halton region

Agreement Reached with Woodbine & Province of Ontario

Mike Cluett

We can breath a sigh of relief … for the time being.  Woodbine Entertainment Group has reached an agreement with the province for 2 more years of slots & horse racing at Woodbine AND Mohawk Racetrack.

Much more work to be done.  I wish it could have been a longer term agreement but I’ll take the good news for what it is…

Interesting about the timing of these announcements….schools, horse racing…Halton related issues.  NOW we need to hear an announcement about Milton Education Village.

Heres a link to the announcement.

Horse Racing in Ontario to Continue

January 23, 2013 2:15 pm

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Ontario is another step closer to a sustainable horse racing industry after reaching an agreement in principle to provide transition funding to the province’s largest provider of horse racing.

The agreement with Woodbine Entertainment Group will ensure races continue at the Woodbine and Mohawk tracks as the industry adapts to a more sustainable model. Agreements with additional race tracks are anticipated to be reached in the coming weeks.

In order to receive transition funding, racetracks will have to meet accountability and transparency requirements. Providing a number of racetracks with transition funding is part of the government’s horse racing industry transition plan, which includes:

  • Continuing the Horse Improvement Program
  • Providing animal welfare supports.
  • Transferring responsibility for the Ontario Racing Commission to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

Helping the horse racing industry transition to a more sustainable model is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to ensure increased accountability for the use of public funds.

Quick Facts

  • Ten race tracks have reached lease agreements in principle with OLG for its slots facilities. Additional agreements with tracks are to be announced in the coming weeks.
  • The Ontario Racing Commission will work with race tracks to provide a revised 2013 racing calendar as agreements are finalized.

Quotes

Headshot

“This agreement points to a renewed future for horse racing in Ontario. We look forward to working with additional racetracks towards the further development of a new model for a sustainable industry.”

Ted McMeekin

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

“The transition funding provides much needed stability for the industry. We are pleased with the government’s commitment to ensure the long-term viability of horse racing and breeding which has a proud heritage in Ontario. We look forward to working in partnership with government as we discuss the long term future of a sustainable horse racing industry.”

Nick Eaves

CEO, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Dryer Fire Averted

Mike Cluett

Thanks to Julie Slack at the Milton Canadian Champion, Fire Chief Ellsworth and Randy Korry from Milton Fire Department for their assistance in getting this message out.

In case anyone is wondering I used Iain at www.dryerventcleaner.ca for the work done and highly recommend him.

Councillor has close call with dryer

Mike Cluett shook with fear when he looked at the charred lint that was cleaned out of his dryer last week.

The distinct possibility that a fire was imminent left the Ward 6 councillor stricken with “what-if scenarios” — none of them good.

Cluett and his wife had just returned home from the New Year’s Eve bell-ringing ceremony at Town Hall, tossed a load of laundry into the dryer and sat down to watch television.

Moments later the smell of smoke brought both of them to the second-floor laundry room, but they couldn’t locate a source of fire.

Just to be safe, Cluett, who has lived in the house for three years, said he unplugged the dryer and the next day, contacted an area dryer vent cleaner.

When the cleaner disassembled the gas-operated unit, he asked Cluett to take a look.

“I was shaken when I saw what could have happened,” he said last week, when he sat down with the Champion and fire officials to alert residents to check their own dryers. “This was not a matter of if (it would catch fire), it was a matter of when.”

The cleaner showed him a charred mess of built-up lint that had singed a large portion of the interior dryer. When the drum was completely removed, the black remnants of ignited lint revealed just how close he had come to experiencing a fire.

In his case, his children’s bedrooms are located beside and down the hall from the laundry room.

Cluett said despite regular removal of lint from the trap after each cycle, lint was backed up in the outdoor exhaust duct.

A metal bird protector affixed to the outside of the house prevented the lint in the exhaust duct from properly escaping.

As a result, much of the pipe became blocked with dryer lint. Inside the house, near the gas source, the lint was charred and clearly showed signs of being ignited, Cluett said.

To prevent the build-up, Cluett had the metal cage removed and a louvered air vent installed to allow proper lint escape.

Milton Fire Chief Brian Ellsworth said he doesn’t have numbers, but acknowledged that lint build-up in dryers like Cluett’s has caused house fires in numerous cases across the province.

He suggested residents take measures to ensure this doesn’t happen.

“Check the outdoor ducts, and install a smoke alarm inside the laundry room,” he said.

Milton Fire Department (MFD) fire prevention inspector Barry Kory echoed his concerns, adding that people need to be made aware of the possibility that lint build-up can most definitely be the source of a fire.

“Regular maintenance is a must,” he said.

He also reiterated the importance of not running appliances when residents aren’t home.

“It’s simple, don’t run the dryer when you’re not at home,” Kory said.

