Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-02-27, Page 1010 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, February 27, 2013 Draft Industrial wind turbine building permit bylaw presented to Bluewater council $14,000 flat fee plus $420,000 in securities Melissa Murray QMI Agency Bluewater council was presented with the first draft of their building per- mit bylaw at their Feb. 19 meeting. The draft came to council after they decided at their Nov. 5, 2012 meeting, to charge $10 per kilowatt of output for each turbine ($16,000 for GE's 1.6'I'u•- bine proposed for the Goshen project) ttnd also include securities for decom- missioning costs, legal fees, loss of property value and economic develop- ment funds. The cost of one turbine according to the numbers proposed could reach up to $1.3 million. While the draft includes a refundable security per turbine of $220,00( for decommissioning, $100,000 for health effects and property damages and $100,000 for legal fees, the fee structure for the turbine itself was changed to a flat fee of $14,000. With Bluewater's legal counsel, Eric Gillespie, unavailable for the meeting, Bluewater's Chief Administrative Officer, Steve McAuley explained the change to the councillors. "()n our solicitor's advice, we changed the fee to $14,000 to reflect the work that would be done by a con- sulting firm," explained McAuley dur- ing a telephone interview after the meeting. The $14,000 number was based on the charges estimated by engineering firm Gancsby and Mannerow based out of Exeter. 'they provided council with a two-page report outlining various site inspections they would perform as well as a full review of the building permit application. Councillor -at -large 'Tyler 11 essel chaired this portion of the meeting with Mayor Bill I)ownson, I)eputy- Mayor Paul Klopp and Councillor John Becker all declaring a pecuniary inter- est. Following the meeting, l lessel told 'Ihe News Record council is hoping to have Eric Gillespie present at their next meeting to discuss if the bylaw is defen- sible and if it's an appropriate expres- sion of the municipality's powers under the Green Energy Act. "I think everyone felt OK with the proposed bylaw," he said, adding there was little discussion about the draft. "We steered away from the power - based sizing, based on an engineer's perspective that turbine fees should Grand Bend's 2013 Winter Carnival Lanyard Winners Thank you to all that participated in our annual 1unmttaisei with purchasing a lanyard. Congratulations to all the winners: Lottery Lis.N M655998 Colonial Hotel Riverbend Oakwood Inn Resort & Golf Oakwood Inn Resort & Golf Sobey's No Frills Air Trauma Geo -Tech • 104.9 The Reach Grand Prize 1 Night Accommodation- Lori White Box of Steaks - Bob Fuller Golf & Dinner for two package - Bonnie McCann Lakeside Spa Package - Nick Kcgtli $1(K).(K) (lift ('ard - Mike Malone $100.00 Clift Card - Walter I)cMelo $100.00 Gift Card - Jeff 1.iley $100.0) Gift Card - Pal Powers $111).00 Clift Card - Gerry Dcsjardins $100,00 Gift ('ani - Dave Morris $250.(X) Travel Voucher - Don Raith $50,11) Gift Certificate- Adapt Ciurcnther $50.11) Gift Certificate - Jen/ Mike Kork 2 Tickets Music in the Fields - Chelscy Brintnell $1000.IN1Cash - Dorothy Cowen A special thank you goes to all the local businesses who participate in donat- ing towards our lanyard and to all those who assist in the sales. Looking; forward to working with all of you on the 2(14 Grand Bend Winter Carnival Family Day weekend February 14 I7th, 21)1 . stay the sante regardless of size:' In a letter included in the council package Next Era's lawyer John 'ferry said the project "unlaw- fully impose financial obligations on Next Era in respect to its Bluewater and Goshen projects:' 1 le and project manager Nicole Geneau advised council not to pass the bylaw because it is outside of the municipality's power, which is limited by the Green Energy Act. 1 lessel said his interpretation of the delegation was that Next Era felt the securities were too high and council heard their warning about the bylaw. Following Next Era's deputation and a com- ment about how serious the company is about moving forward with the project, Councillor Janisse Zimmerman reiterated how serious coun- cil is about protecting ratepayers and the commu- nity from potential effects of wind turbines. While I lessel personally felt that councillors were okay with the proposed bylaw, a delegation from the Bluewater Shores' Residents Associa- tion, presented by I lag March indicated his organ- ization was hoping to see Bluewater raise the security for health effects and property damages to $5 million per turbine. I lis assessment was based 00 Ben