JOINT PUBLIC MEETING

MINUTES

TOWN OF SOUTH & TOWNSHIP OF GEORGIAN BLUFFS

7:30 PM – WEDNESDAY MAY 30th, 2012 SHALLOW LAKE & DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE

1. CALL TO ORDER OF JOINT PUBLIC MEETING BY MAYOR ALAN BARFOOT.

Mayor Alan Barfoot of the Township of Georgian Bluffs called the public meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. with 35 members of the public present.

2. INTRODUCTION OF COUNCIL AND STAFF MEMBERS BY MAYOR JOHN CLOSE AND MAYOR ALAN BARFOOT.

Mayor Close introduced the Town of Council Members – Marilyn Bowman, Janice Jackson, Jay Kirkland, Karen Klages, Paul McKenzie, and Jim Turner. Mayor Close also introduced staff members Angie Cathrae, Clerk/CEMC and Tracey Neifer, Manager of Financial Services.

Mayor Alan Barfoot introduced the Township of Georgian Bluffs Council Members – Deputy Mayor Dwight Burley, and Councillors Carol Barfoot, Judy Gay, Robert Lennox, Ryan Thompson and Tom Wiley. Mayor Barfoot also introduced staff members Murray Hackett, CAO; Bruce Hoffman, Clerk, Holly Morrison, Treasurer and Deputy Clerk Christine Fraser-McDonald.

3. POWER POINT PRESENTATION OF PROPOSED RESTRUCTURING PROPOSAL.

Treasurer Holly Morrison gave a power point presentation explaining the proposed restructuring. She noted that the joint working committee was established in 2011 for the purpose of reviewing issues of common interest between the two townships.

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JOINT PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES TOWN OF SOUTH BRUCE PENINSULA & TOWNSHIP OF GEORGIAN BLUFFS 7:30 PM – WEDNESDAY MAY 30th, 2012 SHALLOW LAKE & DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE

The proposal consists of the airport becoming 100% ownership to the Township of Georgian Bluffs in exchange for lands along Highway 6 and at the south end of the airport.

The value of the airport, future capital requirements, affect on the assessment base and the affect on ratepayers must all be taken into consideration. 38 properties would be transferred to the Town of South Bruce Peninsula with a total 2012 assessment of $8,262,500. The taxation revenue for Georgian Bluffs is $126,886 and is $123,566 for the Town of South Bruce Peninsula. The taxation revenue for Georgian Bluffs would be $12,804 while it would be $16,260 for South Bruce. So in other words, the impact on $100,000 of assessment for a residential property would be from $416.90 (Georgian Bluffs) to $547.07 if moved to South Bruce Peninsula.

If Georgian Bluffs assumes 100% ownership of the airport, it would mean that on $100,000 of assessment, there would be an $8.78 increase.

It should also be noted that ratepayers would also be affected by change of address, 911 signage, tax and utility bills, garbage and recycling pickup, by-laws and zoning, dog tags and payment arrangements.

4. PUBLIC COMMENTS

o Anna Vukovic – was a former councillor of South Bruce Peninsula when the airport was appraised at 1.8 million and subsequent to that, Georgian Bluffs was put on title. o The transfer will include the airport to Georgian Bluffs and in return Georgian Bluffs would transfer the lands south of Elm Street to South Bruce Peninsula. These lands are not owned by Georgian Bluffs, but by individual owners. o What is the rationale and what is there for South Bruce Peninsula except losing 1 million dollars in assets and what is Georgian Bluffs planning to do with the airport. What kind of business is going to be there? o South Bruce Peninsula already owns the land where the lagoon is located, but need to expand the lagoon if the retirement village comes into play o Georgian Bluffs has a contract with South Bruce Peninsula for fire protection to look after area south of Elm Street and east of Highway 6. If this land comes to South Bruce Peninsula, they do not need fire protection so that means the town would lose that $70,000, so $40,000 is not enough to cover this. o Giving away $1million for nothing.

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JOINT PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES TOWN OF SOUTH BRUCE PENINSULA & TOWNSHIP OF GEORGIAN BLUFFS 7:30 PM – WEDNESDAY MAY 30th, 2012 SHALLOW LAKE & DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE o Craig Gammie – indicated that he appreciated the effort going into the proposal, but the process is completely wrong. A Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process goes through five steps: define the problem, generate alternative solutions to know that there is a good idea to have optimum solution, analysis of alternatives, choose the preferred alternative and implementation. o the proponent must have contact with the public in every step of the process so that the public knows what is being decided and how decisions are being reached. o The Municipalities have not defined the problem. Mr. Gammie recommended that the proposal be put back on the table and go back to the beginning with a Class EA. o Not a fact that the airport is good for the area. This decision is based on opinion instead of analysis and facts. o EA will be less complicated if the lands are in South Bruce Peninsula – this is false. The EA only answers to the Environmental Assessment Act. Neither town has any say on whether the EA is accepted. It is judged according to whether it conforms with the Environmental Assess Act. o Roger Baskerville – wants to understand the taxation information. What is the tax revenue of the 38 properties that Georgian Bluffs would lose? o Why does South Bruce Peninsula want to get out of the airport business? o Does South Bruce Peninsula want to see the airport continue and have a future? o It seems that South Bruce Peninsula sees difficulty in working with Georgian Bluffs in the airport and have identified it as a money pit. o Consideration for this transfer would be conditional upon what kind of costs you may have to incur if there is no federal money? o Have there been problems with South Bruce Peninsula concerning the development of their sewage lagoon? o Mark Filsinger – should be a no because what percent of the population is going to be using the airport? Less than 5 or 1 %? o Our money should be put into things that the majority of people use. o has an airport that is a money pit. That’s why South Bruce Peninsula wants to unload the airport. All governments should stay out of free enterprise. o As a tax payer in Georgian Bluffs, it is nothing but a money pit. o Pat Hoy – what number are you looking for support? 50%? How much will it cost to take it to the next phase? o How many airports of this size make money?

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JOINT PUBLIC MEETING MINUTES TOWN OF SOUTH BRUCE PENINSULA & TOWNSHIP OF GEORGIAN BLUFFS 7:30 PM – WEDNESDAY MAY 30th, 2012 SHALLOW LAKE & DISTRICT COMMUNITY CENTRE

o Doug Elliot – Georgian Bluffs should not be in the airport business as there is enough to look after with the operation of the township. o Put some money into the Village of Shallow Lake. o The airport is going to cost a lot of money.

o Edith Galloway – the airport cost $10 and the Department of Transportation had a 10 year option to buy back the airport for $1. o The agreement between the federal government and the Town of Wiarton expired in 2006. It is registered on title.

o Doug Morrison – has been a federal and provincial consultant for years and has been flying in and out of airports as an auditor. o Need a regional airport to make it easier for people to get to places like Ottawa and Toronto. o Grey Bruce is great to live in, but hard to get out of. o He is seeing a vision here and thinks that is good. o What is the role of ?

o David Williton – have to get together – should be a self standing commission that runs the airport. o Should be an interim commission selected from both towns to oversee the process. o Who are the members of the commission?

5. ADJOURNMENT.

The public meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.

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