Hillsburgh pond options to be presented next year

As published in The Erin Advocate

The first Public Information Centre in the Environment Assessment of the Station Street dam and bridge in Hillsburgh will not be held until early next year.

The Town of Erin must decide on rebuilding the bridge, which is now 98 years old, and was identified as in need of replacement as early as 1973. Pond preservation is also a major issue, both in Hillsburgh and Erin village, since the dams not longer meet provincial safety standards.

Just a few miles downstream on the West Credit River, there are similar issues as Credit Valley Conservation studies what to do with the popular dam and pond at the Belfountain Conservation Area. A Public Information Centre on their EA and Management Plan was held last week, with local residents concerned more about visitor flow than stream flow.

The Hillsburgh EA is a $190,000 project, with future work on the bridge, dam and road expected to cost well over $2 million, whether the pond is saved or not. Part of that would include installing infrastructure to service future housing west of the pond, with development fees possibly offsetting the cost.

The road was closed in 2011 due to a failing outlet pipe and emergency work was done in 2012 to make the road safe for traffic.

The start of the EA was announced in November 2014, and a full cycle of seasons was needed to study the plants and wildlife in the pond ecosystem. Triton Engineering is assembling a Background Information Statement, and will prepare an outline of possible options for the Public Information Centre.

The EA is actually the product of a series of studies on factors such as the cultural and heritage value of the pond. The Elora Cataract Trailway runs by it, but recreational usage is very limited since the pond and most of the adjacent land is privately held.

All of the options will be costly, but it will be interesting to see if there is any political support for innovative solutions that benefit fish and the river environment. Or will the Town be content to simply maintain safety and a scenic view?

Construction of a narrow channel to handle the main flow
of the West Credit River is one of several options in a study
of the pond and dam at Belfountain Conservation Area.    

There are some differences with the Belfountain situation, but both have sub-standard dams and sediment-filled ponds. The Belfountain study, available on the CVC website, could provide a preview of some of the issues to be debated here.

What will be the impact on local wells? Are we willing to alter the man-made pond ecosystems that have developed over the past 190 years? Is it better to leave the sediment, dredge it or let it wash downstream? Should we create more usable land by partially filling in ponds? Do we preserve ponds as valuable assets, or let the river gradually return to its natural state, including wetlands.

One of the most interesting options outlined in the Belfountain EA is construction of a by-pass channel that would handle most of the stream flow. The pond would be preserved with a new dam, but it would be “off-line” from the main river – the same concept as at Stanley Park, or the new channel around Wolf Lake at Terra Cotta Conservation Area.

Such a system would provide the colder water temperatures that fish need, and a route for them to swim past the dam. It won’t be the cheapest option, but it might satisfy some of the local concerns while improving the environment.

Catching a glimpse of steampunk horsepower

As published in The Erin Advocate
The title of the painted horse sculpture at McMillan Park, which has arrived during the Pan Am Games as part of the Headwaters Parade of Horses, has had a few people scratching their heads.

The words of “Future Past 2412” make sense enough. The work is in the steampunk mode, which uses imagery of old-fashioned steam powered mechanics and Victorian aesthetics to create a futuristic style of art, as well as science fiction, attire and lifestyle.

But what about the 2412? Could it be a secret code or an allusion to something that will happen 397 years from now? Or maybe an obscure numerological reference – 24 being the 12th even number, the number of ribs in the human body and the number of furlongs in one league.

Clicking around the world wide web got me nowhere, so I just emailed the artists, Eva Folks and Judy Sherman, and asked about the horse’s name.

“We decided we wanted to add something personal to his name,” said Folks. “Judy came up with the idea of using our birthdays. I’m July 24th and Judy is September 12th. So there is the 2412. Mystery solved.”

The idea of man-made mechanics as part of a living being is central to the steampunk genre. The fiberglass horse stands 15 hands tall and appears to be held together with leather straps, chains, rivets, nuts and bolts, and has an ornate steam gauge that recalls the industrial revolution. There are portals into its interior showing a fiery furnace, gears and a gentleman with his hand on a lever. He is formally dressed, with a Victorian mustache and round goggles that are a trademark of steampunk fashion. 

He reminds me of Captain Nemo, from the 1870 science fiction novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne. Nemo is a mysterious, vengeful scientist; a foe of imperialism; a connoisseur of art and technology; an anti-hero who roams the oceans in the battery-powered submarine Nautilus. He has been adopted by steampunk culture.

Folks said the man was nicknamed George Frankenstein IV by two young friends of the artists who saw the painting in progress. Strangely enough, Mary Shelley’s gothic Frankenstein character from 1818 is also a favourite of steampunkers because of its quest for identity and the experimental merging of mechanical and human elements.
Steampunk seems to have only a distant link to punk music – perhaps in a gritty, anti-establishment attitude. It is also linked to cyberpunk, which can be seen in stories and movies about technology and the future breakdown of social order.

The sculpture has been funded by the Town of Erin and by Chris Naraysingh of Rapid Rentals. For more about the 26 horses (including Rosie at Century Church Theatre in Hillsburgh) and artists, visit headwatershorsecountry.ca, in the Parade of Horses section under Happenings.

Bioswales and rain gardens reduce stormwater impact

As published in The Erin Advocate

Credit Valley Conservation is urging municipalities and landowners to use techniques that allow more rainwater to soak into the ground, instead of simply dumping it into the closest stream.

It’s part of a trend called Low Impact Development (LID) that sees the asphalt and concrete surfaces of urban areas as a threat, leading to excessive sediment and chemicals in waterways.

“We want to reconnect the natural hydrological cycling within our urban areas,” said Cassie Corrigan, a CVC Water Resource Specialist, at a workshop last fall.

Biorention planters and swales allow
more rainwater to soak into the ground.
Photo courtesy of CVC.

Some measures can be required by planning regulations, while others are optional. Not every municipality is forcing developers to incorporate LID features.

“If a developer isn’t forced to do it, they’re not going to do it,” said Corrigan.

LID practices do not just apply to new housing developments. They can be used when roads are reconstructed, when parks or commercial zones are improved and when buildings are retrofitted.

Grants are sometimes available to offset the added costs of LID and municipalities can offer incentives through their water rates to encourage property owners to make specific changes.

