Lakeshore Advance, 2013-01-23, Page 9Wednesday, January 23, 2013 • Lakeshore Advance 9
Bluewater lends support to solar projects Harbour depth investigated
WI Agency
Bluewater councillors had to
(10 a little' backtracking but even-
tually approved five solar energy
projects for the municipality at
their January 7 council meeting.
The request for approval from
the host municipality is now part
of the
Provincial approval process
that awards contracts on a point
system which gives an applicant
two points for successfully get-
ting approval from the host
municipality.
C uncil had asked its Manager
tective Services to look into
th . ask presented to fire fighters
in fighting a fire in a building that
had solar panels on its roof. Dave
Johnston reported they had
reached a memorandum of
understanding with the solar
energy applicants and they
would notify fire fighters if a
building had solar panels on the
roof and train thein in dealing
with a fire in a building that had
solar panels on the roof.
Johnston also stated that the
risk of rescuing someone from an
electric car was just as great as
dealing with a building with solar
panels on the roof because of the
current that could be running
through the car.
Council first heard the presen-
tation from Certified Solar Inc.
regarding their proposed project
on the roof of a building at I1.
Gcrrits Farms Inc. located at
76905 London Road in Bluewa-
ter. The motion to approve their
project was subsequently lost on
a tie vote. Councillor George
Irvin then suggested that in the
interests of saving time council
should vote on the remaining
four applications in one
block. Councillor John Gillespie's
motion to that affect was
o
p• sed. But Chief Administrative
ser, Steve McAauley, pointed
U. that since all of the applicants
had been invited to council to
make a presentation, in the inter-
ests of fairness, they should be
given the opportunity to do that
A representative of Solarize
Energy then presented their pro-
posal for mounted solar panels
on the roof of a building belong-
ing to Gerrit Soer located at
71460 Bluewater highway in
Bluewater.
KW Power Logic followed, pre-
senting their proposal for a
project on the roof of a building
belonging to the I Iensall Co-op
in Hensall.
German Solar Corporation's
representative then made their
presentation for a project on the
roof of a building belonging to
Huron Tractor in Exeter and
Ontario Solar Provider presented
their proposal for a project on
the roof of a building owned by
l':iler's Fartnls Inc. located at
734111Blind line in Bluewater.
Following those presentations
councillor John Gillespie said he
felt because the proposed appli-
cations were on non-residential
buildings the risk to residents
was minimized and he was satis-
fied the safety issues had been
addressed and he would support
all of the applications. Council-
lor -at -large 'l'yler 1 lessel stated
that he was opposed to all of the
applications because solar
energy was subsidized to the
extent that it served to drive up
the cost of energy for everyone
and some people were already
struggling to pay their hydro
hills. 1 le was opposed to any-
thing that pushed thele even
higher.
Councillor Gillespie then
made a 111011011 to approve the
four applications and that passed
by a 6 to 4 margin. 'thew was fur-
ther discussion abort how coun-
cil could reverse the first motion
that was lost to a tie vote, point-
ing out that if they approved the
other four they would have to
approve that one as well. It was
determined that they could
rescind that vote if two-thirds of
councillors were in favour and a
motion to that affect was passed
unanimously. Council then
voted on and approved the first
project. It was also pointed out
that approval from council does
not guarantee any of the projects
will go ahead. It just gives them
two points in the approval
process.
DEVELOPMENT CHARGES
'Ihe municipality of Bluewater
is looking into the possibility of
implementing development
charges this year.
Development fees would be
something new for Bluewater,
said CAO Steve McAuley.
"I don't think, since amalga-
mation, they've had it for sure,"
he said.
There is some growth occur-
ring in Bluewater and council
wants to prepare for the future,
so councillors have asked that a
bylaw outlining development
charges be prepared as part of
this year's budget process.
McAuley also pointed out that
while development is a positive
thing for the municipality it does
create additional costs.
"If we require, for instance,
additional equipment because
we've grown and we need more,
then the development should
pay for that additional equip-
ment and not the existing tax-
payers," he said.
McAuley added he has no
idea, at this point, how much the
development charges will be.
"What has to happen is we
have to sit down and look at a
detailed background studies
report and the numbers will
conte out of that because the
development charges are based
on real projects. It's not just what
we think it should be."
The municipality will have to
actually identity growth needs
and then put dollar figures to
them.'lhen there's it calculation
under the Development Charge's
Act that leads to a final number.
LANDSCAPING AT UNARY
Bluewater councillors
approved a plan for landscaping
around the new Bayfield library
at their Ianuat•y 7 council meet-
ing. 'elle (:hair of the Friends of
the
Hayfield Library presented a
proposal that has been worked
out with her group as well as
people from the I [aeon Master
Gardent'rs,'lhe Hayfield Garden
Club, The Hayfield historical
Society and the Hayfield 'Tree
Committee. Roma 1 lams also
pointed out all they valued from
council \VaS permission to pro-
ceed with their plan and 1 tams
made it clear they %very not look-
ing for any financial support.
'there isn't a lot of green space
left on the lot tllitt includes the
library, lost Office and public
lvashrooms but the groups would
like to create a small reading gar
den behind the library that
would Allow people to sit funder
some shard' ti'er's and read or use
their computers and the VVill
that is available there. Harris
said a number of fairly large trees
had to be removed for the con-
struction of the new library so
they would like to get some new
trees planted as soon as
possible.
