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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2004 THE NEW TANNER EPWA Commends Erin Councillor To the Editor, Members of the Eramosa Watershed Protection As- sociation attended the fist meeting of Wellington County Solid Waste Serv- ices Committee on January 13, 2004. The new Chair, the member from Erin, Councillor Lou Maieron, is keeping true to pledges made in his election cam- paign. In particular to review the proposed Ospringe Waste Transfer Station and to provide more environmentally friendly and economical al- ternatives for solid waste services in Erin and Guelph-Eramosa. Council- lor Maieron started the process by providing mem- bers of the committee with a questionnaire and discus- sion working paper. We are all well aware that this was an election issue and the E.W.P.A. be- lieves that there are neither the financial nor environ- mental benefits of building a transfer site in Ospringe without further review of the alternatives. The E.W.P.A. also believes that this is a project that the vast majority of the people in the Towns of Erin/Guelph- Eramosa do not want, and are being forced into a situ- ation of paying tax increases and getting less service. Recent cost estimates by the county about transfer station cost vs. rural collec- tion indicated marginal long-term savings to a transfer site. This could be easily questioned by a dif- ferent set of numbers by Rockwood Phone: 856-4950 Happy Valentine's Day! "The BEST Fish & Chips" in Rockwood and all surrounding areas. HOURS: Wed, Thurs. & Sat. 11:00 - 7:30 Fri. 11:00 - 8:30 private contractors who The Rockw could quote on the project of rural collections. Private contractors could give us a fixed cost for services not a $2.3 million and rising transfer station cost. The cost comparison is also flawed in that it lacks consideration of the fact tuvererreommnns Thymbs down on Horton's proposal Curbside pickup includes an increased level of serv- ice without the hidden environmental risks of lo- cating a transfer site beside the Eramosa River. The E.W.P.A. believes there is an opportunity to change the direction of solid waste planning in Wellington. The solid waste committee has sev- eral new faces that are willing to look at positive change in order to achieve our needs as garbage pro- ducers while maintaining some sensible level of cost and environmental safety. We should all keep in mind that funds spent on old technology (transfer station) will not be avail- able for new advances in garbage handling in the fu- ture, as this money will be allocated for a 20-year minimum period. Rural pickup or other alternatives could provide an increased level of service with the big advantage of no large up front capital cost of $2.3 to $5 million. A pay-for-use service could enable changes at any time to im- proved technology, perhaps saving taxpayers plenty of dollars with far less environmental risk. In closing we would like to compliment Mr. Maieron on his profes- sional manner in handling the first working meeting of the solid waste commit- 'tee. This feeling was reflected by several com- mittee members at the end of this first meeting, and that there was much opti- mism in the group that these important issues could be addressed in an environmental and finan- cially responsible manner. Sincerely, E.WP.A. BY MAGGIE PETRUSHEVSKY The New Tanner Despite attempts to sof- ten the message, Rockwood area residents made their opinion plain Monday at a public meet- ing seeking input on a proposal to rent the former Rockwood fire hall to Tim Hortons. The franchise may be a good corporate citizen and serve good food, but resi- dents really want it down the road or out of town. Several speakers sug- gested the chain should establish itself at the vacant Cheffields' location on Highway 7 a few miles fur- ther west of the village since that would allow the munici- pality to collect the same taxes as it would from rent- ing out the fire hall. But it would take all the undesir- able aspects out of the village. Speakers discounted the budgetary importance of rent council would receive from leasing the hall to the chain on a longterm basis. Over and over, residents criticized council's proposal to rent the hall to the chain, citing concerns about safety, noise and nuisance factors. The site is too close to Rockwood's_ Centennial school, they said, so senior pupils will undoubtedly visit the restaurant for lunches. They predicted it would -be- come a hangout for teenagers fy Rockwood Eramosa Minor Ball Association 2004 Softball Registration The "Rockwood Rebels" are looking for you! REMBA will be holding softball registration for the 2004 Summer Season in the Meeting Room at the Rockwood Library as follows: Monday, February 16, 2004 From 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, February 28, 2004 From 10:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Visit the REMBA website at www.rkd.ca/remba for more detailed information or call Rhonda Fisher, REMBA Registrar at 856-9177 pointing to problems for neighbors of the franchise's locations in Acton and Georgetown. They fear traffic congestion from big rigs parking on Alma Street while the drivers run in -Military veteran -Airline Pilot -Your choice for Conservative Candidate! Acton Friday, Feb 7-9p Acton Legion 15 Wright Avent Candidate Nominee Conservative Party of Canada Wellington- Halton Hills ALL WELCOME! Drop by for a snack and meet Marty, and Trish Contact Marty at www.martyburke.ca 519-763-4384 to get their order. The village's non-profit seniors residence Squires Lodge is adjacent to the site and light pollution, lit- ter, noise from garbage compactors and traffic will all be 24-hour a day prob- lems for the seniors, various speakers said. Former councillor Doug Breen warned residents this is a watershed for the village. Residents will ei- ther accept the proposal and accept the revenue it will generate. Or they will reject it and push council to take a more altruistic approach to uses for the site by doing things like expanding Squires Lodge or expanding the adjacent medical centre to make room for a second doctor. But if they reject the ad- ditional funds, Breen warned them, they should quit complaining about the way their taxes are increas- ing because renting the hall is one way of controlling spending. Guelph/Eramosa clerk Janice Sheppard told the meeting council has not been soliciting other uses for the building. Council will debate the plan to lease the hall at its. March 1 meeting. 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