In practice, LID starts by dealing with some of the rain where it lands, installing permeable paving, directing residential downspouts away from driveways and sewers, harvesting rainwater for other uses (such as water gardens or flushing toilets) and installing vegetation-covered green roofs on suitable buildings.

The risk of flooding on streets and properties can be reduced with bioswales – the new name for shallow grassy ditches. Other strips of land engineered with good drainage and a variety of low-maintenance plants, shrubs and trees are called rain gardens or bioretention swales.

These slow the run-off and filter out pollutants from roads and parking areas. They improve stream habitat and ease the burden on municipal infrastructure, extending its life and reducing the investment needed to build and maintain the system.

The goal is to allow as much water as possible to infiltrate the ground or evaporate before it ends up in a storm sewer, with the benefit of adding attractive greenery to urban areas.

Even where underground servicing is needed, it may be possible to use perforated pipes that allow some of the water to return to the ground.

Flood control still requires the use of ponds, which can be either dry or partially filled between major storms.

These are not ideal, however, since the discharged water is warmer than normal and not completely filtered, and there can be a build-up of sediment. Vegetated wetlands can also be created, though these have the potential of increasing phosphorus in the discharge.

Former Town of Erin Water Superintendent Frank Smedley said in 2012 that LID would not be suitable for the planned Solmar subdivision north of Erin village, due to the high groundwater and low permeability of the soils in the area.

For case studies, guidelines and more information on Low Impact Development, go to www.bealeader.ca.

Gravel pit may become conservation area

As published in The Erin Advocate

A plan to donate 120 acres of land for a possible conservation area and sports park just north of Hillsburgh was presented to Erin Town Council by Strada Aggregates on October 7.

The firm will continue to extract gravel from its Hillsburgh Pit for the next three to five years, said Controller Grant Horan, but they are planning to rehabilitate the site on Eighth Line at 27 Sideroad and donate it to Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) and/or the Town of Erin.

Mayor Lou Maieron suggested that the firm make the donation, instead of possibly filling in the pond there, as a way to restore a natural area at the headwaters of the West Credit River, close to the Caledon Mountain Trout Club.

“We are the only municipality in the watershed without a conservation area,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity, a win-win-win for the environment, the Town and Strada.”

Horan said the mayor’s idea was “to establish a joint venture between the Town and the CVC that would offer the community a sports complex facility, including soccer fields and ball diamonds, as well as hiking trails and natural areas.”

In exchange, Strada Aggregates is seeking consent to develop four residential building lots on 27 Sideroad, away from the stream and prime natural land, as well as a tax receipt for the donation.

In a letter to Strada, CVC Manager of Land Planning & Management Eric Baldin welcomed the plan as a strong contribution to the community, saying CVC is always looking for beneficial uses for retired pits.

“This site provides a great opportunity to restore and enhance the natural heritage features and functions in this area,” he said. “CVC has technical expertise that could be helpful.”

The site would not necessarily become a conservation area. It is an opportunity for trails, a constructed wetland and retention of stormwater, as well as an attraction for tourists.

Maieron is suggesting that most of the land, including the pond and stream, become a conservation area, but that the Town get 40 acres of relatively flat land to develop for recreation.

Several years ago the Town purchased land near Barbour Field for future recreational use, but that land could be declared surplus and sold once the Strada lands are ready, he said and the proceeds of perhaps $300,000 used for another project, such as the sidewalk to Tim Hortons.

Strada had approval in 2006 to extract an estimated 1.6 million tonnes of aggregate below the water table. An estimated 450,000 tonnes were excavated in Phase 1, ending in 2008. A 30-acre expansion was planned, but after further study, and discussions with the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), the expansion was withdrawn. The MNR will now work with Strada on a revised rehabilitation plan, while extracting the remaining 750,000 tonnes of gravel.

“Strada is committed to a best restoration and management plan that will achieve a goal of maximizing biodiversity value while minimizing maintenance costs,” said Horan.

Tree planting, clean-up and hazardous waste

As published in The Erin Advocate

The first Saturday of May will once again be a busy one, with the annual Clean-Up Day, a Community Tree Planting and the Household Hazardous Waste drop-off happening at the same time.

Anyone interested in helping with the Clean-Up on May 3 should come to the lower parking lot of Centre 2000 anytime between 8:30 am and noon.

“Come on out and meet people,” said David Lyver, a member of the Town’s Environmental Advisory Committee who has been involved in the project for ten years. Groups or individuals can participate, and Lyver is looking for suggestions on which areas could be targeted for clean-up – email: david.lyver@gmail.com.

Participants can pick up clear garbage bags at Centre 2000, go to a clean-up area and work as long as they want, then leave the bags at the side of the road to be picked up. High school students can earn community service hours if they wish.

In the upper parking lot of Centre 2000, Wellington County staff will be set up to process loads of household hazardous waste, including many items not normally accepted at waste transfer stations, on May 3 from 8 am to 2 pm.

At no charge, residents can dispose of paints, cleaners, acids, adhesives, pesticides, garden chemicals, household and automotive batteries, fluorescent bulbs and tubes, mercury thermometers and thermostats, medications, automotive fluids, fire extinguishers, propane cylinders and medical sharps (properly packaged). More details are available at www.wellington.ca.

Also on May 3, starting at 9 am, the Erin Trails group, in cooperation with Credit Valley Conservation, invites community members to participate in a tree planting project.

It will take place in the Deer Pit, next to the Elora Cataract Trailway behind Centre 2000. Training will be provided, as well as some shovels, but people are encouraged to bring their own shovels. It is also suitable for community service hours.

Special pick-up planned for urban area branches

As published in The Erin Advocate

The Town of Erin is planning a special curbside collection of ice storm branches from private property in Erin village and Hillsburgh, starting on Monday, May 5.

A small portion of the clean-up was done immediately after the December 22 storm, to clear roads, remove safety hazards and help restore electrical service. Then once the snow melted in the second week of April, crews cleared brush from municipal road allowances in the urban areas – which included some branches moved by residents from private property.

Work is continuing to make sure all public property including parks, cemeteries, storm water management facilities, trails and walkways are cleared. Road Superintendent Larry Van Wyck told councillors on April 15 that work was also commencing “in the rural areas covering each and every road, clearing all brush on the municipal road allowance”.

The second pick-up is for urban residents only. They are asked to bring brush from their properties to the roadside by 7 am on May 5, though crews may not complete the work until May 7. There will be only one more trip down each street.

