Council Highlights
September 26, 2017

Mono Hiking Challenge Draw

The winners of the fifth Mono Hiking Challenge draw are:

Matthew Kelling

A 1 year membership to the Bruce Trail Conservancy courtesy of the Dufferin Hi-Land Bruce Trail Club.

Tammy Edgerton & Stephen Gill

Each won a pair of passes for 18 holes of golf at Dufferin Glen Golf Club.

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Dufferin Federation of Agriculture

Bill McCutcheon & Gord Grant of the Dufferin Federation of Agriculture gave a presentation to Council on behalf of the over 500 farmers they represent. They detailed the economic impact farming has within Dufferin. In 2013 Dufferin farmers generated over $115 million in farm revenues which had an estimated total economic impact of $259 million. Province wide, farming accounts for over 12% of rural Ontario GDP.

Mr. McCutcheon also spoke to the affect the weather had on this year’s crops noting that not only are yields down but that weather can be a factor in plant nutrition during harvest.

• Fast Ag Facts for Dufferin and beyond

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Proposed Capital Projects

The budget process started with department heads presenting the capital projects that they recommend be funded in the 2018 municipal budget. Roads accounted for the majority of projects at $4.8 million. Director of Public Works Michael Dunmore pointed out that not all work would be done in 2018. Monies for projects and evaluations scheduled for other years would be transferred to reserves.

Council will take these recommendations into account throughout the budget process

• 2018 Public Works Capital Projects
• 2018 Administration Capital Projects

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OMB Notice of Appeal

The Town received notice from the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) that an appeal was filed. As reported in the July 25, 2017 issue of Council Highlights, Council denied Delia Teixeira & Jason Phillips application for a Zoning Bylaw Amendment that would have permitted a Class 2 dog kennel on their Mono-Adjala Townline property. The OMB has not yet set a date to hear the appeal.

• Notice of OMB Appeal

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Dufferin Northern Peel Angler’s & Hunters

The Dufferin Northern Peel Angler’s & Hunters Association has commenced importing top soil to their property at the north east corner of County Rd 16 & Blind Line. The association was given permission to import fill and top soil in 2013 in order to extend the berms around the firing and trap ranges as a means of reducing noise, including at the adjacent Cardinal Woods & Watermark subdivisions. Clean fill was imported in 2014 which will now be covered with top soil after which final landscaping will be done.

The soil has been analyzed and is considered Table 1 (the highest standard) by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.

• Dufferin Northern Peel Angler's & Hunter re: Soil Analysis

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Sewage Bypass Reporting Act, 2017

Council directed staff to draft a letter expressing Council's support of MPP Sylvia Jones' private member bill that, if enacted, would require the provincial government to publicly report all instances of sewage bypasses.

Sewage bypasses occur when the flow exceeds the capacity of a wastewater treatment plant, causing untreated or partially treated sewage to be released into streams, rivers and lakes. Heavy rains can contribute to this situation.

Currently, municipalities are obliged to report instances of sewage bypasses to the Regional Offices of the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change as soon as they occur; however that information is not readily available to the public. This Bill proposes an extra step to the current system, which would allow residents to know when partially treated sewage is released into local waterways.

More information on this Bill is available at Ms. Jones’ website.

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