Huron Expositor, 2013-12-11, Page 7letters to the editor
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MW in the St Columban project. In gen-
eral, each 2.5 MW turbine produces
$340,000 of revenue per year, which
results in a total of $5,100,000 per year
for the St Columban project. The pay-
back of expenses, including construc-
tion costs, takes about sixyears. How-
ever, wind developers also are allowed
accelerated depreciation, which means
they will pay little if any income taxes.
Take away $500,000 for maintenance
annually and that leaves $4,500,000
annual income for the wind company.
So the $115,00 maybe put in the cate-
gory of 'crumbs' or 'peanuts'. What
would a banker say to that investment?
And just to really feel the pain, remem-
ber that those millions going to the
company are from your dollars donated
through the subsidies in the Green
Energy Plan. By the way, your dollars
are also going to pay for the leases paid
to host farmers. So the company 'gener-
ously' gives $115,000 of your money
back to you.
The most worrisome aspect to signing
this agreement is that it negates the
council's previous vote to be an Unwill-
ing Host Community. Council can't
really be unwilling and willing at the
same time. Council may not invite more
projects, but they won't say no if they
are offered. After all, if 15 turbines can
produce $115,000 per year, what kind of
revenue could another 200 turbines
produce?
Indeed, with the infrastructure in
place, with transmission lines running
north and south, a transformer station
in the middle of the municipality, a now
willing host council and a friendly
administration, more turbines con-
nected to the infrastructure are a very
real prospect. Does this municipality
really want that? And yet to be a Willing
Host Municipality in a sea of unwilling
communities sends the message "Open
for Industrialization':
It is true the Green Energy Act is an
unjust act. One that leaves a municipal-
ity without proper planning authority. It
is true that industrial wind projects gen-
erate few taxes. It can be appealing for
municipalities to see a bribery funds as
money in lieu of taxes but this is a slip-
pery slope. Better to appeal to the pro-
vincial government to change the laws,
better to use the cost recovery approach
to seek recompense for extra expenses.
Better to not sign a bribery agreement.
To do ethical business, why not?
Instead of signing such an agreement,
establish the expectation with the wind
company that they will be a responsible
corporate citizen, bearing the burden of
correcting errors to ensure a safe
project. No stipend should be needed.
As for the municipality, it can accept
their hands are tied by the regulations of
the GEA, that they must allow access to
roads and they can vote to accept the
road user agreement, with changes,
under duress or under protest.
As for the vibrancy fund agreement, it
needs to be shelved. Bad agreements do
not lead to good business, they lead to
exploitation.
Sincerely
Jeanne Melady
Seaforth Lions
Club looking for
Youth Exchange
Participants
Do you have a positive attitude, a
sense of adventure, a friendly disposi-
tion and a keen interest to learn? The
Lions Out -Going Youth Exchange pro-
gram is looking for youth aged 16 - 21
years wanting to travel abroad for a
month in the summer of 2014. Recent
area participants have traveled to Aus-
tralia, Finland and France. Financial
assistance is available. For more infor-
mation, e-mail seaforthlionsclub@
gmail.com.
Five bands and more than 60 floats
heralded Santa's arrival in Seaforth on
November 29. The calm winter weather
made for comfortable parade viewing.
Children gathered at the Legion after
the parade to share their Christmas
wishes with Santa Claus.
Two dinner meetings were enjoyed at
Main Street Kitchen in November. Zone
chair Lion Doug Fines from the
Goderich Lions Club visited the
November 11 meeting. He spoke about
the importance of encouraging women
to join Lionism. The Goderich Lions
Club recently purchased the former Girl
Guide Camp Klahanie and is working
on upgrades to make it a camp for boys
and girls in Huron and surrounding
counties.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013 • Huron Expositor 7
rChristmas Bureau donation
Whitney South Huron Exposito
Betty Small (left), treasurer of the Optimist Club of Seaforth and District, presents a donation cheque for
$500 to Christmas Bureau volunteer, Kim Chambers on Dec. 5.
The November 25 meeting
saw visiting District Governor
Lion Jim Prenger from the Kin-
cardine Lions Club induct three
new members; Bryan Vincent,
Lin Yeomans and Richard Yeo-
mans. We are thrilled to wel-
come them into our Lions
family.
A video presentation on the
Lions international theme of
"Dare to Dream and FollowYour
Dream" reminded Lions that
much can be accomplished for
the betterment of the world
when we put our minds and
efforts together.
Donations for the month of
November were as follows: $750
to the Huron County Christmas
Bureau, $100 to the Alzheimers
Society and $1000 to Camp Dor-
set dialysis camp for kidney
patients.
Health unit merger idea moving forward
Paul Cluff
Goderich Signal Star
County council's board of
health chairman Joe Steffler
said he is moving forward
with the idea of merging the
health units in Huron and
Perth.
"I chatted with the chair of
the board of health in Perth
and we both agreed it is
something we should be
looking at," the Huron East
councilor said at the Nov. 27
county council meeting.
Steffler said the boards of
health must first come to an
agreement before any fur-
ther progress can be made.
Steffler said both county gov-
ernments have agreed to dis-
cuss the idea. County coun-
cil has discussed sending a
letter to their upper tier col-
leagues in Perth, which may
now happen.
Said Steffler: "there have
been issues in the past
month that have put the idea
on the backburner. Now we
lcnowwhere we are going, we
have an acting Medical
Officer of Health (Dr. Nancy
Cameron was dismissed
from that role by the board of
health recently), now we can
send off the letter:'
Steffler said school boards
and children's aid societies
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there is no reason why health units "Everyone has to agree. We will be
can't do the same. friends all the way through this."
It won't be a hostile takeover, he
INDIAN RIVER DIRECT
CITRUS TRUCKLOAD SALE
SEAT011111
FRI., DEC. 13th - 12:45 PM - 2:30 PM
Seaforth Agricultural Society
20 LB. BOX OF FLORIDA $28.00
Seedless Navel Oranges
or Ruby Red Grapefruit PER BOX,)