A Town press release (available at www.erin.ca) asks that brush be laid at the curb “in an organized fashion” for easier pick-up. Branches should be no longer than 5 feet in length and no thicker than 6 inches in diameter. Any bundled material should not weigh more than 60 pounds.

Mayor Lou Maieron said Wellington County would be doing one more pick-up along county roads including Main Street in Erin village and Trafalgar Road through Hillsburgh, but not providing an in-town drop-off location for branches as he had hoped.

The deadline for free disposal of brush at Wellington County waste facilities, including the closest Transfer Station in Belwood, has been extended until May 31.

At a January 13 meeting the Town asked the Ontario government to declare Erin a “disaster area”, seeking funding from the Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program. On April 10, the province sent the Town details about an additional one-time Ice Storm Assistance Program, and council has directed staff to apply for that additional funding.

Actual costs up to March 31 have been about $75,000, but the total price tag could run as high as $267,000, Van Wyck reported to council, reminding them that the province will decide whether to provide funding only after the work is done.

“An attempt is being made to limit outside expenses and complete as much of the work as possible with our additional temporary help and Town equipment to keep the cost of the cleanup as low as possible, in an attempt to limit the Town’s exposure should funding assistance not be received,” he said.

Reorganization pitched for Recreation

As published in The Erin Advocate

A plan to trim costs while providing better service in the Town of Erin Recreation Department was to be presented to councillors this week, as part of the 2014 budget.

CAO Kathryn Ironmonger had asked Facility Managers Graham Smith in Erin and John Cunningham in Hillsburgh to come up with ways to improve operations.

The proposal includes having Town staff take over grass-cutting and maintenance at parks and playgrounds, with twice a week garbage pickup that could include the street bins in both Hillsburgh and Erin.

There would be a penalty to cancel current contracted-out services, and a capital cost for a landscape trailer and lawn equipment. 

“We will utilize the staff we currently have and work on staff scheduling to lessen the financial impact of wages to take on the extra duties,” the report says. “Our main goal is to improve service and facility levels and decrease complaints.”

Other plans include improvements to soccer fields, ball diamonds and other grounds, beyond the normal day-to-day operations.

They will be cross-training staff to work in different areas as needed, including other Town departments, to cut overtime costs.

The first draft of the Recreation Budget being presented this week shows staff costs rising 4.2% to $714,000. But lower costs in other areas, especially for Supplies, Materials and Equipment, would mean operating expenditures totalling $1.5 million, a reduction of 1.92% from last year.

Recreation revenues are expected to drop by $75,000 (8.7%) to $789,000, which means net operating costs would rise by 6.8%. When combined with an increase in capital expenditures, the overall department budget would be up 9.8%.

Horse power could boost Erin economy

As published in The Erin Advocate

Town Council has given initial support to a report from the Equine Task Force, recognizing the horse industry as a major economic development engine for the local economy.

Councillors will decide in their upcoming budget deliberations whether to spend money to expand this existing strength, promoting the Town as the GTA’s Equine Playground, or the Gateway to Horse Country. 

The Task Force is recommending that $134,000 be spent this year on economic development coordination, marketing, communication and trail development, with possible 50% funding from the provincial Rural Economic Development program.

The plan is to increase capital investment and economic activity, which would boost municipal revenue from business taxes and fees. The goal is to reduce the burden that now falls to residential taxpayers from 89% to 86% within five years.

The volunteer-based project started with the former Economic Development Committee (not currently operating), as a Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) study of the Town’s agricultural sector. That was narrowed to the more manageable parameters of the equine sector. Council allocated $8,000 to the effort in the 2013 budget. 

The mandate of the Task Force was to create a list of local equine businesses and riders, develop and conduct a survey on the strengths and weakness of the local industry, and make recommendations to council to improve Erin’s economic outlook.

Ninety in-person interviews were conducted with a cross-section of business people and riders, on average 90 minutes in duration, which generated over 1,000 recommendations.

There is no official database of existing businesses in Erin, but the Task Force estimates there are almost 400 equine properties in the Town: about 143 equine businesses, 108 support services and 140 hobby farms.

Equine businesses provide about 750 local jobs (384 full-time), and generate an average of $72,000 in gross revenue each year, for a total of $18 million in Erin. Most equine locations operate two or three separate enterprises, and about half of operators earn 100% of their income from horse business.

Task Force Co-Chair Mary Venneman said, “We are not suggesting that equine be the only economic driver, but since there has been no economic development to date, we believe that this is a good place to start in creating a model on which future business for Erin can be analysed, measured, and moved forward through community consultation.”

She presented a petition of 200 names  to council in support of the following statement: “Because of the large number of horses and horse businesses that are located in Erin and contribute to the local economy, I believe the Town of Erin should have and Economic Development Strategy that recognizes and supports the horse industry.”

Councillor John Brennan, who was on the Task Force, said “it makes sense for Erin to capitalize on our natural assets, especially heading into the 2015 Pan Am Games where international equine competition will be held in neighbouring Caledon.”

Council passed a resolution on December 17: “Council recognizes that actively pursuing economic development is critical to ensuring a sustainable and equitable tax revenue base for the future. Council acknowledges that the equine industry is a major economic contributor in the Town of Erin, and Council adopts the equine industry as one of the first economic engines for the Town.”

A related private on-line enterprise called the Erin Equine Community Directory has been established by Janice Byer. It will offer listings and ads for related businesses, including feed, coaching, photography, apparel, supplies, construction and waste management.

“We can all benefit from a strong local network that connects expertise and resources,” said Task Force member Margaret Godson. Go to www.erinequinecommunity.com. or contact jbyer@equinewebdesign.ca for more information.

The report says, “We propose the idea of a trail hub to create Erin as the centre with trails radiating out to destination spots within a few hours ride such as event facilities and neighbouring communities (i.e., lnglewood, Cheltenham, Fergus, Elora) much like the spokes on a bicycle wheel. 

“Complementing the trail system would be a hitching post and trailer park centrally located so that riders can safely leave their horses and vehicles while they visit Erin. The fairgrounds would be an ideal location and offer a revenue stream for the Agricultural Society should they be willing to enter into a partnership.”

Task Force Co-Chair Brian Gentles said that council needs to think about a possible municipal fee for horse riders on local public trails, which would go towards the costs of maintaining the trails.

