Mill Lake Guardians' Association (MLGA)

Lake Planning Handbook Coming Soon

2009-03-09T05:46:00.000-07:00

In the photo, Randy French of French Planning Services addresses the FOCA members on March 7.

MLGA advisor, Randy French, of French Planning Service, addressed FOCA at their AGM on March 7, 2009. His address appears below:

There is a common thread that binds all lake residents and business operators. We’ve asked many communities what their top values are about their lake or river community. Not surprising, they are similar - Water Quality, Natural Landscapes and Shorelines, Healthy Fish and Wildlife, and Peace and Tranquility.

The common thread that binds us is the conservation and protection of our natural, landscape and social environments…

Dr. David Suzuki talks about Biophilia. The term "biophilia" literally means "love of life or living systems." It’s about our relationship with nature, the landscape, the ecology and it’s about the story of our attachment to where we live. The biophilia hypothesis suggests that there is an instinctive bond between human beings and other living systems.

Edward Wilson introduced and popularized the hypothesis in his book entitled Biophilia. He proposed the possibility that the deep affiliations humans have with nature are rooted in our biology.

Unlike phobias, which are the aversions and fears that people have of things in the natural world, philias are the attractions and positive feelings that people have toward natural habitats, objects in their natural surroundings and lifestyle activities.

This positive energy is the reason why we are all here today and it is also the reason why lake planning has taken off like a wildfire across Ontario.

The lake planning process and this handbook have been prepared based on the ‘pay it forward principle’ - sharing information and approaches. Our hope is that as new lakes join the lake-planning network and create new information and approaches, that you will share these experiences with us and others so that they can become the new starting point for others.

We are working on a new website that provides a framework for the sharing of new ideas and information and hope to have it available shortly.

This is the spirit of the members of FOCA, and it is the spirit of all lake residents and business operators.

Finally, we want to thank the members of the Pilot Group and especially the many lake associations and members of FOCA for their contribution to this project.

Lake planning has been around for decades. It was adapted and revitalized in 1999 by the Peninsula Lake Association and now there are over 60 lakes engaged in some form of the process. A list of the contributing lakes is provided in the handbook, and we are very grateful for their sharing of reports, ideas and approaches.

These people are the pioneers and have helped pave the way the others to follow.

Thanks!

Randy P French, BES MCIP RPP

French Planning Services Inc.
RR #2, 1016 Holiday Park Drive
Bracebridge, Ontario, Canada P1L 1W9
bus 705 646 0851
fac. 705 645 4908

Brian Hull, MLGA Chair, attended the FOCA 2009 AGM in Toronto. The Ontario Minister of Natural Resources Donna Cansfield (above with Brian) address the members.

"As a result of attending the FOCA, AGM, we now have a number of new contacts that can help us with future issues and projects."

MLGA Flags for sale

2008-07-25T06:25:00.000-07:00

July 24, 2008
To all Mill Lake Guardians' Association members

In an effort to give our organisation more presence on Mill Lake and potential members, we are offering two flags for sale. The larger is a 36”x 20”(980x550mm) and the smaller is 15”x9”(410x240mm), which could be flown as a boat pennant. The flag is light blue with a white logo of our trademarked symbol of “Eco.”

The larger flag is priced at $40.00 and the smaller at $15.00, and both as a package for $50.00.These prices are just slightly more than cost and include taxes.

To order, please send your requirements along with a cheque payable to “Mill Lake Guardians' Association” to

Randy Murray
3 Cloverhill Crescent
Cookstown, Ontario
L0L 1L0

Please put your order in as soon as possible as I would like to place the order to have them made by August 15.

*Non-Members:

For those wishing to purchase a flag but are currently non-members, we invite you to join the MLGA Association. The MLGA association is dedicated to the protection and preservation of Mill Lake in MacDougal Township near Parry Sound. A small membership fee applies of $15.00 for an individual, and $25.00 for a family.

The qualifications for membership are property ownership on or within the watershed of Mill Lake and subject to MLGA Directors' approval.

Please send a separate cheque to the address above, and include the names and addresses of applicants, and the Lot an Concession number of your property on Mill Lake, if known.

MLGA - AGM - July 5, 2008

2008-06-27T06:51:00.001-07:00

Where?
Home of Jim & Marian Ferris
FR 304-4 McDougall Rd, RR#1
705-746-2385

When?
10:00 a.m. - noon: General Meeting

Starting at Noon
BBQ and Social - lunch will be provided (hamburgers,hotdogs, pop, chips) - donations accepted. Bring your own lawn chairs.

