Chief Administrative Officer Patty Sinnamon assured council on June 28 that the township’s comments about the wind turbine proposal would be at the Ministry of Environment on time.
NextEra Energy Canada has proposed a Conestogo Wind Energy Centre Project near Arthur, with ten turbines.
In fact, since the ministry had set a rare Sunday deadline for comments (July 10), Sinnamon told council she planned to have council’s comments on the wind turbine proposal at the MOE not only on time, but by the Friday – two days early.
Council also supported the comments made by a residents’ group that is opposing the wind turbine proposal, and that package was to be included with the township’s submission.
The province’s rules are that anyone can comment up to the deadline, but once that time has passed, only those who had offered comments on time would be permitted to make further comments as new information becomes available.
Council fine tuned a number of the issues on June 28 that it had considered at a special meeting the week before.
Mayor Bruce Whale said human and animal health are of prime importance to the community.
Sinnamon explained to council that some municipalities are being challenged by turbine companies for what they are requesting for fees and agreements.
Councillor Andy Knetsch asked if that is the same developer with which Mapleton is dealing. Sinnamon said it is not.
Councillor Mike Downey said if there is a court challenge, the approval process could be slowed down.
But Whale noted, “What we’re asking for is in place with other wind farms . Hopefully, it would be defendable.”
When it came to decommissioning the towers after their 25-year lifespan, Whale said the township should insist reserves to ensure the towers come down and their bases are removed.
Councillor Jim Curry suggested a minimum reserve of $1-million, but wondered what the township can do if the cost to remove the towers exceeds that.
Downey asked for a minimum reserve and said the township will have to hold the developers responsible.
Whale said the developers would have to accept covering any costs involved.
Sinnamon said no building permits will be issued until all agreements are signed by the company. She suggested that could include covering a loss of property values up to five kilometres from the turbines. She said it is important to ask for that, even if the ministry decides the township is being unreasonable.
She added that instead of asking for eight feet of the concrete base for the towers to be removed, the township should insist, upon decommissioning, that all the components be taken out, “so all 12 feet” of the concrete base would have to be removed.
Sinnamon also pointed out that when it comes to the NextEra application to the MOE, “There are numerous mistakes in their submission.”
Downey agreed and said the wind farm is not located “west of Alma.”
Sinnamon added there are “some roads wrong, too.”
Curry suggested asking NextEra to pave the township’s gravel roads after using them. Lynch said he does not believe that is possible.
Whale said the township can only ask they be restored to original condition. He said he knows that one company offered paving, but, “I don’t know if we can demand.”
As for heritage roads, Sinnamon said those in Mapleton are not designated by a local architectural conservation advisory committee, and she doubts the township can ask for paving.
She added council will have to decide that.
Downey said, “Forget heritage, and build a good road.”
Curry agreed.
Whale pointed out the township has not accepted that particular road for winter maintenance.
Council then approved the changes it wanted made to the final submission to the ministry.