“They have to build themselves up as a positive, contributing neighbour to all these other people using the trails,” he said.

Mayor Lou Maieron said, “If we are going to maintain or expand our trail system, at some point we need to look at some money. If we have volunteers doing work, that’s tremendous, but there’s the capital cost of supplies.”

The Task Force envisions an investment of $500,000 in economic development over five years, with a payback in benefits over 6.6 years. They are hoping for a 10% increase in property values due to expansion and 200% due to new construction.

Horse properties are being lost closer to Toronto due to urbanization.

“Erin is appealing to riders not only for its proximity, but also for its natural setting, rural charm, established equine infrastructure and a strong equine community,” the report says.

“Equine is one of the few industries open to Erin that can generate economic  development without unduly changing the local landscape and character. The equine industry has the ability to generate more tax revenue – across all tax revenue classifications – than any other industry.”

Horse businesses include breeding, sales, training and conditioning. There is a competitive sector, with events, shows, racing and rodeos. There is riding instruction, with lessons, coaching and camps, plus boarding and trail rides.

Support services include clinics, judging, feed and hay, tack, clothing, facility maintenance and tourist accommodation such as bed and breakfast facilities.

New private infrastructure could include facilities for events, workshops, training and auctions.

The largest rider group is women in the 40-59 age range, with an average household income of $150,000. Most plan to continue riding for 20 years, with 75% riding at least once per week, and 20% every day.

Mill Pond Committee wants to save mill pond

As published in The Erin Advocate

The citizen committee studying the Hillsburgh mill pond issue has presented council with a recommendation to save the pond and repair the existing roadway and bridge at the Station Street dam.

The committee reviewed various pro and cons for each of several possibilities, and supported preservation of “existing aesthetics, social, recreational and tourism uses” as well as maintaining current heritage value, wildlife habitat and wetlands.

Preserving the pond would avoid changes to the water table, maintain flood control and respect the rights of area landowners while improving public safety, the committee said.

They acknowledged the plan would cost more than removing the dam and draining the pond, that warm pond water is not ideal for downstream habitat, that there is increased liability in owning a dam and that having the control structure on private property is a problem.

They recommended that the Town not buy the pond and control structure and not relocate the roadway to the Elora-Cataract Trailway. They also rejected the idea of doing nothing, since it would increase the chances of dam failure and violate a provincial order to find a solution.

They said the Town should seek legal advice on issues they had discussed in closed session regarding landowner water rights.

Mayor Lou Maieron suggested that the committee do further study of the issues, but council received the recommendations without asking for more work by the committee. Council will debate the issues once again when they attempt to make a decision on the issue.

Transition Erin promotes healthy urban design

As published in The Erin Advocate

The organized response of Erin residents to the Solmar subdivision proposal is part of a world-wide movement to design the urban environment with features that enhance human health.

The Transition Erin group started meeting earlier this year, but kicked into high gear after learning that Solmar Development Corp. was about to submit its application to transform 300 acres in the north end of the village.

The plan for commercial, industrial and recreational development, along with 1,240 homes over 30 years, needs intense scrutiny, and Solmar is eager to engage not only with Town staff and councillors, but the general public.

Community groups, whether for or against development, are not constrained by planning procedures, and can hold public meetings and have extensive input well in advance of the formal process with town council.

Transition Erin is clearly in favour of new development, including a sewer system, to help expand the industrial and commercial tax base, and improve the housing mix. In last week's Advocate, the group was critical of the development proposal for its initial lack of detail, and insufficiency of desirable features. Solmar's plan is being judged against a set of 11 principles (outlined below) that would allow Erin residents to "achieve their highest level of health".

In September, Transition Erin held a meeting with a presentation by Paul Young, of Public Space Workshop, to learn how citizens can engage in planning discussions and shape their community by influencing developers and politicians.

"You need to build a constituency of support and a coordinated response," said Young, stressing that healthy, inclusive, sustainable communities have sufficient density to provide local jobs, recreation and shopping.

They provide a range of housing types, and have a good trails network for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users. They are more economical to build and service, and help preserve farmland. Older neighbourhoods tend to be more walkable and livable than many new subdivisions.

"Our built communities are having an impact on all sorts of health-related issues," he said, noting that lack of physical activity is leading to more obesity and diabetes. "We're stuck in the car, we're getting heavier and less physically active, and chronic disease is going up."

Based on a concept of sustainability called permaculture, the Transition Town movement encourages communities to build up their resilience, in response to expected shortages and price increases for oil, extreme conditions due to climate change and the uncertainties of an unstable economy.

Rob Hopkins, a permaculture pioneer and a driving force in the Transition Town movement in England, wrote in 2009: "By shifting our mindset, we can actually recognize the coming post-cheap oil era as an opportunity rather than a threat, and design the future low-carbon age to be thriving, resilient and abundant – somewhere much better to live than our current alienated consumer culture, based on greed, war and the myth of perpetual growth."

Awareness of sustainable living principles is expected to lead to more walking and cycling, less use of fossil fuel energy and more reliance on local farms and gardens instead of long-distance food chains. "Green" community design has become fashionable.

As of 2010, there were more than 400 official Transition Town projects in the UK, Ireland, Canada, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Italy and Chile. You can get more information about the new Erin group at http://aanimad.com/transition/greendevelopment. Contact them by email at TransitionErin@Aanimad.com. Check out the Guelph group at www.transitionguelph.org.

Transition Erin's first principle in evaluating the Solmar subdivision is that Erin must retain its rural charm and scenic environment. Existing natural features and mature trees should be preserved, and the architecture should reflect the local heritage.

A strong sense of community would be promoted through connected gathering places such as parks. They want it to be attractive, with street views of house fronts, gardens and open spaces, not high fences and garages.

It would be designed for minimum impact on the environment, through good water management, energy efficiency, resilience to extreme weather, and accommodation for use of local renewable energy sources.

There would be housing suitable for young families and seniors, and local jobs to reduce the need for long commutes. There would be convenience stores and other small retailers within walking distance of most homes. Public facilities would be easily accessible, and cycling would be promoted with bike shelters and racks. There should even be provision for possible future bus stops and shelters.

Safety would be promoted with adequate night lighting and clear sight lines around parks, public buildings and along various pathways. Connection with older parts of Erin village would be promoted with trails and walkways that link to existing routes.

