Adjala-Tosorontio TOWNSHIP NEWS. 177 Years, A Legacy of Growth

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1 Adjala-Tosorontio TOWNSHIP NEWS 177 Years, A Legacy of Growth For many in our Township, the Stephens family are synonymous with the hamlet of Glencairn. Marshall N. Stephens arrived in Glencairn, then known as Hogback, in He purchased a grist mill on the Mad River and opened a general store, which is still in operation today run by his great-great-great grandsons. Marshall was instrumental in having the railway come through the village which greatly contributed to the economy of the day. His enterprises employed many of the local residents as well as family members. He passed the business to his sons Sidney T. and Marshall N. Jr. From them it passed to their sons Sidney T. Jr. and Paul Stephens. After them, Paul s sons, Donald and Murray who have passed away in the past few years. Presently, their sons and grandsons are running various aspects of the company. The old store, located on the east side of Concession 2 at Thomas St. was destroyed by fire in 1972 and a new building was erected on the site of the old Glencairn railway station a short distance away. Walking into the store today is like taking a step back in time as many tools and artifacts used by past generations are on display on the walls and around the store. Stephens Fuels In 1930, keeping up with the times, Stephens opened a White Rose gas station. In 1956, Stephens expanded into Stephens Fuels, an independent distributor with an exclusive territory. In 1962, White Rose was bought by Shell and Stephens became a Shell distributor. Over the years they expanded to Collingwood Fuels and Highland Fuels in Dundalk. The businesses are still owned and operated by the Stephens family to the sixth generation and the 7th coming along. Spring 2017 Issue 59 Stephens Store, Glencairn, circa 1930, on the east side of Concession 2 at Thomas Street. Stephens Store, circa 2017, located at Concession 2 and Sideroad 32

2 Message from Mayor Mary Small Brett I d like to welcome you to a revised newsletter format and I hope that you find it to be of value. Council has directed that a new format be used on a trial basis for two issues and to seek input from our residents on the new format with a goal of further possible improvements. In the beginning of this Council term, we adopted a 5 year community based Strategic Plan and the newsletter plays a part in this plan by providing relevant information, to unite our residents throughout the Township and to help build a sense of community. Council will be holding another open house in the near future to review further progress of our Strategic Plan. We look forward to sitting down and meeting with you to discuss the Plan and our progress to date. Our Diversion Days program will return in May and we look forward to seeing you there. We ve been partnering with our residents and our volunteers for 17 years now in diverting waste from landfills. The County will be continuing its bursary program for post-secondary students. Information and application forms will be available on the County website. The Swift internet initiative is still moving ahead, and the County is a major player in moving this program forward. The Township has endorsed a funding request to allow a local internet service provider to further partner and contribute to the Swift internet network to help build local fiber optic internet infrastructure more quickly. Progress can be followed on the Swift website: swiftnetwork.ca We re planning to celebrate Canada s 150 th birthday this year on Canada Day. More details to follow, watch our website. On behalf of Council and Staff, I wish everyone a Happy Easter. What are Half Load Restrictions and How Do They Affect Me? At the beginning of March each year, we enforce reduced load restrictions on our roads through our municipal bylaws and the Highway Traffic Act. Almost all of our roads and many County roads impose a seasonal load reduction where vehicles can carry no more than 5 tonnes per axle. Although this weight restriction does not affect passenger vehicles, it is aimed at larger vehicles such as dump trucks and heavy equipment floats that haul construction equipment. With the warmer spring weather, the frost comes out of the ground, leaving the roadbed wet and weaker. Heavier loads can permanently damage the road and the roadbed. Restrictions are placed on the road until the road has time to properly shed the frost and moisture so that it can again sustain heavier loads. Half load restrictions save money by not having to build roads to greater highway standards or having to rebuild roads every year after the spring thaw. This newsletter is published by The Corporation of the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio Newsletter Committee Tom Cook Mary Munnoch Layout & Design Sandra Milley All submissions are subject to editing Accessible alternate formats are available upon request by contacting the Clerk s Department at or bkane@adjtos.ca So how does this affect us? Anyone contemplating a home construction project or delivery of materials will have to consider that the truck carrying the materials will likely be restricted to half its normal load. Construction equipment may have to wait until the end of half load season to be brought on site, and that load of ready-mix concrete may have to be delivered in two trucks instead of one. Even projects that are on-going can be slowed down because delivery trucks cannot ship the full load all at once. Usually, half-load season is lifted May 1. Page 2 A DJALA-T OSOR ONT IO T O W NSHIP NE WS