In addition to adding a smoke alarm to the laundry room, Kory said the MFD is encouraging the public to install smoke alarms in the garage — another area that has been the source of fire for several house fires in Milton and Halton in the past.

Julie Slack can be reached at jslack@miltoncanadianchampion.com or on Twitter @miltonmusing.

January 2013 Ward 6 Newsletter

Mike Cluett

Just a quick post to say HAPPY NEW YEAR and for you to download a copy of my newsletter for January 2013.

HERE is the link for the Newsletter.

I will be working on a delivery system where you can opt in via email and have them automatically sent out as they are ready.  Slowly but surely.

One of my resolutions this year is to be more effective in communicating with residents in Milton.  I’d love to hear your ideas and thoughts on my video newsletters…should I do it more often….themes/topics of discussions…”VLOG” like postings? Let me know as I’m open to any idea.

Lets hope 2013 is happy and prosperous for you all and I look forward to seeing you at the doors.

Town of Milton Population Hits Six Digits

Mike Cluett

Town’s population hits six digits

From Julia Le, Milton Canadian Champion

Milton is ending the year with a bang.  With the population hitting the 100,000 mark by year’s end, according to Town planning estimates, the town is staying true to its ranking as Canada’s fastest growing community.

Milton Acting CAO Bill Mann said the Town is excited about seeing its vision for the community come to fruition.

He said Milton truly embodies a place where you can live, work and play.

Over the last 15 years, the Town has made a considerable effort to attract people through affordable housing and businesses that will in turn create employment opportunities, according to Mann.

He added the Town has also been creating more neighbourhood parks and building a complete community that has recreational facilities, an arts centre and other amenities, while ensuring residents have the required essential services.

Mann cited that Milton is home to large distribution centres for Target and Lowe’s. The Target distribution centre set to open in May 2013 will be a 1.3 million-sq.-ft. facility and will employ hundreds of people, while the Lowe’s distribution centre, which broke ground last August, will be a 626,000-sq.-ft. facility also expected to employ hundreds of people.

Mann said the Town is guided by the principles of growth engrained in its strategic plan.

He said in 1997, the Town’s official plan anticipated Halton Region’s delivery in 2000 of ‘The Big Pipe’ carrying Lake Ontario water up from Oakville to Milton, and a population that would grow to about 165,000 people by 2021.

Mann said the Town is keeping pace and may exceed that estimate, considering the population grew from 31,471 residents in 2001 to 53,889 in 2006 and 84,362 in 2011, according to census data.

“If we’re able to generate intensification, our population may be 185,000 in 2021 and then by 2031 we’re looking at a minimum of 236,000 people,” he said, adding that Milton has the potential to grow out to 300,000 to 350,000 people. “(If so) Milton will ultimately be larger than Burlington and Oakville.”

But developing and shaping Milton hasn’t come without a price.

“As you can appreciate in any community that is growing as fast as we are, we are experiencing growing pains,” said Mann.

The Town is doing everything in its power to ensure schools, transportation and transit and the hospital keeps up with the population boom.

He said Craig Kielburger Secondary School opened this year and a new catholic high school will open the following year.

Mann added the Town is working with the Region to widen Regional Road 25 and Tremaine Road. Tremaine Road has already been widened between Main Street and Derry Road and next spring there are plans to widen it from Derry to Britannia roads and then from Main Street to Steeles Avenue.

There’s also a long-term plan to expand transit service, have two more GO stops within Milton and encourage the community to get out of cars and walk, cycle or use public transit.

The hospital will also be expanded, with the first patient likely to be seen in December 2017 or January 2018.

“If you look at the last census, the average age dropped down to 34. That’s the youngest age in any community,” he said. “And when you look at the birth rate, we have the highest birthrate at 1,500 births a year, which is phenomenal, hence our need to expand the hospital.”

He said the Town is taking on the challenges head-on and planning for the future.

Other major projects down the line include seeing the Milton Education Village come to fruition and encouraging the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) to work with Mohawk Racetracks to have a full casino and entertainment complex built. He said it would include a hotel and golf course.

Mann said Milton may be expanding, but it hasn’t lost its roots.

“We’re still maintaining that small town atmosphere,” he said, adding that the town has a tremendous historical fabric. “One of the most beautiful things about Milton is people are on a first-name basis.”

He said with the Niagara Escarpment as its backdrop, Milton is really the place to be.

“There is tremendous opportunity within Milton,” he said. “Growing pains will always be there, but they’re manageable and will diminish as we move forward to ultimate state of Milton.”

SNOW PLOWING INFORMATION

Mike Cluett

Ive had quite a few emails this morning as to when streets will be plowed and other snow information.

Here are some links for SNOW

http://www.milton.ca/en/live/resources/ … -roads.pdf

This link is the target snow clearing timelines in town….which roads (arterial, collector, etc) get done first.

http://www.milton.ca/en/live/snowremoval.asp

This link is the main snow page on the Town of Milton site.