Come by car, boat or foot. There will be plenty of parking as Barb and Brendan Merritt are right beside Jim and Marian and they have volunteered both their driveway and their dock for parking.

Come RAIN or SHINE and meet your neighbours from around the lake. Let's build a lake community that works and plays together.

Please RSVP if you are coming and state how many in your party to: Lyndsay Nightingale at milllakeguardians@gmail.com.

Agenda

1. Welcome
2.Apologies for Absence
3.Chairmanʼs Report
4.Treasurerʼs Report
5. Constitution
6.Committee Reports
7. Director Elections
8. New Business
9. Next Meeting

Slide Show of Mill Lake

2008-06-05T18:01:00.000-07:00

Press the play button to see the slide show.

4 MLGA Directors, 2008

2008-06-05T17:55:00.000-07:00

Four MLGA Directors (L-R - John Drake, Brian Hull, Jim Ferris, Randy Murray) met to plan the MLGA, AGM which is scheduled for July 5, 2008 at Jim and Marian Ferris’ home at 10:00 a.m. BBQ to follow.

Do we want speedsters on Mill Lake?

2007-09-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

Has anyone noticed the loud noise and huge wake being created by the three speedboats this past month?

Between the islands and shore there should be a speed limit -- there is -- but who will enforce it?

The photos were taken on Sunday, September 2, 2007.

From Jim Ferris...

We were out in our boat this afternoon, going towards the highway, and were turning to go back between the two islands when what should appear in my view but three boats racing through the channel!

I was quite nervous, and we had a young family on board with us at the same time. Had we not had the young family with us I would have pursued them and given them a piece of my mind.

As it turns out, apparently the OPP were at Hall's Marina in the afternoon talking to the speedsters.

MLGA deputation to McDougall Twp.Council - August 1, 2007

2007-08-11T06:57:00.000-07:00

MLGA deputation - August 1, 2007

On behalf of the MLGA, Brian Hull made a deputation at the McDougall Township in order to

-- clarify our concerns regarding Fowler’s OMB hearing
-- ask the council to defend their position at the OMB and supply the MLGA with help and support wherever possible.

The following is his address.

______________

Mr. Mayor and Councilors

My name is Brian Hull and, along with Mr. Jim Ferris, I am co-chair of the Mill Lake Guardians’ Association.

And on behalf of the MLGA 180 households, I thank you for granting us a voice at council in this matter, and enabling us with the opportunity to clarify our concerns regarding the issue of an asphalt plant at the Fowler site on McDougall Road.

We are also represented here via the number of letters of concern that have been sent to you by MLGA members.

While we all have varying levels of concern on various issues, depending on where a person lives on Mill Lake, we want you to know that we are united in our concern over anything that poses any threat to our environment, especially our lake. That’s why our mandate… is our name… GUARDIANS.

I am here, one voice for many, to make sure you realize that MLGA are more driven than ever regarding this “asphalt plant” issue and I am asking for your help at the OMB hearing at which we will be requesting “Party Status.”

Now, realizing the time constraints of Council, with your permission, this deputation is concise and presented in 5 parts as follows:

1 - Past history

2 - Recent history

3 - Our concerns summarized from the letters and member comments

4 - Specific questions and comments concerning the “Fowler studies”

5 - A summary statement

*****************

1 - PAST HISTORY

In 2005, The Fowler Company distributed letters to a small number of cottagers at the end of the season hoping to go under the radar and not be noticed by enough people to cause a problem.

All it took was one person to make a call, and in one week we had enough people to fill this hall two weeks in a row, and send in over 40 letters of protest for the vote on November 23, 2005.

You heard us then, and responded with a NO vote to Fowler’s application to allow a permanent asphalt plant.

The difference between then and now for us is that, since we knew that this issue would not go away, we have had time to formally establish an association called the Mill Lake Guardians’ Association and are, as we speak, incorporating and establishing our membership in FOCA (Federation of Ontario Cottagers' Association), who have connected us with a number of other people and associations who have gone through the same ordeal concerning asphalt plants; i.e., Bark Lake in Haliburton where the local council recently also turned down a request for an asphalt plant.

We trust you can still hear us, and see your way clear to honour and support your present position regarding the asphalt plant.

2 - RECENT HISTORY

According to OMB regulations, Fowler held an “open house information night” at the old Jolly Roger Inn on June 28, 2007.

Not only were they not consistent in their answers from table to table, and were caught many times in double-speak. For example, they claimed that there were no contaminants in the pools on the property but, when asked if they had ever been tested, they said no.

