Councillor McCann Meeting Report (September 15, 2015)
On August 6th I attended the Parry Sound Area Industrial Park Board Meeting along with Councillors Borneman and Keith. We gave final approval to new signage on highway 400/69. In so much as I thought the Internet would bring inquiries, Mr. Dave Rushton, manager, reported that most inquiries come by telephone as a result of the phone number seen on the highway sign.
There was discussion on how to best manage the billing of water and sewage services to each lot. The billing of water is directly proportional to the billing of sewage. We had talked about models in which clients who do not put out as much sewage may be billed differently. This is not a normal practice, but it is possible that in the future other models could be considered. Also as Councillor Keith pointed out at our last Council Meeting, a spike in hydro costs last year was due to a Hydro One over estimation in pre-determined billings and the park now has a $6,000 credit as a result. A shout-out to Mr. Rushton on chasing this down and navigating the power supplier's red tape and bureaucracy.
On Thursday, August 10th I attended by invitation a special meeting of the Parry Sounders for Progressive Water Management. I went with an open mind and listened to Dr. Hardy Limeback and Dr. Brian McLean speak against the continued use of water fluoridation in Parry Sound. I found their presentation informative, timely and quite interesting. I was convinced and I think we all have an idea that if fluoridation was discontinued that we would have a community outreach and educational program to help those who fall through the cracks. Dr. Limeback is well known world-wide for his knowledge and has lost his job over his speaking out against fluoridation.
As I was at the Parry Sounders for Progressive Water Management meeting in town, I was not able to be a the Park to Park Board Meeting that same evening, Thursday, August 10th held in Sprucedale. I have been in communication with our manager, Peter Searle and he provided me with an update from the meeting. There was a group complaining about the condition of sections of trail. The board responded by suggesting that Park to Park receives limited local municipal financial support and that basically the board and its volunteers are only able to correct the major issues as they present themselves, such as washouts. There is not much left over for ongoing and general maintenance and grading. The board has decided to create petitions and send signatures to federal, provincial and municipal governments lobbying for continuous funds to help maintain this very important trail both for economic and historical puroses. There was discussion over the matching of NTC funding for a total of $120,000. So far the organization has been able to come up with $42,000 out of the $60,000 needed. So there is still a bit to go, but these funds are going in to trail work in Carling Township and on the Seguin Trail. Also, this funding will include two bridge rebuilds from beams and up, material for the trail in Carling, some grading and ditching on Seguin. Park to Park is also in discussion with the Rose Point Trail committee to learn of any possible trail work to be done there this year. Park to Park may be able to direct some of the unused funds towards that.
Park to Park is also having an issue with loggers on Seguin Trail, pursuant to our Land Use Permit (LUP) it is required that loggers obtain permission from Park to Park establishing fee and conditions, etc. They have not been asking for such permission. As a result, both logger and property owner came to Thursday's meeting to try and work something out and it seems to have been successful. It is important to know that the under our Land Use Permit, through the MNR we basically have this control and authority over the Seguin Trail. It is a necessary agreement otherwise our efforts would be meaningless.
Finally there was discussion on an historic signage program, hoping to have up to four 4x8 foot signs installed this year.
