Letter to the Editor: Seguin Noise Pollution

Here's the transcript of my letter to the local paper (click link for on-line text at www.cottagecountrynow.ca)...

I support Ontario Camp of the Deaf’s effort to raise charitable funds in a legal manner. I’m a former, scarred, motorcycle rider and now ATV and sled guy. I support motor sport enthusiasts as long as everyone is acting within the law.

While the camp’s motor sport racing may be considered a “legally non-conforming” activity, the motor sport related noise level was measured as illegal (by independent consultants hired by Seguin) based on Ministry of the Environment standards.

Let’s be perfectly clear. The camp’s disputed commercial zoning issue is separate from the illegal noise pollution issue.

Mr. Chidley, according to this newspaper’s April 23 article, intends to wait until his possible re-election in order to deal with the noise pollution issue in Ward 1. Noise pollution created by the camp’s motor sport racing should be dealt with now.

Politicians have put off fixing this noise pollution problem for too long. First Foley’s, now Seguin’s council continue to permit illegal noise to pollute the residential area surrounding the camp without effective, measurable municipal by-laws in place which are strictly enforced. Seguin has got to get tough and stay tough.

Seven months remain before the end of Mr. Chidley’s term as Ward 1 councillor. It is outrageous that Mr. Chidley will allow area residents to suffer another long summer of illegal noise pollution without action. An enforceable noise pollution by-law with high, escalating minimum fines for any repeat commercial offender needs to pass now. Mr. Chidley wants to wait until 2011 to - maybe - fix the problem. Mr. Chidley wants area residents and cottagers to suffer - for no valid reason - another summer of illegal noise pollution. If Mr. Chidley will not act now, Mr. Chidley will not act later.

Bill Pocock

Candidate for Ward 1 councillor
Seguin Township

The Trilliums Return

A happy sign of Spring as the trilliums bloom once more.

The white...

... and the red.

Trail Clearing Injury

*** WARNING: THE FOLLOWING POST SHOWS IMAGES OF A MINOR INJURY SUSTAINED AS A RESULT OF FOREST TRAIL CLEARING. SOME IMAGES REVEAL A SMALL AMOUNT OF BLOOD AND GORE THAT MAY NOT BE SUITABLE TO ALL VIEWERS ***

This is the sort of blog post I would normally put on my sustainable forestry website. But as I'm only writing on my campaign blog for the next little while, I'm placing it here.

Yesterday I decided to clear some trail I'd previously marked. Most of the work simply involves removing forest litter (fallen trees, branches, and leaf piles), cutting saplings along the trail line, and sawing branches that prevent passage along the trail corridor.

Here's a series of photos about my trail clearing and a small injury sustained, of course, just at the end of the job.

Here's the trail entrance before I begin clearing.

Here's the after photo with forest litter cleared. The next stage
of trail clearing will involve leveling out the grade of the trial
surface.

An old hemlock log fallen across the trail route.

I hack away at the log with axe. The log was so decayed
I could have done the job with a sledge hammer.

I lift the cut log out of the trail section. Look ma! Only one hand.
Those old hemlock logs can be pretty light.

With the log out of the way, this section of trail is clear.

It was sawing the very last sapling - being careless - that I cut
my leg with the pruning saw. More hacking than sawing, the
sapling gave way and the saw followed through and sawed into
my leg. Blood soaked through the cut pant leg right away. Uh-oh....

Glad I had some gauze wrap in my first aid kit. I quickly wrapped
a section of gauze around my leg to stop the blood flow. Then I
picked up all my gear and walked back to the Forest Management
Office (FMO). Alone in the bush, walking is better than crawling.

Back in the FMO I got my bottle of hydrogen peroxide along with
gauze roll and package of sterile gauze pad. It was time to get
a good look at the wound and make a proper dressing.

I used my handy-dandy Leatherman multi-tool scissors to cut
away the gauze wrapping.

I got lucky. The cut was so close to the shin bone it didn't cut too
much flesh. The pressure from the first aid gauze helped to stop the
bleeding. Just a shallow flesh wound.

I poured the hydrogen peroxide over the wound to help clean
it and prevent infection.

I folded the sterile gauze pad and placed it over the wound.
Then I wrapped the gauze roll around my leg to hold the
sterile pad in place.

The extra wrap end is cut in the middle then
stripped into two pieces. I wrap the bandage
ends in opposite directions around the leg and
tie them together.

