalism career as a reporter with the Kincardine Independent and Teeswater News. The media release stated that Thompson is committed to building the rural economy in Huron -Bruce and becom- ing a strong voice for farmers, as well as those who live in the riding's small towns and sur- rounding areas. Thompson said he believes that "his farm upbringing combined with his deep knowledge of how Ottawa works will help him to bridge the rural -urban gap" and he is also committed to looking for ways to make settling down in the region a more viable option for young people who are drawn away to seek schooling and job opportunities. The media release stated, "over the years Thompson has remained very engaged with the community in Huron -Bruce through his extensive family ties, involvement with a number of local organizations and as a member of the congrega- tion at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church in Glammis." He played broomball with the Glammis Flyers, com- piled a history of the early years of Glammis and has been a guest speaker for such groups as the Saugeen chapter of the Canadian Federation of University Women and the Bruce County Historical Society. He has also been involved with local history groups, help- ing to review publications. While reaching out to potential supporters face-to- face, Thompson also plans to connect through the exten- sive use of social media in his campaign. The main vehicle will be his website, www.allanthompson.ca. A campaign launch video was posted today on Thompson's YouTube channel (www. youtube/allan2015). He will also be blogging at www. allan2015.com and connect- ing through www.facebook. com/Allan2015 and @glam- mis on Twitter. A campaign launch event will be held Wed., July 16 at 7 p.m. at the King's Pearl Pub & Eatery, 71 King St. N., in Tiverton. The event is open to the public and media.