3 Township Newsletter Policy Council recently passed a new policy to set guidelines with respect to submissions to the Township Newsletter. The goal of the newsletter is to provide citizens with information about the Township s policies, programs, services and initiatives and to help draw the community together by promoting and recognizing community events and volunteers. As the Mayor is the official spokesperson on behalf of Council, submissions from the Mayor will be permitted to highlight the business and/or operations of the County of Simcoe, Township Council and the activities of the community. Submissions from Municipal boards, Committees and Agencies as identified in Schedules B and C of the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio By-Law to Appoint Members of Council and Public to various Committees, Agencies and boards as amended are welcomed. Many community members, organizations, schools and churches have submitted articles in the past. Your participation in our community newsletter is greatly appreciated. As we move to the future we encourage you to submit newsworthy articles regarding people and happenings in our community. Milestone birthdays and anniversaries are welcome. The present format of the newsletter will run as a trial for two issues. We welcome feedback on the newsletter in order to continue to improve and meet the needs of our community. Pleas send comments to Tom Cook, our volunteer editor (tomcat @gmail.com) or to Alice Byl at the Township at (abyl@adjtos.ca) Livestock Damaged by Wildlife? The Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program provides financial assistance to producers whose livestock, poultry and honey bees have been damaged by wildlife. For more information on eligibility through the Ontario Wildlife Damage Compensation Program please visit the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs website at ontario.ca/predation or the Township at tedgerton@adjtos.ca or bkane@adjtos.ca To schedule an Investigator to assess damage to livestock please contact one of the following: Rachel Falls (primary contact) John Elder (secondary contact) You must contact an investigator within 48 hours of discovering the injury or death. If you are unable to make contact with the municipality or an investigator within 48 hours, please ensure that you take colour photos and preserve the carcass to be submitted to the Investigator. Updated ATV By-law An updated ATV By-Law was approved at the March 13th, 2017 Council meeting. Please adhere to the By-Law regulations and the Highway Traffic Act, respect private property and your neighbours. For a copy of the By-Law please refer to By-Law on the Township s website or contact the Municipal office. S PR I NG Page 3

4 Public Works Department Jim Moss Public Works Superintendent Construction Projects 2017 The Public Works Department has the following constructions projects scheduled for the summer of They include Re- surface 400 meters of the Mono-Adjala Townline, south of County Road 1, Adjala Re-surface 350 meters of Concession Road 5 north of 4360 Concession Road 5, Adjala Pave 350 meters of Concession Road 3 south of County Road 12, Tosorontio Pave 350 meters of concession Road 3 south of the 30 Sideroad, Tosorontio Construction will continue on concession road 6 north of County Road 5, Tosorontio Half-Load Restrictions As we look forward to Spring we have a Township wide ½ Load restriction in effect until May 1 st. With Spring comes many different road conditions including potholes with the frost escaping our roads. We ask Residents to take care during this time as potholes can literally come through very quickly. As our graders are out fixing up the damage from the winter and with the placement of fresh gravel comes dust. We do not treat for dust until the completion of spring gravel. When the calcium is scheduled the Township is usually completed in about two weeks, depending on the weather. Water Systems Please be reminded that if you are on the Municipality s water or waste water system the afterhours contact number is If you have issues with water quality or flushing schedules you may contact OCWA at , or if you have any other problems do not hesitate to contact the Public Works Department at Page 4 A DJALA-T OSOR ONT IO T O W NSHIP NE WS