With so many significant wetlands and valuable environmental features in and near the village, "the new development should do its utmost to preserve and protect the natural systems."

Five year capital budget makes sense for Town

As published in The Erin Advocate

It is surprising that Erin Town Council has not yet adopted a process of looking five years ahead in allocating money for roads, bridges, buildings, water infrastructure, recreation facilities and major equipment.

They should heed the advice of their new Chief Administrative Officer Frank Miele (and Treasurer Sharon Marshall) and set a five year capital budget, moving the Town into a modern model of financial management.

"Five year plans are a mainstream in municipal government today," said Miele, at last week's council-staff working meeting – probably the last such gathering, since he has a new meeting process in mind as well.

"To some degree they are requested by the provincial government, whenever there are infrastructure projects. So I strongly recommend to council that we work towards approving not necessarily the actual amounts, but approving the concept of a five year capital budget process.

"I think it's a good opportunity for council to understand where we want to be heading. It provides a guide as to where most of our financial resources will be allocated."

Treasurer Sharon Marshall presented a five year plan to council last year, but only the 2012 section was approved.

"We've asked for some commitments in the future, to make a sustainable path," she said.

Of course, there has been forecasting for capital needs, with money being set aside in reserves for major expenditures. But for department heads, any project not approved in one year would have to be pitched again in the next year, and sometimes for many years.

There's a big difference between a project sitting on a wish list and a project that has been evaluated, debated and scheduled to be done in a certain year. Politicians will still have the option of moving things around in case of emergencies, but there will be less chance that essential work will be allowed to fall by the wayside.

Presentation of the first draft of the 2013-2018 Capital Budget last week effectively launched the 2013 budget process. Here are some highlights of what departments may purchase in the next few years.

General Government: $20,000 every year for hardware and software and $25,000 for a new roof on the municipal offices in 2015.

Fire and Emergency Services: In 2013, finishing the Hillsburgh firehall for $150,000, a firehall generator at $50,000 and replacement of a 1986 pumper truck at $235,000. In every year there would be vehicle replacement costs from $200,000 to $320,000.

Roads: In 2013, $136,000, the first of five equal installments for a bridge on Winston Churchill, $375,000 to replace a Cedar Valley culvert, $175,000 to reconstruct part of 17 Sideroad (more to be done each year), $59,000 to resurface part of 1st Line and $318,000 as the first installment in a three year plan to pulverize and resurface 2nd Line.

Bridge replacements include Station Road for $2.6 million in 2014, on 4th Line for $664,000 in 2015, on 8th Line (at 17 Sideroad) for $860,000 in 2016, and on 2nd Line for $532,000 in 2017. In 2013, two graders to be replaced at $300,000 each. In 2017, a new salt shed at $316,000.

Water: In 2013, the Hillsburgh pumping station is expected to cost $760,000, while repairs, upgrades and re-coating of the water tower (interior and exterior) will cost $280,000. Well house replacement and improvements in 2014 are set at $450,000.

Environment and Planning: a possible $100,000 per year for the next three years related to the Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP), and in 2014, a $50,000 Traffic Pattern Study.

Hillsburgh Community Centre: Replacing the second half of the hockey boards for $75,000 in 2013, a new score clock for $12,000 in 2014, refrigeration upgrades for $115,000 in 2015, a new ice resurfacer for $90,000 in 2016, and structural upgrades for $89,500 in 2017.

Erin Community Centre: Heating, ventilation and air conditioning upgrades are planned at $30,000 for each of 2014 and 2015, plus $90,000 for new arena lobby flooring in 2015. The tennis courts may need resurfacing at $40,000 and repaving the Centre 2000 parking lot could cost $75,000, both in 2014.  A publicly accessible playground could cost $100,000 in 2017.

Hillsburgh Parks: Night lighting on an additional soccer field – $80,000 in 2013, paving the driveway and parking lot – $75,000 in 2016, and ball diamond night lighting – $80,000 in 2017.

Skatepark noise angers residents

As published in The Erin Advocate

Loud noise from the newly-installed skateboard ramps near Centre 2000 has sparked a protest to Town council from nearby residents.

Several residents attended last Wednesday's council meeting, saying the noise level is severe on Daniel and Pine Streets, and that activity at the park was going on too late in the evening. OPP officers were on the scene several times to disperse skateboarders and BMX bike riders.

"I feel like my home has been stolen – I can't sleep in my own home," said one resident. "My property has been devalued."

"It is a nightmare," said another. "We need to educate the kids, and the kids' parents."

Council immediately authorized the spending of $21,600 from the skateboard park budget to have sound dampening equipment installed as soon as possible, and instructed staff to investigate options for a constructed or tree-based sound barrier.

Council also voted to limit park use to the hours of 9 am to 9 pm, which will require a change to signs that have been made, but not installed yet.

The sound dampening will include rubberizing the bottoms of the ramps ($5,400) and attaching walls to enclose the open area under the ramps ($16,200). Unlike in some skatepark parks, the Erin ramps are moveable structures sitting atop a flat concrete pad. Concrete ramps would have cost about $150,000 more, which was not considered feasible.

The pad and ramps were recently installed just west of the arena (less than 10 metres from the closest back yards), after many years of community fundraising and council debate, and with the help of a $60,000 Ontario Trillium Grant. The skateboard budget is $160,000, with only about $121,000 spent so far.

The ramps were ready earlier than expected, on the weekend of August 11, and kids were able to use them immediately, even though other elements of the park were not ready.

"It's a huge novelty now," said Centre 2000 Manager Graham Smith. "Right now it's out of control, but there won't be so many kids normally."

Two security cameras are installed in the area and monitored from the arena office, and two more will be installed soon. Smith said arena security lights should remain on in the area, to deter vandalism.

Council asked that signage and a planned 10-foot fence around the pad be installed as soon as possible. Some residents said that the park should not have been open for use until all construction was complete.

"We are reacting as quickly as possible to an unanticipated problem," said Mayor Lou Maieron.

The Town's 2005 Noise Bylaw says: "The people have a right to and should be ensured an environment free from unusual, unnecessary or excessive sound or noise which may degrade the quality and tranquility of their life or cause nuisance."

However, the noise bylaw does not apply to activities that are specifically exempt, including: "Sporting, recreational and entertainment events in public parks, buildings or grounds authorized by the municipality."

