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Readers‘ Comer Miltonians without a voice on committee: politician RE: Politician alleges ‘coâ€"ordinated effort‘ kept him off advisory committee, Champion, June 16 issue Dear Editor, Further to your recent article reporting on council‘s appointment to the Mattamy Naâ€" tional Cycling Centre Advisory Committee, I want to make it clear not all the members who supported Councillor Rick Di Lorenzo were part of the alleged "conspiracy" to keep me off this advisory committee. Those who allegedly were know who they are, as do the other members of council. There were some important facts that were omitted from the article â€" facts that | believe many members of council do not want Milâ€" ton residents to be aware of. In 2012, memâ€" bers of that council claimed, "This velodrome will have no impact on Milton property taxâ€" es," and "The velodrome will not cost Milton taxpayers one red cent." I refuted those comments back then, stating that this velodrome would in fact have an imâ€" pact on taxpayers and its operations would have to be subsidized from property taxes. The truth is, by the end of this year, the accuâ€" mulated operating defcit for the velodrome will be $3.3 million, with $2.2 million of that deficit being covered by federal and provinâ€" cial tax dollars through the Legacy Fund. The balance of $1.1 million is coming directly from Milton property taxpayers, as | had preâ€" dicted would occur. When the consultant for the Pan Am Games presented the velodrome business plan to the previous council, we were told that in its first full year of operation (2016) the veloâ€" drome, utilizing Legacy funding, would show a profit of $134,000. I challenged that number and stated that this velodrome will never show a profit. Council dismissed my concerns and accepted the consultant‘s projections. The latest updated budget for the velodrome projects a $423,000 operating deficit in 2016. | predict that this operating deficit will only inâ€" crease over the years, as the velodrome‘s novâ€" elty wears off and maintenance costs increase. The consultant also stated that building the velodrome would cost $40 million. Again, | challenged that number. And again my warnâ€" ing was dismissed by council. The final total cost for the velodrome was $63 million. My point is every prediction I have made to date surrounding this velodrome has been correct, yet the majority of council deterâ€" mined that | wasn‘t the best suited to repreâ€" sent Milton taxpayers on the cycling centre advisory committee. I believe | speak for the majority of Miltonians when it comes to the velodrome. Unfortuâ€" nately, due to council‘s decision, that majorâ€" ity will not have a voice on the committee overseeing its operation. Rick Malboeut, Ward 4 Councillor Proposed legislative changes could impact Halton Dear Editor, I want to inform your readers of an important meeting being held Thursday, July 7 from 5 until 8 p.m. at Oakville Town Hall. This is the meeting that the Region of Halton unanimously approved at my request, after the Ministry of Municipal Affairs chose not to have a meeting in Halton, one of the most impacted regions as it relates to proposed changes to the Places to Grow Act, Greenâ€" belt Act and Niagara Escarpment Act review. Comments are due by September 30. I encourage everyone who is concerned about the future of Milton and Halton to attend, hear the proposals and make their | opinions known. I have three main concerns. The first is the proposed acceleration of growth for Milton and Halton, with the Province proposing | that, between 2013 and 2041, Halton grow | by 220,000 more people than it grew over the | last 25 years (1986â€"2011). That‘s more than | double Milton‘s current growth rate. Secondly, there is no longâ€"term funding plan in this growth plan, even though the Provâ€" ince is stating that it wants compact, comâ€" plete communities. Unfortunately, communities need provincial facilities such as schools, hospitals and transâ€" | portation networks, none of which are menâ€" tioned in these reports. Finally, the Province requires municipalities to have 10â€"year capital plans and financing | for future growth. Provincial ministries do not. | request that its requirements for muâ€" nicipalities be the same for all its ministries | so Milton and Halton can plan and have the | growth. For more about the meeting or the proposals, | please contact me at colin.best@milton.ca. provincial facilities weneed to handle future | Colin Best, | Local and Regional Councilior | Ul insidehaiton.com ks * t = â€" O( A heartwarming story about a Campbellville man who surprised his family with his $1â€"milâ€" lion lottery win on the same day he received a clean bill of health had a lot of people talking. Here‘s what some of the Champion‘s Faceâ€" book fans had to say about the story, which you‘ll find on page 14. Ellie Inman MacPhee: Very blessed, in more ways than one! Congratulations! Bill ‘Stokes‘ Wilkinson: Congrats Uncle Rick! Could not happen to a better person. Nancy Demetrious: That is so awesome. You deserve every loonie. Congratulations. Pamela Wilson: You did good Rick Bicchierai. Congrats. I pray something like that happens to me someday soon; sure could use it. Lotters welcome: Tthe Champion welcomes letâ€" ters to the editor. Letters should be no more than 300 words. We reserve the right to edit, revise and reject letters. Letters must be signed with first and last name for publication, and the address and the telephone number of the writer included for verification purposes only. Email yours to editor@ miltoncanadianchampion.com or send by mail to 555 Industrial Dr., Milton, Ont., LIT SE1. A h : Mn T9. l 1 350 SELLING m hsnnd r- ks h 1 h wl x x k *k * Sâ€"STAR SAFETY BECAUSE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT CARGO is YOUR CREW." _4 3 21 | 33â€" IN CANAD A F OR h . F yz smm ds y t _ < y a j Â¥ 4 t c f % d J LGLallinge MmILTON esf. 1967 ==» MnEA 655 MAIN STREET EAST, MILT N www.gallingorford.comN 905â€"875â€"FORD(3673) * £ NYIGVNYI NOLTIW ‘og auny Aepsuin wo3‘uo0}|2uyapis U| MMA