5 Planning Department There has been lots going on in the Planning Department the last few months. Of particular interest are the following: Official Plan Update Skelton Brumwell has had an Official Plan website, up and running since late last year. For those who weren t able to attend the Open House held in November, the Discussion Papers are still available on the website, or at the Township office. Another opportunity for input is anticipated to be coming in early spring, when draft policies will be brought forward for public consideration. This meeting will follow a format that is a little different than our residents may be used to. Mark your calendars and watch for more news on the OP website, the Township website and the local newspaper about the Adj-Tos Café (currently scheduled to take place Wednesday May 3 rd ). Economic Development Strategy Economic Development was noted in the 2015 Community Based Strategic Plan as a significant area where action is required. As a result, the Township retained the services of McSweeney & Associates to assist with creating an Economic Development Strategy. An updated Community Profile is being developed, a plan for the future of the Highway 89 Employment Lands will be available for consideration in the near future, and we are looking for input to assist with developing a Strategy to guide the Township in its efforts to support economic development. Many of you will have seen a survey in with your tax bills the information collected from the survey is now being analyzed. Following this, it is intended that targeted interviews and a working session with economic development partners and stakeholders will take place, and a draft Strategy will be developed. It is anticipated that public input on the draft Strategy will be requested in early spring again, watch the Township website and the newspaper for more details on when and where! Looking to Build a Fence? Did you know the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio has a by-law to set standards for a legal fence in the Township? If you are located within a settlement area such as Colgan, Everett, Glencairn, Hockley, Keenansville, Lisle, Loretto and Rosemont or any area that is subject to a plan of subdivision the fencing by-law applies to you for height, type and location. If you are in a rural area and plan on installing a fence other than a wire fence along a municipally owned road, the by-law applies to you for location. If you are wishing to build a fence on a property abutting a County or Highway you may be subject to their by-laws and/ or regulations. For more information on the Township of Adjala-Tosorontio Fencing By-law 05-40, please visit the Township website at or contact the Clerk s Department at or bkane@adjtos.ca S PR I NG Page 5

6 Safety Message from Your Fire Department Outdoor Fires The Township of Adjala-Tosorontio is advising residents to contact the office regarding open air burning, before starting any fires or burning brush. Cleaning up debris and limiting the level of flammable vegetation surrounding your home is a good practice. But make sure the way you do it is safe for you, your home, your neighbors, and the surrounding area. A permit is required with specific conditions for outdoor burning. Whether in the backyard of your home, the cottage or at a campground, make fire safety a priority. Open air burning, especially if left unattended, can become difficult to control and can result in a serious widespread fire as seen below. Burn Permit Registration and Fire Prevention Information Day Where: Wardens Park at the Adjala Tosorontio Municipal Building When: April 22, :00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. What: Fire Extinguisher Training Fire Protection and Education Training Burn Permit purchases Cash or Cheque only $10.00 per calendar year Page 6 A DJALA-T OSOR ONT IO T O W NSHIP NE WS