Solmar would pay for initial sewage plant

As published in The Erin Advocate

Solmar is pressing ahead with plans for more than 600 new homes in the north end of Erin village, inviting public comments and promising to pay for the initial phase of a sewage treatment plant.

"We've been very patient," said Maurizio Rogato, a planner with Solmar Development Corp., who hosted a public meeting last week at the Legion hall. "Your input is actually important."

It was an informal session to explain the initial concept and allow residents to ask questions – not part of the legal planning process. New housing has been on hold for the past five years while Erin has studied growth and sewage issues with its Servicing and Settlement Master Plan (SSMP).

Solmar plans to file its development application with the Town of Erin very soon, for the 300 acres they own between Dundas Street and County Road 124, from the Deer Pit to the wooded area east of the 10th Line. They are planning a mix of commercial, employment (industrial) and residential development.

The exact number of homes has not been determined, but Rogato expects it to be "upwards of 600". That would mean a significant increase in the population of Erin village, which now has about 3,000 people. County projections show growth to about 4,400 by the year 2031, but it could be higher.

"There is a need for jobs, and a need for housing for young people and seniors," he said.



(Maurizio Rogato of Solmar explains plans at public meeting.)

The area will be developed in stages, with a mix of densities to include detached homes, semi-detached and townhomes, said Rogato, but not likely any high-rise apartment buildings. Some housing is designated as "affordable," including a section for seniors.

The County guideline is six homes per acre, but that is a county-wide average, so a lower number could be negotiated for Erin.

"It will be denser than you're used to," said Rogato. "There are density regulations that we have to abide by – it's not our choice."

No subdivisions can be built until the SSMP is complete, possibly next winter. Solmar is starting its application now, to run concurrent with the SSMP, since the initial phase of the planning process is expected to take two years.

A sales program could then start. But provincial policy requires sewers for new housing developments, and there is a need to find an alternative to aging septic systems and holding tanks for existing buildings, so it could be several years before anything actually happens.

"Instead of only providing servicing capabilities for our lands, we would build a modular facility," he said. "The Town could decide – we don't want municipal services here. But should the Town decide one day to have those, it could be accommodated through the modular facility...There will be enormous setback requirements. It won't be in the middle of someone's neighbourhood."

No plans have yet been made for the waste facility, but Rogato's "guess" is that Solmar would spend about $3 million on it, including service for the non-residential area. It has not been decided whether it will be on the developer's land, or further downstream in the village. CVC will have to determine whether the West Credit River can handle the discharge, and approve a preferable location.

"Modular" means that a small plant could be built to handle sewage primarily from the new development, plus some capacity for other village properties in urgent need of sewage service. There would also be treatment for local septage – the waste pumped out of septic tanks, and the holding tanks behind downtown businesses. The septage component would be at the Town's expense, said Rogato.

The Town would likely assume ownership and responsibility for the plant, just as it does with other infrastructure such as roads.

The plant could later be expanded by the Town to handle more waste, as a sewage system is phased in throughout the urban areas. The cost of a full plant is not known, but informal estimates put it at more than $50 million.

Actual work on sewers has to wait not only for the SSMP, but for an additional environmental assessment on the treatment plant itself. Even then it could take decades to hook up most of the urban areas, since some homes have septic systems that are relatively new.

"We will never get the whole town on sewers," said County Councillor Ken Chapman.

The Solmar land had been owned by Duncan Armstrong, Reeve of Erin Township from 1987 to 1994. Just before the development restrictions of the Green Belt legislation were to take effect in 2005, Town Council added the land to the Erin village urban area, opening it up for future growth. It was owned by Mattamy Homes, and then by Solmar.

"These lands are slated for development," said Rogato. "The conversation isn't so much 'when' or 'if' the lands develop. The more important conversation is 'how'. What is the outcome, what is the desired community input?"

Some at the meeting were not happy with the prospect of significant growth, with one audience member saying to Rogato, "It doesn't matter what we say, you are going to go ahead with this and make it work."

Rogato said that while Solmar is pressing ahead, it hopes to do so in a "cooperative" manner and that the entire development is likely to produce a financial gain for the municipality. People are welcome to contact the company for information or to make comments by email: info@solmar.ca. Solmar is a Canadian company based in Concord, which has developed residential, commercial and industrial projects over the last 25 years.

"For me, the most important part of the plan is the employment lands, because that's going to be sustainable, that's a long-term approach for Erin," said Rogato, noting that the Town's help will be needed to attract business to these lands. "That's a tax base that the Town can count on, that's jobs that the public can count on. And the only way you are going to get good employment lands to function well is to have them properly serviced."

Of the 300 acres owned by Solmar, only 125 acres would be residential. The plan also includes 40 acres of employment (industrial) land, 12 of commercial development along County Road 124, 40 of wooded greenspace with trails, 15 of parks, 15 for a school site and three for a place of worship.

Another 14 acres is marked as a Stormwater Management Pond. This is located next to the public land of the Deer Pit, which was recently regraded to enable stormwater drainage. The water travels through a pipe under the Elora-Cataract Trailway, just south of the Solmar land, down the 10th Line and into a tributary of the West Credit River.

The homes will have at least R2000 energy efficiency, but Rogato is not sure it will be feasible to build them to the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standard. LEED is an international building certification program, focusing on sustainable site development, water and energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environment quality.

"We're interested in affordable solutions," he said. "But we are committed to some form of environmental development."

Eden Mills really is going carbon neutral

As published in The Erin Advocate

In the global effort to reduce carbon emissions, it is important to look for ways to take action locally. Perhaps Erin could borrow a few ideas from Eden Mills, a village of 163 homes on the Eramosa River near Rockwood, where they have made much progress in making their community carbon neutral.

It started with the Millpond Conservation Association, which for more than 20 years has managed their local historic millpond property as a public conservation area.

They have done dam upgrades, dredged the pond bottom, strengthened the shorelines, maintained a beach, preserved wetlands through a stewardship agreement with landowners, promoted environmental education and paid for insurance so the public can use the area for things like swimming, canoeing and skating.

It is difficult to imagine such a thing in Erin, where most of our shorelines are not readily accessible to the public. That, however, is not today's topic.

In 2007, Eden Mills Going Carbon Neutral was a new project for the Millpond group, with the goal of becoming the first carbon neutral village in North America. It is an example of grass-roots action – not waiting for governments to take the lead.