Lansink's study of decreased prop- erty value that concluded loss based on proximity to industrial turbines was between 2:3 and 58 per cent. March said with 2,428 residences with an average value of $400,000, $5 million would be a more appropriate figure. Bluewater Against 'Turbines representative Dave Griffiths was also on the agenda as a delega- tion and used the time to thank council for their progressive ideas and for taking a stand. "1 would like to start off by thanking lanisse, Kay, George, John, Dave, Tyler and Geordie - the seven members of our Bluewater Council who have shown us all - how they are willing to take a stand and fight for our rights, and the rights of our community:" "You and your staff, under the leadership of Steve, have also influenced other communities to muster up the sante amount of courage and fight this battle," he said. 'Ihe building permit fee changes will he brought back to council on March 4 for the final reading. Budget trimmed to 2.75 per cent Policy on how to handle surpluses forthcoming Paul Cluff OMI Agency 1luron County's consolidated 2013 budget has been trimmed after county staff found savings that brings the year -over -year increase closer to what county councillors had requested. At the Committee of the Whole I)ay two meeting Feb. 20, Deputy treasurer Nancy Resnick presented a second (10111 that includes a 2.75 per (rent increase, or $940,289 more than the 2012 budget. On a $100,000 assessment, it could mean an increase of $11.55. The first draft provided Jan. 30 included a 5.12 increase but council directed staff to keep the increase at three per cent or lower. Among the changes is a public works decrease in winter maintenance of $200,000, a figure based on new technology being used and a historical trend of lighter winters. 11'2013 is not as expected, reserves can be used, Rennick said. 'I'Ite public works reserve currently sits at $1 million. donees for the Aged became aware Of changes after the first draft, Rennick said, including $150,000 in provincial funding. Replacing carpets and floors at the homes can be funded through reserves. In the previous (craft, money was to be used from the levy. 'those two changes total $220,(XX) in savings. EMS has reworked a plan to purchase defibrillators but that is based on approval of 41 report from Dave I.ew, chief of emergency serivices, which may or may not get council approval, Rennick said. EMS changes could drop $179,001) from the budget. Rennick said funds set aside in the past to replace an 1'I' department server are not required, saving $17,500. Rennick also removed a request for $2(0,000 to be placed in the levy stabilization reserve, which will impact future budgets. 'Iwo expenditures council approved Feb. 13 at Committee of the Whole Day One - $10,0(X1 for Men- esetung Bridge Association and $5,000 for the SWEA conference in Goderich - are not included in the sec- ond draft. Coun. Jim Ginn (Central Huron) said he wasn't surf)rised with the percentage reduction. "When you direct staff to come back with those numbers, they usually come back with what it will take to get there,' he said. "'the question then becomes (Io you want to sacrifice what you have sacrifice to get there." Surplus policy on the way Council has discussed developing a surplus policy in past meetings and last week a motion was carried for the development of a policy from county staff on how to handle surpluses. Coun. Deb Shewfelt (Goderich) said it bothers 111111 that the county had an $8.2 million surplus in 2011. "When you have a big surplus, it's poor budgeting:" County CA() Brenda Orchard explained that the $8.2 million was an 'operating surplus: Part of that amount Went to reserves and towards increastngcap- ital assets. So the $8.2 million turned into a $ L5 mil- lion unallocated surplus for 2011. Some of that was used for the 2012 budget. For year-end 2012, Orchard expects $1.4 to $1.5 million of the unallocated budget. Sht'tvtelt said it is important to know the current county surplus figure before setting a target. "Maybe there are a few things we can stove (wound. That is money you took from the people that you never spent.'lhat is not right:' 'glue lower tiers are delaying percentages and Shew- felt suggested they need help. "'that little help could conte from the county:' After the meting, Ginn said it's a reasonable thing for council to have a surplus policy. "'Ihe big question is what you (lo with the money. Staff see those numbers every (lay anti they have a lot better handle on it than politicians:" Ginn tabled the motion for the report on how best to handle surpluses. "Maybe we need to put every dollar into reserves. Maybe there is some we can spend," he said.