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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2013-05-30, Page 13THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2013. PAGE 13. NH Council approves landfill pilot project Thieves leave one tree in brazen windbreak theft Theft Morris-Turnberry Mayor Paul Gowing was astounded to find nearly his entire windbreak, planted on May 1 gone last week. Police are currently investigating the theft of trees valued at over $3,600. He is seen here with the one remaining white spruce tree. (Shawn Loughlin photo) The smaller of two East Wawanosh Landfill sites in North Huron will be open for two Saturdays a month as part of a pilot project green-lit at the township council’s May 21 meeting. At the meeting council decided, at the encouragement of East Wawanosh councillors Ray Hallahan and James Campbell primarily, to open the landfill site for an additional day. Public Works Director Kelly Church prepared a report, at the request of council, regarding what it would cost to have the landfill site open every Saturday from June to September. The final numbers showed that it would cost the municipality, between salaries and utilities, $15,739.20 to have the site opened. Church estimated that the site would bring in $3,620.07 in charges, realizing a total loss of $12,119.13. He was unable to comment as to how that cost will change under the existing pilot project. Hallahan explained that ratepayers were unhappy with the existing system. “I was told that 50 per cent of the users are from East Wawanosh and 50 per cent are from Blyth,” he said. “Between this site being closed most of the time and the Hullett dump being closed permanently, people want more options... I think it’s a service and, at least for the summer months, it should be open more often.” At this point, Hallahan suggested the two-Saturday-a-month plan, when, previously, he had been pushing for every Saturday. However, having the landfill site open isn’t as straightforward as it might seem. Church reported that the landfill is being used for other purposes than refuse. “There are 65 of the same residents using the site on a regular basis,” he reported. “Ten of them live closer to the [Wingham Landfill Site], 15 of them only bring recyclables and several Blyth residents drive right past the limb and branch site we recently reopened in Blyth to take their yard waste to the landfill. The rest of them meet there. It’s become a meeting place. They go out, drop their recycling off and chat.” The problem with the recycling is that it is a duplicated, unrecoverable cost according to Church. The municipality can’t charge for recycling at the landfill site and, beyond that, it’s a service that the municipality provides through curb- side pickup. Hallahan said that many people in East Wawanosh don’t want the curb- side pick-up of recycling or garbage. “Maybe we should do road-side pick up,” he said. “I don’t want to look at complicated area-rated systems, but maybe we should look at what we could do there.” “We’re paying for the same service twice, and, at the landfill, we’re also paying to have to take it away from the landfill,” he said. Church also reported that the landfill site, with its current usage, ends up putting more cover in the landfill than garbage with its open- once-a-month schedule. Church wasn’t able to determine whether having the landfill site open would mean using cover twice a month. He also said he wasn’t sure if having the landfill site open a second day would result in more people utilizing it or if it would simply spread out the visits of existing users. “I’m not against opening up the landfill on a trial basis, but it seems ridiculous that there is more cover going in than garbage,” Councillor Archie MacGowan stated. “I say we do a study on it, see what numbers come back and next year decide whether it makes sense to keep it open or not.” The motion to start the pilot project carried. When asked where the financing for the project would come from, Councillor Bernie Bailey stated that, if the municipality could find money for a ‘gator’, they could easily find money to provide this service for residents. Councillor Archie MacGowan also stated that he would like to see an inclusive waste plan set up to deal with all the landfill sites as well as recycling and hazardous waste collection as part of a whole instead of as different entities. After planting a 160-tree wind break on his farm property in Huron East’s Grey Ward, Morris-Turnberry Mayor Paul Gowing was dismayed last week when he found that 159 of those trees had been stolen. Sometime between the evening of Tuesday, May 21 and the morning of May 22, the 159 white spruce trees had been removed from the property on McDonald Line, just north of Browntown Line north of Brussels. Gowing had the windbreak planted on May 1 through Paul VanderMolen of The Lawnmaster. The trees were planted in a unique ball and burlap style and, because they had just been planted, they had yet to spread roots, making them easy to remove, Gowing said in an interview with The Citizen. Gowing does not live on the property, there is no home on the agricultural lot. Upon first seeing the trees missing on the morning of May 22, Gowing asked his sister, who lives just north of the farm property, and VanderMolen if there had been a mix-up where the trees were removed. Both were dead ends and Gowing called the OPP later that day, saying he felt he was going “crazy” when he saw that the trees were gone.OPP Const. Jamie Stanley says thepolice report states that impressionswere left in the field by both a truck and a trailer. Police believe the truck to be a full-size pick-up. The value of the trees, Gowing says, is over $3,600. Gowing says he was just trying to do the right thing as far as stewardship for the area, as well as for his land, and that he will continue to do the right thing. “When the trees were planted, it really looked quite impressive,” Gowing said. He said that while the windbreak not only looked great, it would serve his property well, as well as surrounding properties, stopping the spread of dust onto area crops. “It would have been quite beneficial for everyone involved,” Gowing said. Gowing’s family has owned the property in question since the 1940s. He insists, however, despite the setback, that he will replant. “I’m not going to let [the thieves] win,” Gowing said. “We will plant again, because I just can’t see them winning.” Police are still investigating the theft and are looking for any information the public may have. Anyone with information is asked to call the OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Also: • Vegetable Seeds • Seed Potatoes • Peat Moss/Mulch • Fertilizer • Lawn mowers • Barbecues • Lawn chairs • ...and so much more! County Road #25, Auburn 519-526-7262 Auburn Co-op Check out our great selection of hardy, colourful... Emerald Cedars Buy 5 or more for only $1999 ea. Great for privacy hedging Spring Greenhouse Specials • Shrubs • Bedding Plants • Fruit Trees • Vegetable Plants • Garden décor • Red Maple Trees • Fruit Trees Huron Bay Co-operative Inc. 4 pk. Vegetables $119 Hanging Baskets $900 starting at 122 Main St. E. 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