Linda Sword spoke on behalf of the Eden Mills project at the recent "Making Erin Greener Than Our Shamrock" event, co-sponsored by the Environmental Advisory Group of Erin and the Climate Change Action Group of Erin.

"I am excited to meet another community working together to make change," she said. "Going carbon neutral means emitting no more carbon dioxide than we absorb, and that means both reducing our use of fossil fuels and increasing our absorption of CO2."

Of course, it is not possible to completely avoid emitting carbon, especially in our oil-driven economy. But Eden Mills has shrunk its overall carbon footprint by 12 per cent in three years, half by capturing more carbon with thousands of newly-planted trees, with help from the Wellington Green Legacy Program. The other half is from conservation and increased use of green energy sources. The project was praised at the annual international symposium of the Canadian Institute of Planners last year, as a model for others to follow.

"We can see the results of one person’s change rubbing off on another," said Sword. "While one neighbour replaces appliances, the next stops using the clothes dryer, choosing air drying. While one neighbour buys food at the local organic farm, two other families join up to manage a vegetable garden in their backyards and share the produce. The examples are many, and the financial savings are often significant."

The process relies on getting good technical advice, to estimate how much carbon is stored locally and how much more can be captured through tree planting. The local carbon footprint (emissions from households, businesses and travel), is estimated using household surveys (done every two years).

Fourth year students from the University of Guelph Environmental Studies program helped calculate the baseline carbon sequestration rate, while graduate students from the School of Forestry studied the relative sequestration rates of young trees. Students continue to help with the design and analysis of the surveys. About half of the households provide full information, which remains confidential, since the students provide direct feedback to the residents, but only totals and analysis to the organization.

The baseline was an annual emissions footprint of 4,621 tonnes of carbon, with lack of public transportation being a key factor. That's been reduced by six per cent. The baseline of sequestration was 2,608 tonnes – emissions already being neutralized every year by trees and vegetation. That has been increased by six per cent.

To achieve the carbon neutral balance, they started with a goal of neutralizing just over 2,000 tonnes, and now have 1,367 to go.

Sword is the author of a handbook called So You Want to Go Carbon Neutral? It takes a Village, one of several resources available through the Education section of the group's website, www.goingcarbonneutral.ca. They offer DVD-based workshops and host guest speakers.

Eden Mills resident Richard Lay, a professional engineer with Enermodal (Canada's largest green building consulting firm), has been a key player in the village's environmental progress. He founded the Millpond Conservation Association, volunteered professional advice for Going Carbon Neutral and did a full energy audit of the Community Hall.

Last month he was awarded the 2011 Engineering Medal of Achievement for the University of Guelph. A few weeks later, he accepted the Tree of Life award on behalf of his firm, from the association of Canadian Consulting Engineering Companies.

Last week, the Millpond association and the Eden Mills Community and District Club announced that they have been awarded a Trillium Foundation grant of $120,000, and a $50,000 incentive loan from the Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures Development Corporation. It will help pay for reductions in the carbon footprint of their community hall, installation of solar panels and improved accessibility.

Are we ambitious to fly with the birds?

As published in The Erin Advocate

The fascination that humans have for birds is perhaps based not so much on admiration of their elegant form, rich colours and quirky behaviour, but on envy of their ability to fly. I don't think they envy us, with our wheels.

We have achieved amazing personal mobility on the horizontal plane, but if future technology offers the general public that same mobility in a vertical way, it will surely cause a flap in the twittersphere.

After we have destroyed so much of their natural habitat, and erected glass buildings that fatally deceive them, they won't be impressed if flocks of humans start invading their air space. Even then, we would surely look awkward.

Personally, I am content to stay on the ground, and connect to their world with my camera. That technology has advanced to the point where you can get amazing optical zoom and automatic focus at a low price.

One no longer has to be an expert photographer with expensive equipment to capture beautiful bird pictures. I got such a crisp shot of a baby robin in a nest on my property this year that there was a clear image of the clouds reflected in its eye.



I've never been an official birdwatcher, but like to keep my eyes and ears open while hiking. You have to be willing to stop, be quiet and observe what's going on all around you – not easy if you are focused only on reaching a destination.

It can be a very intense hobby if you have the time, with some people even taking a competitive approach, in a quest to tick off as many rare birds as possible on their list. The pastime got its start in the 1800s, with a movement to protect birds from being hunted for their feathers, or as specimens for collectors.

Birding is now a lucrative niche in the tourism trade, as more people are eager to travel long distances to observe interesting species. Specialized equipment includes binocular-cameras, compact telescopes with tripods, and digital recordings of bird calls to help with identification. Popular birding areas will often have blinds or observation towers to help conceal the watchers.

The tourism people at www.grandrivercounty.com have published a brochure and on-line guide called Trails Take Flight, identifying the 20 favourite birding trails in the Grand watershed. These include the Gilbert MacIntyre Trail at Rockwood Conservation Area and the Elora-Cataract Trail between Belwood Lake Conservation and Orton.

I took a hike on the rail trail near Fergus last week, and within a few minutes had pictures of a yellow and black American Goldfinch and a scarlet Northern Cardinal. The trail is good for birding because it cuts through marshy areas, and because many of the clearings created by railroad builders have become lush strips of meadow bordered by trees.



For an excellent summary of local species, check out the Birds of the Credit section in the CVC website, www.creditvalleyca.ca.

To get more involved, may I suggest you look up the Upper Credit Field Naturalists, based in Orangeville, who bring in guest speakers on birds and other nature topics and run a Beginners Birding Course. They have organized birding trips to not-too-distant places like the Minesing Swamp near Barrie and the Luther Marsh near Grand Valley. The Guelph Field Naturalists have similar activities.

Elora has succeeded at marketing its attractions

As published in The Erin Advocate

In a recent visit to Elora, I was impressed not only with the many attractions in the village, but with the success they have had in creating a positive brand name that draws people to the area.

The Elora Farmers' Market was established in 2005 and has become a hub of community activity, with more than 20 vendors every Saturday at Bissell Park from May to October, and a winter market indoors at the Elora Raceway. It takes a bit of nerve to call yourself the World’s Prettiest Farmers’ Market, but it certainly doesn't do any harm.

Bissell Park is a large public green space right in the village – a brilliant concept. It has a nice wide boardwalk along the north bank of the Grand River, a feature that many Erin residents would like to see on our stretch of the West Credit River.