I double knot the bandage strips and tuck the loose ends under
the wrapping so they're out of the way. The gauze wrap shouldn't
be too tight - just enough to hold the gauze pad in place.
I'll live. Now back to work!

Chidley's Running

I salute Ward 1 incumbent Alex Chidley's decision to run for re-election in Ward 1 (for the announcement article by Cameron Ginn in Cottage Country Now - click link). It's important for people to have a choice of candidates for Ward 1. That's democracy and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Let's look at how I differ with the other candidate.

The article states:

Heading Chidley’s agenda are a number of priorities he hopes to address with another term, such as the construction of a new fire hall and a public library, as well as a community centre that would be amalgamated with the Foley Agriculture Society.

A new public library and community centre is in line for new construction - according to my sources - in the next term whether Mr. Chidley is elected or not. So, that's not an issue.

I'm a huge supporter of public libraries and community centres as they form the hub of area activity. This is clearly missing in Foley and will be addressed regardless.

I take up the idea of Ward 1 resident, C.R. Fares. His idea of refurbishing the old skating rink in Foley is a good one. Let's put a roof over with exposed sides that would keep snow off the ice.

This four season structure would serve as an activity centre for area youth to play ball hockey or for skateboard use even on rainy days. That and a hundred other uses. C.R. and I are both carpenters. I'm sure, with many area construction-skilled volunteers, we could significantly reduce the building cost by donating labour. Why not make it a traditional timber frame structure? Do an old time barn frame raising.

Such a traditional wooden barn frame structure is not only at the heart of Foley agricultural history, but is the very essence of communal volunteer effort that celebrates the true pioneer spirit and character that is the legacy of our Foley ancestors. Something we could be truly proud of and display for all to see. That's what I would like to do.

The article continues...

After re-election, Chidley plans to end an ongoing dispute in his ward, where some residents have expressed discontent with the noise of high-revving engines being generated by ATVs and dirt bikes at the Camp for the Deaf.

Politicians have put off fixing this noise pollution problem for too long!

First Foley and now Seguin council continue to permit illegal noise to pollute the residential area surrounding the camp without effective by-laws or enforcement. Independent tests clearly show that provincial noise law has been broken.

Says Mr. Chidley in the article...

“Certainly, something has to change dramatically to make sure these people aren’t having to listen to this noise weekend after weekend.”

There is still seven months remaining before the end of the current term - and a whole summer of racing. It is outrageous that Mr. Chidley will allow area residents to continue suffering.

An enforceable noise pollution by-law with high, escalating minimum fines for any repeat commercial offender needs to pass now.

Mr. Chidley wants to wait until 2011 to - maybe - fix the problem. Mr. Chidley wants area residents and cottagers to suffer through yet another summer of noise pollution.

If Mr. Chidley will not act now, Mr. Chidley will not act later.

Signs of Spring

ISSUE: Ontario Camp of the Deaf

Seguin Township is home to the Ontario Camp of the Deaf (OCD) founded in 1962. One of the current issues in Seguin municipal politics involves the controversial operation of motorsports on the camp property and the noise pollution created as a result of that activity.

A good background article (by Jack Tynan) on this issue is available at the Cottage Country Now website (click on link to read). I will quote from this article during this post.

An excerpt from the article:

At the centre of the disagreement sits the argument over whether the camp can continue to allow racing based on its rights to do so being grandfathered in because it sat within commercial zoning in the former Foley Township – a zoning that permitted “an amusement area” and a “place of entertainment” under long-since-replaced Foley zoning regulations. Now that Foley is part of Seguin Township, the camp sits in a residential area, but its legal representative argues that law protecting existing activities amid zoning changes means camp sporting events can continue.

MY INITIAL THOUGHTS ON THE ISSUE:

This weekend I campaigned door-to-door for the first time for the fall election. When speaking with constituents I stated that, to my knowledge, council had come to an agreement with the camp's management to operate with the condition that provincial noise pollution regulations were observed and enforced.

To avoid a legal battle, Seguin Township representatives have proposed a memorandum of understanding that would limit race and practice times and put noise limits on track operations at the camp.

Seguin council has 'proposed' but not finalized any agreement with the Ontario Camp of the Deaf. I mistakenly assumed that an agreement had been passed by council. I apologize for representing my views on a subject in which I was not fully informed.