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8 About Your Tax and Water Bill Your interim tax bills, due March 31 and May 31, are based on 50 % of the previous year s total taxes. In 2016, properties were reassessed for the years 2017, 2018, 2019, and The new 2017 tax assessment will show on your final tax billings for the second half of the year. For residential, farm and managed forests, this will be mailed out toward the end of June and due July 31 and September 29. The Township has various payment options including pre-authorized payments, through your financial institution, or at the Municipal Office. Property assessments are not conducted by the Township, but by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) on behalf of all municipalities. If you have questions regarding your property assessment, you can contact the MPAC office at Some residents receive quarterly water billings which are due January, April, July, and October. In order to reduce your quarterly billing account, residents on municipal water should be conscious of their daily water consumption. Accessibility Advisory Committee Committee Volunteer Position The Township of Adjala - Tosorontio invites members of the Township to submit letters of interest for the following volunteer position: Accessibility Advisory Committee The purpose of the Accessibility Advisory Committee is to help improve opportunities for people with disabilities by working towards identifying and removing barriers to participation. The Committee requires that at least half of its members are comprised of people with disabilities. Barbara Kane, Clerk, Township of Adjala - Tosorontio 7855 Sideroad 30 Alliston, Ontario L9R 1V1 bkane@adjtos.ca We thank all applicants and advise that only those selected will be contacted. Personal information will be used to determine eligibility for committee appointment and is pursuant to the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Accessible formats and accommodations are available upon request. Update on the SWIFT Network The SWIFT initiative is an extensive fibre network that will connect the entire southwestern Ontario region with broadband internet capability. It uses a combination of public and private funding to build and expand on existing fibre networks to provide high speed internet. The system will partner between all levels of government as well as private businesses to build a regional internet network. By investing in a partnership, we are able to leverage greater funding opportunities. The majority of the network will be owned by the municipalities and all service providers will be allowed to compete to deliver services through an open-access network. The majority of funding for the project, estimated to cost about $287 million, will come from the federal and provincial governments. Municipalities will contribute about $18 million, and the private sector will invest about $80 million. The program has an ambitious goal of reaching 25 % of southwestern Ontario by Requests for Proposals to get the project underway are anticipated for Page 8 A DJALA-T OSOR ONT IO T O W NSHIP NE WS

9 Everett Wastewater Request for Proposals Over the past 18 months, the Township had been investigating the potential for a partnership process to design, build, finance, operate, and maintain a wastewater collection and treatment system for the Everett settlement area. The approach was to develop a cost-efficient and effective wastewater servicing solution for the community. A community-based wastewater system will be a necessary infrastructure component in Everett in response to new source water protection requirements, to provide an alternative to existing septic system users, and to service future growth as we look to the future. A Request for Proposals was issued by the Township to two short-listed and pre-qualified proponents. After a detailed review process, the project was turned down when the price estimates showed the costs to be too high at this time. Following on Council s decision, a new wastewater treatment plant will be built by the development community to service new growth within the proposed development. The plant will be designed to accommodate expansion of the plant sometime in the future to service existing residents and new development as it is being built. The wastewater plant will utilize the latest wastewater treatment technology to go beyond the requirements for wastewater treatment as established by the Province. Source Water Protection Access to safe, clean, drinking water is something that is vital to the health and well-being of our communities. The Walkerton tragedy, in which thousands fell ill and seven people died, showed us how vulnerable drinking water can be when it is not managed properly. The resulting Walkerton Report made recommendations for improved management of Ontario drinking water. A part of these recommendations emphasized the need for ensuring that water is protected at its source and that managing source water protection was done on a watershed basis. In 2006, the Clean Water Act was implemented as a result of these recommendations. The Act helps ensure that our communities are able to protect their municipal drinking water supplies from contamination and overuse. It uses a multi-barrier approach that stops contaminants from entering sources of drinking water and subsequent water treatment. Source protection planning and implementation is all about protecting existing and future sources of drinking water. It sets out actions to address contamination threats to the lakes, rivers and underground aquifers that supply water to the municipal drinking water systems in our area. Staff recently completed a comprehensive review of septic systems within source water protection areas and found no discernable threats as a result of 164 inspections. Further inspections and protection plans will be implemented in the near future for other potential threats such as from farming and other activities. Septic inspections will be undertaken again within the next 5 years. In the meantime, the Municipality is expected to identify and possibly eliminate any potential threats to our water systems. Population Figures Statistics Canada reported that the 2016 enumerated population count for Adjala-Tosorontio was 10,975 persons, an increase of 3.5 % from This compares to the provincial average growth rate of 4.6 % and the national average of 5.0 %. In 2016 we had 3,834 private occupied dwellings, an increase of 7.3 % from Adjala-Tosorontio is ranked 134 th of 552 census subdivisions in Ontario by population size. The Township and other agencies use information such as this for planning purposes and infrastructure development among other uses. S PR I NG Page 9

