KENILWORTH – In his Sept. 9 report to Wellington North council, Wellington County councillor Steve O’Neill provided updates on a number of county initiatives.
Green bins
O’Neill stated green bin organic pickup is expected to begin in July 2020.
He said residents will get a green bin as well as a kitchen catcher in order to participate in the program. O’Neill said staff are working to determine which materials will be allowed.
“We do not want residents to put yard waste in the bins,” he said, adding the organic collection service costs about two-and-a-half times more than yard waste pickup.
O’Neill said yard waste is also going to be picked up by the county four times each year, starting in the fall of 2020.
“Obviously most residents in the county will think this is an increase in service. Those of us in Wellington North will realize it is not, since collection is currently six times per year,” he said.
O’Neill stressed diversion of these materials from the Riverstown landfill site is very important.
“A new cell is going to be opened, probably in the summer of 2021 – which is a little sooner than expected.”
Councillor Dan Yake was recently in Simcoe County and spotted the green bins in use there.
O’Neill added “we are probably one of the few local areas which do not provide the service.”
He added the green bins to be used in Wellington will be small enough for workers to lift them into the truck.
Mayor Andy Lennox pointed out one issue which needs to be considered are the boxes/bins.
Lennox said the township goes through quite a few Blue Boxes each year and anticipated the same would hold for the new green bins for organics.
He said the township could encounter challenges keeping the number of required replacements on hand.
Currently Wellington North offices keep a few hundred replacements on hand near the front lobby.
Lennox said the vestibule at the front would be unable to accommodate the green bins in the same manner.
O’Neill agreed this is something which will need to be considered after the initial distribution of green bins.
High speed internet
O’Neill noted Wellington had recently received funds to bring high speed internet to under-serviced areas of the county.
“Obviously most of that is within the rural areas,” he added.
He said the deadline for requests for proposals is Sept. 26 and, “We should see signed contracts with prospective partners shortly after.”
Smart City Challenge
O’Neill commented that earlier this year Wellington County and the City of Guelph were awarded $10-million from the Smart Cities Challenge.
The joint proposal is progressing and an office has opened in Guelph with county and city staff assigned to proceed with work on the circular food economy.
Ride Well program
O’Neill said Wellington County’s Ride Well program, the county-wide ride sharing service, should be ready to roll by Oct. 1. A “soft start” was anticipated by Sept. 13, he said. Rides will be available from 6am to 7pm, Monday to Friday.
O’Neill said the cost is 60 cents per kilometre with a minimum cost of $5 and a maximum of $40.
The estimated cost for a ride between the Arthur and Mount Forest arenas would be $15, which O’Neill considered reasonable.
Mayor Andy Lennox said the intent was for the program to be similar to Lyft or Uber ride sharing.
Wellington North economic development officer Dale Small said the intent was to start with four to five sedans, with potential for vans.
“My understanding is if you look at it more as a public transit. But in this case the bus just happens to be a car,” said Small.