I'm still not fully informed. I have spoken with representatives of a group who oppose the camp motorsport operations while supporting the camp's charitable activities. They say they have documents in support of their case, but have so far refused to disclose them to me. They have my e-mail address, but have not forwarded copies to me for my consideration. I have not yet spoken to Camp Director, Derek Rumball.

“The Ontario planning act said we have to build in some exception for people who have been using the property a certain way for years,” said Ed Veldbloom, Seguin Township’s legal consultant on the issue. “If you are there before the zoning regulations come in, you are legally established.”

Here is a link to The Planning Act on-line.


HERE'S HOW I SEE THE ISSUE BASED ON CURRENT INFORMATION:

• Nobody (in their right mind) is against the Ontario Camp of the Deaf charity in helping people who are deaf.

• The charitable activities of the camp are essentially distinct from the commercial motorsport activities carried out on camp property.

• It is misleading to suggest that complaints about noise violations from commercial motorsport activities on camp property is an attack on the camp's charitable work.

• The OCD Information Package (click link to view) presents evidence to support claims that motorsport racing on camp property has exceeded provincial legal limits on rural noise.

• OCD Motorsport activity was legally permitted under the former Foley Township. The Ontario Planning Act states that previous commercial property use be carried forward into (now amalgamated) Seguin Township.
  

• Motorsport activity should be permitted on camp property in accordance with the Ontario Planning Act.
  

• Provincial quantitative noise laws must be respected. Seguin needs to adopt quantitative (measurable) noise by-laws in line with provincial standards. Seguin needs to rigorously enforce a revised by-law with minimum fines.

• I prefer this issue to be resolved by an out-of-court solution between the Ontario Camp of the Deaf and area residents as represented by Seguin council members.
  

Seguin Quotes: April 24 - 25

So begins a series of posts which will become the core of my campaign for Ward 1 councillor for Seguin Township. I've scrapped my idea for doing a boring ten question survey. First I have to listen to people speak about their life in Seguin.

The 'Seguin Quotes' series reveals the considered thoughts and beliefs of the people of Ward 1.

The question: "What's the one thing you would change about Seguin Township?"

Windfall Lake Road

"Keep local taxpayers' money in the township for Seguin projects" - John Kempton, Windfall Lake Road.

"As far as I'm concerned we're coming up pretty well for our tax dollar" - Tom Fleming, Windfall Lake Road.

Deyett Drive

"Remove the mayor" - Janis Metscher, Deyett Drive.

"No comment" - Michael Metscher, Deyett Drive.

The shore of First Lake on Crane Lake Road.

"Renovate the Horseshoe Lake Community Centre into a day care centre" - C.R. Fares, Crane Lake Road.

"More posted speed limits and a community safety zone on Crane Lake road" - C.R. Fares, Crane Lake Road.

"Community is important. Signs are important for pride" - C.R. Fares, Crane Lake Road.

"It would be nice to have an outdoor rink in Foley again with a roof to keep the snow off" - C.R. Fares, Crane Lake Road.

Rankin Lake Road alongside the 400 highway.

"Politics is politics and most people don't understand it" - Rose Emerson, Rankin Lake Road.

"I like it here. It's a nice place to live" - Christie Mercier, Rankin Lake Road.

"People can nick and pick, but overall everything's pretty decent" - Jules Soenens, Rankin Lake Road.

"We need a Community Safety Zone at Rankin Lake Road and Old Colonial Road" - Jules Soenens, Rankin Lake Road.

"I'm tired of being Conned" - Mike Phillips, Rankin Lake Road.

"I think council should work together because all the in-fighting looks bad on the township as a whole" - Doug Lebert

"The location of the Deaf Camp should be left alone. It brings tourism to the area and it's been there for years" - Krista Copland, Rankin Lake Road.

"The price of building permits are insane" - John Chisolm, Rankin Lake Road.

"Mail-In voting should not be allowed" - John Chisolm, Rankin Lake Road.

Black Road

"The roads suck with potholes" - Doug Smith, Black Road.

"Now there's too many bears around because they canceled the Spring Bear Hunt. The MNR [Ministry of Natural Resources] admits that they can't control the bears. We need to bring back the Spring Bear Hunt to better manage the bear population" - Doug Smith, Black Road.

"[At Rankin Lake and Black Road] They're ditching the wrong way" - Doug Smith, Black Road.