The Grand flows from Belwood Lake through Fergus towards Elora, past the quarry that supplied stone for the village's beautiful public buildings and heritage homes. It is now the 79-acre Elora Quarry Conservation Area, opened in 1976, including a two-acre swimming hole with 40-foot sheer limestone cliffs.

The river tumbles over a waterfall near the downtown core. It is joined by Irvine Creek and flows through an impressive gorge with 70-foot cliffs. For $150 (including training) you can take a zip-line ride out over the gorge, then rappel down into it.

The Elora Gorge Conservation Area has camping and riverside trails with safety barriers, and while there is no swimming or rock climbing allowed, you can try whitewater canoeing, kayaking or tubing. It was the first conservation area on the Grand, opening in 1954 after more than 20 years of promotion by local newspapers, and with strong support from the business sector.

The village is known for its active arts community, especially the Elora Festival and Singers. The summer festival has run since 1979, attracting international patrons and performers, featuring large-scale classical works for choir and orchestra and intimate concerts of jazz and popular music. The Festival Singers is a renowned chamber choir, nominated for Grammy and Juno Awards, with 12 releases on the Naxos label.

Sensational Elora is an 11-day festival, starting September 30, that combines dance, film, art, music and feasting on locally-grown food.

The old Elora Public School has been nicely maintained as home to the Elora Centre for the Arts, which hosts various exhibitions. There is a permanent gallery of works on sale from the 39 artists of the Harris Collective. The building also has the offices of the Elora Environment Centre, a non-profit group with several staff members, specializing in home energy evaluations and advocacy of sustainable lifestyles.

The village is only a couple of minutes away from the Wellington County Museum and Archives. Built in 1877 as a House of Industry and Refuge for the poor, aged and homeless, it is a National Historic Site. A trail on the grounds links two branches of the Elora-Cataract Trailway, and a renovated trestle bridge offers a stunning view of the river gorge.

Elora has 5,500 residents, about as many as Erin village is projected to have by 2031. It is part of Centre Wellington Township, including Fergus and surrounding area, which has a total population of 27,500, compared to 12,000 for the Town of Erin. Centre Wellington has a Manager of Economic Development and a strategic plan to stimulate and guide economic growth. They also have their own tourism organization for local stakeholders.

The Grand River Raceway at Elora, owned and operated by the Grand River Agricultural Society, offers dining, seasonal live harness racing, wagering on year-round simulcast racing, and 240 slot machines.

I dropped in to the OLG Slots there on a weeknight, and almost every machine was in use. I knew my limit and played within it, making it last a while with single plays on a five-cent machine. Then I hit the Maximum Bet button by mistake, and my ten bucks was pretty well gone.

In that process, I chipped 50 cents into the coffers of Centre Wellington Township. Ontario Lottery and Gaming pays five per cent of gross revenues from slot machines to the municipality. That now amounts to more than $500,000 every three months, with no strings attached.

Skateboard Park plan deserves strong support

As published in The Erin Advocate

Dropping in to the Skate/BMX/Band Jam at Erin Centre 2000 on June 25, I was greeted by a wall of angry sound from a punk band on the arena floor. The people I met there, however, were anything but angry – everyone was having a great time.

Punk rock is not my cup of tea, but then neither is opera or jazz. I can appreciate the creative value in any style of music, as long I am not too close to the speakers. I have never been a skateboarder, but I can see that the primary factor is fun, and so I am glad to support construction of a Skate/BMX Park in Erin.

I remember how important a bike was for me as a kid, providing independence, risk and part of my identity. I am especially impressed with the vertical techniques that today's BMX riders have developed.

Skateboarding and BMX are not going away. Their popularity has fluctuated over the past 50 years, but with improvements to equipment and exposure in movies, interest has spread to many countries around the world. There is a need for a facility now, and there is every reason to believe that the interest will continue well into the future.

The Jam offered participants the chance to try out their techniques on portable ramps and rails in the arena. Andrea Rudyk, who helped organize the event, said about $1,200 was raised.

"It was a success, there were a lot of skaters and BMXers enjoying the park, which is what we were aiming for," she said. The bands performing were Agents of Id, Bread Fan, Frenemy, KIZ & LEGIN, Fade Chromatic, Nobel Savage, Rise of the Lion, No King for Countrymen and The Elwins.

Young people in Erin have shown that they are willing to raise money and work for their cause and have attracted support from donors such as developer Shane Baghai, Scotia Bank, Nestlé Waters and Erin Hydro.

It has been more than two years since resident Mark Middleton brought a petition with 335 signatures to Town Council, asking them to support a skate park, now expected to cost about $100,000. The Town has agreed to pay half the cost. A site on the west side of Centre 2000 has been chosen, and work could start this fall.

"I'm going to stick around – I don't give up easily," said Middleton, part of a committee of adults and youth working to raise $50,000. "Seeing the kids on the downtown streets got me going. They need a place to express themselves."

Skateboarders are not always welcome to hang out in some areas of the town. The new park will not completely solve this tension, but it will certainly help. Mutual respect is a sign of a strong community.

Previous attempts to get a park, with extensive efforts by both adults and youth, were not successful. Naturally, interests change as teens get older and they often move out of Erin, but as I saw at the recent fundraising event, many younger kids continue to take up the sport.

To support the campaign, or to get more information, go to www.erinskatepark.com, or their Facebook page. Donations can be made through the Town office, with income tax receipts available. There will be more fundraising at local events this year.

The park has the support of the Wellington County OPP. It will be covered by Town liability insurance, and by the Centre 2000 surveillance cameras. The site will have a flat concrete pad, with portable equipment attached to it. As in other sports, there is a risk of injury, but this can be controlled through common sense and good equipment. The plan is to incorporate a barrier to reduce the noise for nearby homes.

Skateboarding has had a traditional link with punk rock, which supports the sport's rebellious image. It does seem to attract those who do not like the strict rules and timetables of more organized sports, but there is no standard image. Like any culture, it covers a broad spectrum.

There is a natural overlap of interest with BMX bikes, since they use many of the same ramps and structures for their jumps. BMX (bicycle motocross) started out as an offshoot of motorized dirt bike racing.

There is a link too with surfing and snowboarding, which started out as rebel cultures. It is a natural evolution – when an activity has real value, it eventually earns acceptance, even in small town Ontario.