Council to debate its willingness to host wind turbines

Councillor Thom Paterson signalled another move in the local maneouvering against wind turbines Monday night, giving Council notice that he intends to bring a motion forward that would have Clearview Township declare itself an unwilling host for industrial wind farms.

Being just a notice of motion at this point, Paterson’s announcement occurred without any discussion Monday night, but he later explained to the Echo that the move was inspired by new Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s Throne Speech, which stated that “our economy can benefit from [things such as wind farms], but only if we have willing hosts.”

“If adopted,” Paterson told the Echo in an email, “this motion will express our appreciation to Premier Wynne for listening to rural municipalities such as Clearview who have voiced consistent and sustained concerns with current policies related specifically to Industrial Wind Turbine project application and approvals.”

It will also, he said, request such things as greater municipal planning authority over wind applications and greater separation from residences and infrastructure such as airports, and reiterate Clearview’s support for a moratorium on all wind approvals until the completion of an ongoing Health Canada study on the effects of living in close proximity to wind turbines.

“Based on the consistent position of the Township of Clearview as well as the input received from the community regarding Industrial Wind Turbines,” Paterson said, his motion will conclude that Clearview is an unwilling host for wind projects.

With Paterson planning to be absent from the next Council meeting on Monday, May 27, he told his colleagues that he will table the motion for debate on Monday, June 10.

In several different resolutions, Clearview has previously voiced its concerns about the Green Energy Act’s lack of municipal authority, called for a moratorium on approvals until the results of the Health Canada study are known, and contemplated a series of policy changes that would seriously hinder the ability of wind developers to build within the municipality.

2013 Budget Gets Official Nod

Council officially adopted its 2013 budget Monday night and passed a bylaw to set this year’s tax rate.

With some minor amendments since the final budget workshop, including the insertion of the Stayner PARC grant and the renovations to the community halls, the increase to residents’ 2013 tax bill now stands at 2 per cent overall. That increase incorporates a 0.14 per cent increase in OPP costs, a 0.64 per cent decrease in the Simcoe County levy, a 4.07 per cent decrease in the Education levy and a 7.44 per cent increase in Clearview Township’s portion.

With the average home in Clearview valued at $250,750, the overall tax bill on that residence will increase from $2,743 in 2012 to $2,800 in 2013. Clearview Township will collect $1,186 of that total for itself this year, compared to $1,104 last year.

Councillor Thom Paterson was the only member of Council to vote against the budget, citing his continued disappointment that the budget process does not include a more comprehensive departmental review, as well as a multi-year outlook.

“I also think there is a disregard for the weakness in the local economy, as well as the stalled housing market,” said Paterson. “For those reasons, I cannot support a budget that includes a 7.44 per cent increase in Clearview Township spending.”

Crossing Guard Review

Responding to previous direction from Council, Township Senior Bylaw Officer Phil Snape brought a new Crossing Guard Policy to Council Monday night, and will now proceed to evaluate the Township’s four existing guided crossings and five potential new ones to see where crossing guards are most warranted.

Clearview Township currently operates four school crossings, in Creemore at the intersection of Mill and Caroline Streets, and in Stayner at the intersection of William and Oak Streets, the intersection of Highway 26 and North Street, and on Locke Avenue.

Council has identified five potential new sites: two in Creemore, at Collingwood and Johnston Streets and at County Road 9 and Jardine Crescent; one in New Lowell at County Road 9 and Lamers Road; one in Nottawa at County Road 124 and Batteaux Road; and one in Stayner at County Road 42 and William Street.

According to the new policy, a crossing guard is warranted if there are less than four safe gaps in traffic in 50 per cent of several five-minute timed intervals on a road having a posted speed limit of not more than 60 kilometres per hour, and the number of students crossing the road meets or exceeds 10 elementary school children. If there are slightly more than four safe gaps but student-vehicle conflict has been observed, an intersection can also qualify.

Once Snape is finished evaluating the nine crossing sites, Council will have the final say on where crossing guards are assigned. Currently, the Creemore crossing pays one hour a day and is usually difficult to fill when someone leaves. The Stayner crossings pay two hours a day and are easier to fill. The Township currently employs four permanent and three spare crossing guards.