"Seguin seems money hungry" - Lisa Hemmings, Black Road.

"Boat launches need to be better maintained" - Lisa Hemmings, Black Road.

"I love it here" - Beth Smith, Black Road.

Accidental action photo of my bike.

Angry Voters

Talking to constituents is sometimes like drinking from a fire hose.

I sympathize with people who believe they have been treated unjustly by an uncaring municipal government or inconsiderate neighbours. Frustration can lead to anger. Spoiling anger may surrender to rage.

When I step onto someones property, to talk about local politics, I now realize that I have to be ready for anything. Anything.

On my last stop yesterday I was invited into the home of two ardent supporters of the incumbent. The couple was livid on a single issue in the Township (I won't provide names or identify the issue) and I quickly realized that they were never going to support me. Regardless, I remained to discuss the issue because I'm interested and may have to decide on it if elected - I would certainly represent them as constituents even if elected against their wishes.

But at no point did I feel welcome in their home, though I was invited in. Near the end of the conversation, which lasted at least half an hour, I had to warn the man to stay out of my personal space as he had repeatedly swiped a sheet of paper back and forth, inches from my face. This man's rage was so intense that I felt at any moment he could attack me.

It's unfortunate that otherwise good people could be driven by circumstance to exhibit such unwelcome behavior to a neighbour. I'm just a carpenter trying to serve his community, okay?

If elected I will consider the issue without prejudice, but I will never again knowingly step foot on their property.

Beware of Dogs

Yesterday marked the beginning of my door-to-door talks with Ward 1 constituents. It's definitely full of surprises. A basic survival instinct kicked in when confronted by territorial barking dogs.

My right hand bears the scars of a deep dog bite - so I know to be cautious around even seemingly friendly dogs. While owners may say, "The dog's really a big baby", you can never tell for sure with a strange dog. And you can never know for sure about a dog you've known for years. One person's vote isn't that important to me that I'm going to risk that the rope or thin chain won't snap as the snarling dog leaps towards me again and again.

I say this as a someone who really, really likes dogs. It was my own dog that scarred my hand.

Campaign Brochure

Many sincere thanks to Cindy at Minuteman Press for the fine advice and many copies of my campaign brochures.

Excellent service and I was surprised at how inexpensive it was. Small adjustments made a big difference.

It's good to accept help and take advice from others. That's something I tend to forget - or reject. As I like to think of myself as a rough 'n ready forest guy, it can create a blind spot - either not acknowledging that I need help, or refuse it from some macho need to go it alone. Maybe it's just a guy thing. That and not asking strangers for directions to the mastodon hunt. That's another problem I have.

So, I'm giving myself permission to get someone else to fold these brochures....

Voter Eligibility

Seguin Township Office

I swung by the Seguin Township administrative building today to find out a thing or two about voter eligibility. As I will be surveying Ward 1 people for their direction on my council voting, I want to be sure that I'm talking to people qualified to vote.

Here's what the Municipal Elections 2010 Guide states:

A person is entitled to be an elector at an election held in a local municipality, if on voting day he or she is:

• a Canadian citizen;
• at least 18 years old;
• residing in the local municipality or an owner or tenant of land there, or the spouse of such owner or tenant; and
• not otherwise prohibited from voting.

The following cannot vote in a municipal election:

• a person serving a sentence of imprisonment in a penal or correctional institution;
• a corporation; or
• a person convicted of a corrupt practice for an election held within four years of voting day.

If not on the voting list, you can fill out a form to get registered at the Seguin office in September. As it is a mail-in voting system, trying to do this on Oct 25th (voting day) could be problematic to say the least.

The form merely requires a potential voter to declare on the signed document that they occasionally 'reside' in Seguin. Their word is taken for granted.

So, for the purpose of my 'Perfectly Seguin' survey, an 18 year old who visits a family cottage for one weekend out of the year has the same right to vote in a Seguin Township election as a 60 year old who has lived in the township since birth.

Should I wonder who takes the trouble to vote?

Signs Posts

Yesterday I chopped points on some of the sapling sections cut from under the hydro line.



I realize, at first glance, that 'innocent' trees are being cut down in order to make my campaign signs. Readers of this blog know that these trees are actually dead or a safety issue which need to be cut down.


So, I use the wood for campaign signs as it reflects my sustainable forestry ways, reduces the use of plastic signs, and reduces cost.