10 Council Contacts MAYOR Mary Small Brett DEPUTY MAYOR Doug Little COUNCILLOR WARD 1 Floyd Pinto floydpinto@295.ca COUNCILLOR WARD 2 Ambrose (Sam) Keenan tundraathome@295.ca COUNCILLOR WARD 3 Bob Meadows bobmeadows4ward3@outlook.com COUNCILLOR WARD 4 Dave Rose Cell: drose@adjtos.ca COUNCILLOR WARD 5 Scott W. Anderson Cell: sanderson@adjtos.ca Council Meetings When: Regular Council Meetings are held on the second Monday of each month. Special Council Meetings may be called from time to time at the call of the Mayor. Time: Regular Council Meetings commence at 6:30 p.m. Location: Township of Adjala-Tosorontio Municipal Centre 7855 Sideroad 30 Alliston, Ontario, L9R 1V1 Agendas and Minutes are available on the Township website at If you wish to provide a deputation or presentation to Council at a meeting, please contact the Clerk s Department at or bkane@adjtos.ca to book a date. Forms and more information on providing a deputation or presentation to Council may be obtained from the Township website at Page 10 A DJALA-T OSOR ONT IO T O W NSHIP NE WS

11 Services Contacts GARBAGE & RECYCLING Landfill Site 6815 Concession Rd. 4 HOURS: Mon- Fri 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 4 :00 p.m. Customer Service Toll Free: COUNTY OF SIMCOE Main Switchboard HEALTH UNIT, COOKSTOWN STEVENSON MEMORIAL HOSPITAL MP, SIMCOE-GREY Dr. Kellie Leitch MPP, SIMCOE-GREY Jim Wilson BY-LAW ENFORCEMENT PUBLIC WORKS POLICE, FIRE, AMBULANCE (Emergencies) FIRE DEPARTMENT (non-emergency issues) POLICE ADMINISTRATION OPP NOTTAWASAGA DETACHMENT (General Inquiries) 11 Addison Road Alliston, Ontario, L9R 1V SOCIAL SERVICES (Children's Services, Seniors Services, Day Nurseries) Residents South of HWY 89: Residents North of HWY 89: NOTTAWASAGA FUTURES Ph: Fx: SIMCOE COUNTY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD (Education Centre) Residents South of HWY 89: Residents North of HWY 89: SIMCOE MUSKOKA CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD WATER SYSTEM EMERGENCY CANINE CONTROL Please call Olympus K9 at: Hours of Operation 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Monday-Friday) 9:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. (Weekends & Holidays) ASSESSMENT QUESTIONS All property assessment questions or appeals should be directed to: Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) 65 Cedar Pointe Drive, Suite 800 Barrie, ON L4N 5R7 Ph: Fx: Web: S PR I NG Page 11

12 Waste Diversion Waste Diversion Update Following the lead set by our Diversion Days program, the County of Simcoe is now achieving 73 % diversion at their landfill sites- the best in Ontario. The County is now undertaking a new process to enhance diversion programs and further improve services for County of Simcoe residents by creating a new Environmental Resource Recovery Centre on Horseshoe Valley Road in Springwater Township. The centre will include a materials management facility and an organics processing facility, to be supplemented by an education centre and blue box recycling as the centre develops. Alternative business models are currently being assessed. The centre is planned to be commissioned between 2019 and 2021, depending on planning and environmental approvals. In the meantime, the County has updated the Tosorontio landfill site with new amenities. The site will soon stop working as a landfill site as it changes to a transfer and recycling station. Did You Know... Our Township is 372 square kilometers in area, 10 kilometres wide and 40 kilometres long. We have 7 municipal water systems serving approximately 1,000 residences- about one quarter of our households are on municipal water. Everyone else is served by their own private well. The County of Simcoe has the fourth best waste diversion rate in the Province, and first in the capture of containers. Adjala-Tosorontio has been a driving force in the success of the County s waste diversion program since before the County s waste diversion program began. Page 12 A DJALA-T OSOR ONT IO T O W NSHIP NE WS