The volunteer clubs will he
able to look after most of mainte-
nance of the plants and trees and
she added, "The point of the
design is to have as 10w mainte-
nance as possible and a really
green site so that the plants we
put in are fairly drought toler-
ant:' !lards said she hopes the
municipality will continue to
water their plants in the summer
when they water the planters that
are o11 Mails Street.
The project will take a year or
two to complete, but they'd like
to get started this spring so they
can have a seating area in place
for this summer.
Harris says the Hayfield Cham-
ber of Commerce has also volun-
teered to plant some large trees
011 the boulevard in front of the
library and she says that will he
done as 5(()11 as Bluewater coun-
cil approves a drainage project
for the Main Street. Council
approved their request.
CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 2
Throughout the 2012 boating sea-
son numerous complaints were
received from users of both harbours
regarding issues with the depth of the
respective harbour channels. 'Ihe most
common complaint was related to the
depth of the channel ut the mouth of
each harbour after storm events and
heavy wave action (at the pier in
Grand Bend, and at the river mouth in
Port Franks). 'These complaints result
from an expectation that the channel
should be maintained immediately
after these events, however this is an
expectation that cannot be met.
There will always be a lag time after
an event to allow wave heights to sub-
side to the point where it is safe for Mitol
Works to operate. This causes frustra-
tion for boaters as the weather may be
sunny and warns, but conditions are
not suitable for prop washing, Overall
Mitol Works has fulfilled the obligations
of their contract, and has been readily
available and willing to complete extra
dredging work on an as requested basis
as conditions permit. In 2012 the con-
tractor funded additional work to com-
plete soundings of the Ausable River at
no cost to the municipality.
'Ihe other main complaint that was
received during the 2012 season relates
to the fact thut the municipality is no
longer using the. Northside to maintain
the Port Franks harbour. Ir12012 the
Northside was removed from service
until mild -lune for its four -year main-
tenance and certification. 'Ihe North-
side drafts 5 feet, and when it was
returned to the water the river depth
was below 5 feet, which caused the
vessel to he inoperable. At the end of
the 2012 boating season water levels in
the river were close to 3 feet, and they
are forecasted to remain low for 2013
(discussed below). As a result, the
Northside will not be able to navigate
the channel until water levels rise.
Maguire said he likes the idea of a
local benefit charge, (boaters pay for
launching and fuel and this will be
added charge) even for the day-trip-
pers as they also benefit.
Council voted to support the rec-
ommendation to expand on the cur-
rent contract with Mitio Works by $
60,000. Charlie Miller has purchased
the IMS Dredge unit and they are wait-
ing for approval from Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority and the
Departtnent of Fisheries for approval
of this method. 'Ihe motion of support
now moves forward to the 2013 Budget
sessions for final approval with a top
priority for the January 31st meeting.
'there will be another report on how
council will find the additional
sources of funding to cover the
increase costs to the Harbours Busi-
ness llnit, Staff will be looking at sev-
eral ways to cover the extra costs asso-
ciated with this option and providing
council with recommendations. Some
of the ideas that will probably he put
forward are a general hnprovement
levy per slip in the harbours, possibil-
ity of collecting dredging donations
and issuing tax receipts and/or an
increase on the general tax levy.
Council is also looking into the possi-
bility of forming a I iarbour Commit-
tee to assist with long terns planning
and development of a harbour main-
tenance strategy.
HAY MUTOAL
Inisurcvuz
COMPANY
i(1.1('F. OF ANNUM. MEETING
Notice is heiehy in% en that the Annual Meeting of the PolieyholdeIs of Hay Mutual
Insurance (company will be held at 11uy Mutual Insurance company, 17868 Zurich-
1Iens;►I1 Road, /oriel), t►ntario on 1 hursday, the 71h day of Murch, ?111 1 at 2:00 p.m., tin
the following purposes
1. fu recrnr and consider the annual statements for the year ending December 11, 2012;
2. to o►p8Jontt All Auditor lar 2011;
1. Fo elect three 1)jtetInrs liar a three yea! term. 1)ircelurs whose terms expire are John
Dowson, Varna, Robot I'ettschy, Crediton and John Van! ro, Clinton all 01' whom ate
eligible for re-election, Any pethon w !slung to seek election or re-election a►s n Director
nrusl file then intention to stand for electron in writing with the President of the
(.'otpolalion at (cast thirty days pito! to the Annual Meeting;
4. To ratify and confirm all resolutions, contacts, acts and proceedings of the Ilourd of
1)ireetors of the Company enacted, node, done or taken since the lust Annual Meeting of
the members;
5. Io nonsidei and if thought lit, confiner with or without such variation and amendments
as may he made in the meeting, amendment to hy•laws passed by the Directors on
1 ebruury 6th, 21)1 1. A copy of the proposed amendments to the by -lows cern be requested
by m►y Policyholder of the ('orlonItinn from the !lend ( )Mice during regular office hours
firm 8:10 a 111. to 4:10 p.m. Monday to friday
Dated the 16118 day of January 201 1
Ily the order of the Board
John 1kiss son, Chairman
Shawn 1)un►in, president