Gravel pits, infrastructure, growth, discussed at Erin all-candidates meeting

ERIN – The Erin Lions Club and Erin Votes Together hosted an all-candidates meeting on Oct. 14 at the Hillsburgh Arena.

The event included a formal question period for the mayoral candidate, followed by an informal meet-and-greet with all councillor candidates. 

 All three candidates for mayor and all candidates for councillors were present, except John Brennan, who is out of the country. 

The mayoral candidates were asked six questions, with a chance for a follow-up question by the moderator.

Official plan update

Question one asked candidates if Erin needs to update its official plan and, if so, how an updated plan should look.

All three candidates agreed an update is required.

“Part of it is looking at sustainability – not just environmental sustainability, but community sustainability, and not growth at all costs,” said incumbent candidate Michael Dehn.

He added he would like to see a better look at “data-driven growth” and expressed the need for proper infrastructure to support growth. 

“Our world is constantly evolving, and we need to evolve with it,” said Dusty Scott. “We also need a plan that protects our town, has a clear vision for a future and not just a document that we have sitting on a shelf.”

Scott said he wants to see residents “more involved in choosing the priorities.”

“Once those priorities are set, I want to have them tied to realistic timelines, realistic budgets and measurable results,” said Scott.

Candidate Rob Smith said the updated official plan would need to be compliant with the province, noting the town works under the framework of the county’s official plan.

Touching on growth, Smith said the town is “capped” and that no new housing developments are coming.

“The updated plan, to me, would certainly have things like updated aggregate policies, like rehabilitation, updated environmental policies and land use policies and things like data centres,” said Smith.

In a follow-up question Scott was asked what specific limits or conditions he might put or insist on before approving new developments. 

“We really need infrastructure and services in place before I would say yes to any new development,” said Scott. “I know we don’t have much choice when it comes to our provincial government, but I [would] do everything I can to manage that growth properly.”

Reserves, tax increases

Candidates were asked if they would continue to draw on reserves to hold down tax increases and how they would keep the town financially sustainable.

“I do not believe reserves should be used to make tax increases look smaller,” said Scott. “Reserves are there to protect the taxpayer and should be used for major costs or infrastructure improvements that we know are coming in the future.”

Scott added he would keep the town financially sustainable.by “scrutinizing the budget” and finding out what is essential and what is not. 

“I think it’s important for us to, as a town, to live within our means,” said Smith.

He added he would look into grant opportunities as well as shared-use agreements.

“I think it’s important that we maybe utilize shared-use agreements with other municipalities within Wellington County – that could be environmental officers or what have you,” said Smith.

He also suggested “unlocking employment lands” as they only make up 1.8 per cent of the tax base. 

“We got to stop draining reserves,” said Dehn, who suggested applying for grants.

“The more we can get from the provincial and federal governments, the better it is,” he said.

“We did get $30 million for wastewater, and we see how little of the community that actually services. But maybe we have to look at user fees for certain services in the town, and where can we attract a little more money.”

Dehn also pointed to utilizing tourism as a means to offset costs.

“Let’s look at some other opportunities to bring people here, let them spend their money and go home the next day,” said Dehn.

In a follow-up, Smith was asked if he would support higher property taxes to restore the town’s financial position and reserves.

Smith said he would “definitely look at other areas” to restore reserves, but he noted the province doesn’t allow municipalities to run a deficit and has the power to force them to raise taxes.

Growth, saying 'no'

Question three was about growth, what candidates are determined to protect, and to what they're prepared to say no.

"As we grow, we need to ensure that we have parks and arenas and all amenities that residents need,” said Smith. “So I’m determined, really, to protect the feel and the charm of the town.”

Smith added he would say no to data centres and commercial fill operations. 

“I would protect agricultural and municipal forests where possible,” said Dehn in his response. “[I would] definitely look at protecting rivers, streams and wetlands. That’s very important to me.”

Dehn added he would be prepared to say no to “developers pushing expensive infrastructure projects without adequate funding.”

Scott replied, “The growth is still coming. I’m not pretending I can stop it by any means, but we need to control how we manage it. We need to protect … our small town charm and feel, our sense of community.”

Scott said he wants to “protect our town’s agricultural lands, our natural heritage, our roads and villages.” 

“I’m also prepared to say no to growth that is too far ahead of our infrastructure and services,” said Scott.

Asked what he would do to preserve the “charm and feel” of Erin, Smith said he would support service clubs in the town.

Gravel pits, remediation

Candidates were asked how Erin should approach the future remediation of gravel pits in the town.

“If we have municipal oversight over fill operations, there are some rules and regulations that are involved,” said Dehn. “The town having some input on it versus the Ministry of Natural Resources, who really aren’t on site that often, gives us an advantage.”

Dehn said the immediate threat he sees is unregulated fill sites, which have to be addressed through the court system and can take years to see a resolution. 

He suggested using the administrative monetary penalty system (AMPS) – a civil, non-criminal enforcement framework for minor infractions – to address unregulated fill.

“One thousand dollars a day for every truck and $1,000 a day for every site, and I think that’s a good deterrent,” said Dehn.

Scott expressed groundwater concerns, stating “our water is priceless.”

“We need to make sure that we’re asking all of the right questions when it comes to these fill operations: do we need to fill them? Who and what are affected by this? Is the environment affected by this? Do we need more vigorous soil testing, contract lengths, traffic, road safety, school zones, long-term financial burdens with this on the town, road degradation? These are all decisions that could affect us in multiple generations to come,” said Scott.

“So, we need to be really careful with this. Get all of the information and make very informed decisions on this.”

Smith suggested the town “pay more attention to TAPMO” (the Top Aggregate Producing Municipalities of Ontario).

“We need to, you know, go to those meetings too and see how we can work around these things,” said Smith.

He added he would strive to see aggregate pits turned into community parks instead of taking fill. 

Asked to expand on the AMPS system, Dehn explained it would allow the municipality to fine violators and keep most of the money as opposed to sending the money to the county.

Environmental concerns

Question five asked, has the town done enough to support its strategic pillar of environmental stewardship, or does it need to do more?

"I think we’ve come a long way. And I want I want our environmental policy to be practical, measurable,” said Scott.  “I’ll also focus on not degrading our tree canopy, our wetlands, waterways and natural heritage.”

He added he would make sure the town has proper emergency preparedness plans in place as “climate change disasters could happen.”  

“I also feel in the future we do need a line item in the budget for the environmental initiatives, because I don’t feel we have that right now, or enough anyway,” said Scott.

Smith replied, “I think we do need to do a little bit more. And I think it’s somewhat evident in the recent fill-in operation."

He added the town needs to address parkland aggregate policies and touched on the effect of the added green belt space in Erin on residents. 

Dehn expressed concerns about flooding in urban centres and about erosion and sediment control.

“If we get one of these storms in the middle of the summer that just park themselves over the town, we’re going to have flooding in our urban centres. So, stormwater management, to me, and especially in our urban cores, is a very urgent concern,” said Dehn. 

Scott was asked to elaborate on his “budget line item” comment. 

“I would first look at the budget, obviously as a team, and ... ind what’s essential, what’s not, and see where we can reallocate money towards different environmental initiatives,” said Scott.

Three commitments

For their final question, candidates were asked what three measurable commitments they are making to voters.

Smith listed a budget surplus, more green space and trails, and the unlocking of employment lands.

Dehn's answer included provincial and federal grants, a truck bypass and finding out the max capacity for the water treatment plant.

Scott listed later council meetings, “a robust communications policy” and increased financial transparency.