Dont forget if you can avoid it at all…do not park on the road to allow for the snow plows.

Allow the Plow!

We all want our street cleared of snow quickly, but nothing slows down the work of snow plows more than cars parked on the street.

Please remember:Mascot named Allow the Plow

3-hour parking unless otherwise posted.
Cars must be off the road during snow plowing (3-hour parking limit does not apply).
Cars impeding snow plowing can be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense.
Keeping your car off the street will speed up snow removal.

If your street has not been cleared within 24 hours after a storm has ended, please call the Snow Control office:

Engineering Services
Phone:905-878-7252 ext 2500

Council Approves Another Tax Increase 3.04%

Mike Cluett

Here is an article from the Milton Canadian Champion with a very brief summation of the budget committee meeting this past Monday at Milton Town Hall.  The meeting went on for over 4 hours and our initial goal was to be at 2.95% increase or lower but it went in the other direction.

There were three main items that council approved that helped send this increase in the budget over the rate of inflation (which is the number I normally support).  The items include an increase increase for parking control because of the change in policy from 3 hour parking to 5 on Milton streets ($55,000), Saturday transit service starting in September 2013 (4 months $76,000) and finally an infrastructure reserve “levy” so to speak ($100,000 every year).

During the budget debate I opposed these three measures (Saturday transit service you can find in another blog entry) and the other two items listed I didn’t support and were subject to a recorded vote.  I did find it interesting that a councillor who voted in support of the transit & parking control measures (which amounted to $133,000 or just over 1.0% of the budget) ended up voting against the budget as a whole.  If they had NOT supported this measure I can understand voting against it.  Isnt that like having your cake and eating it too?

I’ll be posting more on this and other issues as we get closer to Monday night’s council meeting (my birthday by the way 🙂 ) and no doubt these and other items will be discussed over the next year.

Proposed Town budget to go to council next week

After spending hours debating what to include in the Town’s 2013 budget, members of the budget committee Monday night approved a 3 per cent tax hike for urban residents and a 3.05 per cent tax hike for rural residents.

If the budget passes next week, the average rural resident and urban resident will pay an extra $23.17 and $26.46 respectively on a home assessed at $350,000.

The budget committee voted 6-5 in favour of the proposed budget. Councillors and staff spent the night crunching the numbers in an attempt to meet or lower the staff’s recommended hike of 2.95 per cent.

Voting in favour of approving the budget were councillors Colin Best, Sharon Barkley, Cindy Lunau, Arnold Huffman, Rick Di Lorenzo and Zeeshan Hamid.

Voting against it were Mayor Gord Krantz, councillors Rick Malboeuf, Tony Lambert, Greg Nelson and Mike Cluett.

Hamid said it was a complicated budget to work with.

“I don’t think any one of us are happy with what we have, but it’s a compromise,” he said.

“I’m hoping that we recognize that we all came up with this document collectively.”

Krantz said he had hoped for the increase to be closer to the inflation rate of about 2 per cent.

An infrastructure renewal reserve fund was added to the budget Monday night to address future needs. An initial $100,000 to establish the fund increased the proposed tax hike from 2.75 per cent to about 3 per cent.

Barkley argued that the difference Milton residents would be paying next year is a few dollars extra.

Other amendments, additions and deletions to the budget include:

• Allowing the library to open a half hour earlier at a cost of $16,448.

• Permitting the main library to be open on Mondays at a cost of $69,702.

• Discontinuing the Talk of the Town publication, which will save the Town $12,000

• Reducing the budget for catch basin cleaning, which will save the Town $20,000

• Cutting the number of councillors who attend the Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference to the mayor and three other councillors, which will save the Town $8,000.

The capital portion of the budget projects a $65.4 million investment in about 100 projects related to new infrastructure and the rehabilitation of existing assets like facilities, roads, bridges, parks and equipment. About 82 per cent of the investment would go to projects to address the current and future needs of the community while 18 per cent of the investment would go to the renewal and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure.

The operating part of the budget, which looks after the delivery of services required to meet the needs arising from growth in the community and to support the quality of life that residents expect, is projected at around $94.4 million. It’s divided among the Town’s departments, with engineering services, community services and planning and fire departments providing the most direct services to the community.

Enhancements include hiring five additional fulltime firefighters at the new James Snow Parkway station, improved economic development resources to develop an innovation centre, extended transit services to include Saturdays, and parking enforcement to accommodate a proposed five-hour parking regulation.

Town staff said Milton continues to have one of the lowest tax rate in Halton and Peel regions.

The Town’s portion of the overall property tax bill is now estimated at 31 per cent. The regional and education taxes are proposed to make up 43 per cent and 26 per cent respectively.

That means Miltonians could see an overall tax increase of 1.61 per cent in the urban area and 1.57 per cent in the rural area on their 2013 property tax bills.