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Wind turbines will be turning only under township's guidelines By Liz Dadson |
Huron-Kinloss Council To Comment on this article Click Here |
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 Huron-Kinloss council and staff are dressed in their best for an official picture at the general committee meeting Feb. 7: back, chief building official Matt Farrell (L), public works director Hugh Nichol, councillors Don Murray, Jim Hanna, Carl Sloetjes, deputy mayor Wilfred Gamble, parks and recreation director Mike Fair, councillor Jeff Elliott; front, councillor Lillian Abbott (L), administrator Mary Rose Walden, mayor Mitch Twolan, treasurer Jodi MacArthur, and clerk Sonya Watson | ||||
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Huron-Kinloss council is not implementing a freeze on industrial wind developments, but the game is going to be played the township's way, despite provincial regulations. At the general committee meeting yesterday morning (Feb. 7), staff presented council with a copy of the resolution from Arran-Elderslie Township which calls for a moratorium on industrial wind turbines. "We should have a similar resolution," said councillor Jim Hanna. "There are some major negative health effects from these turbines. We need to take a stand, legal or not, I don't care. We have to stop these damned things." He noted that the Grey Bruce Health Unit and the medical officer of health, Dr. Hazel Lynn, are calling for a study or investigation be done, regarding the effects of industrial wind turbines on human health. Administrator Mary Rose Walden said the township can approve a resolution of support for Arran-Elderslie's resolution, as well as its own resolution stating a freeze on wind developments in Huron-Kinloss. Hanna said the township should do both, and put some funding toward whichever municipality is sued first by the wind developers and the provincial government. However, Walden pointed out that if the township puts a freeze on wind farm development, how does staff deal with developers who are seeking information? "Do we work with them or not?" she asked. Hanna said the township should place the freeze on any development that refuses to follow the municipality's guidelines for wind farms. "We have a policy already in place that these developments must adhere to," said mayor Mitch Twolan. "Do we need another resolution?" asked councillor Lillian Abbott. "Not really," said Walden. "We have that policy. We can reaffirm it in a resolution, and support Arran-Elderslie." "Our policy is similar to what Arran-Elderslie has," said chief building official Matt Farrell. "It states we'll issue a building permit if all our conditions are met." "We can include Dr. Lynn's call for a health study as well," said Twolan.
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"I'd like to see us reaffirm what we're doing," said Hanna. "I don't
want wind developers coming in here under the Green Energy Act which is
the closest to provincial terrorism as I've ever seen. I think Ontario
is going to enjoy a change in venue come the next election. These
(turbines) are beacons to insanity. I said that before and I was right." "We could look at a freeze on wind developments until after the election," said councillor Don Murray. "There are going to be changes to the Green Energy Act after the provincial election." "What we have is like a freeze," said Twolan. "If they (developers) don't meet the provisions of our policy, then no building permit is issued." Walden said that whatever projects have been awarded are going to go ahead. "The major problem we have is that this whole issue is turning neighbour against neighbour," said Murray. "If they're going to live beside a wind farm, they may as well sign a lease and make some money," agreed Twolan. "I'd like to tear down every turbine that's there, but that's not being balanced and fair," said Hanna. Staff will bring forward a resolution at the next council meeting, reaffirming the township's stand and its guidelines for wind developments. Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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