Motion to revoke T.A.C. permit
I hear from residents daily about soil migration, dust, unsafe truck movement and concerns about their water as a result of the fill operation at TAC (Tottenham Airfield Corporation). This is an awful situation that I inherited and I feel terribly for those who live close to the site or are impacted by it. When I joined council, I made it a priority to create a Site Plan Agreement with TAC to control the fill coming in. This includes controls on the Table of soil, a cost per load, our own consultant and many other protections that weren’t previously in place. TAC has not abided by this Site Plan agreement. They have brought in soil from an unallowable site, they didn’t protect our residents against soil migrating onto their property and they have not submitted reports in a timely fashion. Staff has been working to correct these actions but TAC has been dragging their feet. On April 27th Council approved my motion to revoke the permit for TAC (Tottenham Airfield Corporation) and to undertake Bore Hole testing. Following the meeting, we received a letter from our solicitor outlining two possible outcomes from our decision (scroll down to page 206 to see a copy of the letter – https://newtecumseth.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/33763?preview=40206 )
The direction to revoke the permit without instructions on how to revoke it creates two problems. The first is that TAC can continue to bring in fill and the second is that we would no longer be following the Site Plan Agreement. I want to reiterate that revoking the permit would not stop the fill from being imported, because the Federal government oversees aeronautics and works associated with it. If we go to court, the town needs to have followed the agreement, including the process for revoking the permit. The upside to this motion last week is that it has sent a clear message to TAC that council is fed-up and that we are building a case to revoke their permit.
Last night I amended my motion to: “That the Town’s Solicitor and staff be directed to initiate the process as per Section 27 of the Site Plan Agreement with a list of deficiencies and reasonable timelines. And further that a letter be sent to Transport Canada and MP Kellie Leitch to investigate and determine whether or not this particular operation is in the public interest.”
This motion will address the concerns on the soil that was imported that had exceedances, the remediation works that need to take place on residents property, the timing on the submission of reports, etc. The second part of this motion addresses the Federal government’s responsibility. There was never any public consultation to expand the airport and the work which is being undertaken, is not in the public’s best interest.
We are one year into our agreement with them and we have already starting the revocation of their permit. The next step is to convince the Federal government to step in and reassess this site and close the loophole which allows for the expansion of aerodromes. I will continue to support the residents’ concerns and make sure that deficiencies are addressed in a timely manner. I will also keep you updated on the progress with this process to revoke the permit.
Official Plan Review beginning
The town is looking for a rural voice to sit on the Community Liaison Committee (“CLC”) as we update our Official Plan. The Official Plan Review includes consultation and visioning with the public on zoning, zoning by-laws, areas of growth, etc. The role of the CLC is to act as a sounding board and to provide input to the project team. Further, the role of the CLC is to:
- review the project teams work at various milestones throughout the study;
- provide feedback that reflects the needs and interests of the community; and,
- assist with communicating the OPR’s progress to the larger community i.e. project ‘champions’.
The CLC is not a decision making body but is an advisory body that represents the local community. There are four (4) CLC meetings planned, each two hours in length and held during weekday afternoons or early evenings in late May 2017, early October 2017, mid-late February 2018 and mid May 2018.
South Simcoe Streams Network
Join me on Saturday May 6th from 9:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the Tottenham Conservation Area. We will be bused to a nearby location to plant trees. Please wear boots and bring gloves and a shovel.
May 6th—New Tecumseth (9:00 to noon) – Two sites to choose from:
- Tottenham site at Coventry Park along Beeton Creek (meeting at Conservation Area for 9:00 a.m. to board bus preferred. Late participants can go to parking lot at Coventry Park via 4th Line on east side)
- Beeton site along Penville Creek at #4736 Beeton Rd (8th Line) on north side
Saturday, May 13th—Adjala-Tosorontio (9:00 to noon)
Rosemont Creek site field access on south-west side of creek off Con Rd 6 located just NW of Alliston. Please note: Other sites are available in South Simcoe both on weekends and during the week…If interested and to RSVP contact silvia@nottawasaga.com or call (705) 435-1540.
Mulch and Compost Free giveaway
Material will be available to residents on:
- Thurs., May 11th and Fri., May 12th from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and;
- Sat., May 13, 2017 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Material will be available for pick up on those dates at the Joint Operations Centre, 6558 8th Line, County Rd. 1, Beeton, on a first come, first serve basis and is only available to residents, not landscape type businesses. Residents will be asked to sign a liability waiver before transporting any mulch or compost and will be responsible for providing their own containers to transport the mulch and compost. Assistance with loading the material will be available. For more information, please call (905) 729-0057 or (705) 435-3900.
The Youth and Emerging Arts Show
The Youth and Emerging Arts Show is now on at South Simcoe Arts Council at 41 Victoria St. East. Find out more at the South Simcoe Arts Council.
If you have any interesting news or a business you would like to let Ward 7 residents know about, email me info@shiraward7.ca