Addington Highlands Council - Mar 1/10

STILL WAITING FOR SEVERANCE APPROVALS – A frustrated developer, Bruce Kellar, came to council to ask when his application for a severance would be finalised.

Keller outlined the work he has done to satisfy concerns that council has raised about providing access to a property he has been working on developing for the last three years. He has had a driveway built through one property to access another lot, and said he is waiting for direction from council before going any further with his project.

“I have doing, as far as I know, what council has directed me to do in order to get the approvals I need,” he said, “and I am not willing to proceed any further before I receive written direction from the township.”

Bruce Kellar made this statement to a council meeting this week that was chaired by Deputy Reeve Helen Yanch in the absence of Reeve Henry Hogg.

“We have to do what is legal and right for the township,” said Yanch.

“We felt that we had followed the process,” Kellar responded.

Clerk Treasurer Jack Pauhl said he had nothing to say about the matter at this time. Roads Superintendent Royce Rosenblath said that the roadwork that has already been done is fine.

“We will discuss this further and I will give you a call later today,” Helen Yanch said to Bruce Kellar.

The News contacted Bruce Kellar on Tuesday, and he said that he had indeed heard from Helen Yanch later on Monday. “She told me that they will have to get some more advice from their planner, and at this point I would say we are still working on a solution.”

Kellar expects to return to Council with further information on April 5, the date of the next meeting in Flinton.

GREEN INITIATIVE COMMITTEE – Andy Anderson appeared before Council to talk about bringing a green energy initiative to Addington Highlands. He said he wanted to form a committee of Council to look at a variety or opportunities; including a water turbine for Skootamatta, solar potential, and perhaps even a wind project in the Denbigh area.

“If we find suitable projects we would be using this committee as a steering committee to form a co-op,” he said. “This way we would have a community behind us.” Anderson pointed out that with the township planning to build a fire hall, there might be an opportunity to use a green initiative to heat the water or the building.

Deputy Reeve Helen Yanch said this kind of committee had been discussed at a meeting of the economic advisory committee.

Council agreed to set up the committee, which will be chaired by Bill Garnish.

BUDGET MEETING – The first budget meeting for Council has been scheduled for March 8 at 10:00 am at the Flinton Hall. Final numbers for 2009 will not be available, and some departmental budgets will not have been finalised, but council will be in a position to look at some preliminary figures and give direction.