- Jon Radojkovic
Climate change, gravel pits, farmland and the Hub were just some of the issues raised at an all candidates meeting in Williamsford on October 11, where about 60 people attended.
The incumbent mayor is seeking a second four year term and is being challenged by Kent Nuhn, a third generation resident of the Township of Chatsworth. The other contest is for deputy mayor as present deputy mayor Brian Gamble is not seeking another term.
Diana Rae, a councillor for four years is seeking the deputy mayor’s job while former councillor and deputy mayor Terry McKay is the challenger.
The three councillors were acclaimed which includes incumbent Elizabeth Thompson, who couldn’t attend the meeting, incumbent Shawn Greig and newcomer Peter Whitten.
When asked about voting in a moratorium on more gravel pits in Chatsworth it was only McKay who said, “We have enough of it.” Rae told residents she was, “Not in favour of a moratorium,” while Greig agreed with Rae, “We use it and we need it.” Mackey said it wouldn’t matter what council did as there is a provincial mandate on gravel extraction and is not up to local councils to decide.
Where a question on climate change preparedness and carbon sequestering was asked Nuhn acknowledged that, “Climate change was a real thing,” and suggested Chatsworth install electric charging stations for vehicles and the use of more solar power. McKay also agreed that, “Climate change was happening,” but no one answered the question of what the Township was doing as far as being prepared. Greig said we still need gasoline and diesel for tractors while Mackey agreed and said there
were no alternatives such as electric snow removal trucks and graders.
The Hub, an issue in the 2018 election, still hasn’t gained much ground, as both provincial and federal grants have passed over Chatsworth’s requests. The Hub is a future community centre and ice rink envisioned by previous councils to be built where the former centre was in the village of Chatsworth, which was torn down as unsafe. All contenders and those acclaimed, agreed that the other two community centres with rinks, in Desboro and Keady, would still be kept, even with a new Hub
construction.
As to protecting farm land Rae said it was in the jurisdiction of the conservation authorities (Saugeen and Grey Sauble) while McKay said protecting farm land was important and progress, such as clearing fields of trees and stone fences was a good thing. Mackey told the polite audience that loss of farm land was a Greater Toronto problem and that the Grey County Official Plan protects housing sprawl along roads from occurring. All development is now steered toward settlement areas.
On the question of roads and bridges, Whitten said he would look at each project’s affordability. The Township has 57 bridges, with 5 currently closed, and each concrete bridge to replace would cost about $1 million. The Township’s overall budget is just over $6 Million. Most contenders acknowledged that gravel roads would stay gravel, as the province doesn’t help every year with their cost anymore.
As far as Chatsworth’s affiliation with the Owen Sound and North Grey Library, Greig said he doesn’t support Chatsworth’s membership, nor does Rae. Mackey said the service to residents is important, but the annual cost, $170,000 may be too much for the amount of users, roughly, 1,500.
This year’s municipal elections are on October 24 and only mail-in ballots were sent. Anyone who didn’t receive one can go to the municipal office with identification to get a ballot. Anyone who hasn’t sent it in by October 13, will need to go to the municipal office to hand it in.
More election information here.