So, if their plan was to calm the masses, it worked to the exact opposite. Now, our members are more concerned that there are high risks with this venture, and also that Fowler is hiding facts regarding all factors from traffic to noise, from planning to environment.

Questions, such as the following, for Fowler at the meeting at the open house on June 28, 2007 did not result in any positive statements.

1. The primary source of harmful emissions comes from the various steps in asphalt production:

-- dryers
-- hot bins
-- mixers

But harmful emissions come from other steps as well:

-- storage silos
-- truck load-out operations
-- liquid asphalt storage tanks
-- hot oil heaters
-- yard emissions

Fowler never addressed what they would do to reduce all of these sources of harmful toxins that will come from a permanent plant.

Please be specific for each source of pollutant?

2. They could not estimate how much of each toxin will be emitted into the atmosphere from a plant. We showed a list of 55 toxins from Benzene to Carbon disulfide, Arsenic to Lead, Manganese to Mercury.

3. When producing asphalt, you still will be releasing toxins into the air because you must keep the asphalt that you have produced hot until needed.

4. CBC reported on August 2006 that residents in 6 communities near Calgary experienced health problems believed to come from this plant, such as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, worsening of asthma, skin and eye irritation, headaches, dizziness, and nausea.

5. “Since asphalt contains so many toxic and carcinogenic compounds, and since leaching of harmful (HAPs or Harmful Air Pollutants) has been documented even in water pipe use, asphalt should be kept out of rivers, streams, and other natural waters….”

6. The EPA has also stated that asphalt fumes, “may cause cancer, central nervous system problems, liver damage, respiratory problems, and skin irritation.”

We are concerned about what this will do to our already high cancer rate. Some of the pollutants coming from asphalt plants are known carcinogens. Please note that the Parry Sound area has the second highest Cancer rate (after Haliburton) in the province.

3 - SUMMARY OF CONCERNS

Summary of Concerns re Fowler's Bid for a permanent asphalt plant

We appreciate the support this Council has given us, such as Councilor Dixon's visit to the closest plant in Bracebridge in 2005. Mr. Dixon was concerned about the surrounding area, and, when he got away some distance from the plant, the environmental effects were still noticeable.

This first-hand experience led to a no-vote at council.

You now have a number of letters of concern from MLGA members, so it only needs to be said here that they, for the most part, deal with issues relating to the magnitude of impact on our health, environment, safety, quality of life. For example, the minuscule amount of benzene that you can inhale from a cigarette causes cancer. How much benzene is being emitted by Fowler’s operations?

We all want to see independent testing at the site. For example, they claim that the permanent plant will be much cleaner than the portable plant. According to whom? Fowler. And what we really want to compare to is... no plant.

There is a need for rezoning, and that is why Fowler is approaching the Council. If we must have an asphalt plant, it seems to make sense to go for the cleanest and most up-to-date technology. Also, perhaps we can get some valuable concessions from Fowler in return for reducing our opposition.

There has been much discussion about

-- the latest technology needed

-- additional paving on the side of McDougall Road so that there is a safe place to walk

-- a “panic lane” for increased safety on McDougall

-- the “set-back” from the road

-- a sound barrier

-- etc.

But we think these discussions are academic, due to the fact that the best place for the asphalt plant is the Industrial Park.

The Industrial Park has water, sewers, and everything that Fowler would need. The Industrial Park is north of Nobel about 15 miles. It’s a lot closer than Bracebridge.

Other General Concerns

-- Can we remove the “permission to operate” the portable plant to operate at McDougall Road?

-- We need the questions answered on toxins. Note the article in the Beacon Star of July 7, 2007, regarding the high rate of cancer in our area.

-- If Fowler opens up Parry Sound as a permanent plant, would they close Bracebridge and then do all the asphalt preparation in Parry Sound rather than in Bracebridge?

-- There is no proof that the MOE is regulating or not regulating the portable plant operation.

-- Odours. Traffic. Fowler could not provide answers in detail to the questions raised regarding toxins and traffic concerns.

-- No matter how efficient the plant may start out, it is mechanical and will break down sooner or later and lose that efficiency. (Chalk River is cited as an example. The nuclear plant there had an overspill. Their collecting pool overflowed and went down the Ottawa River. They could not control their pond, and that was/is a sophisticated operation.)

-- Bracebridge is a huge retail operation. If you let Fowler get to Parry Sound as a permanent plant, this area can become a huge retail operation.

4 - FOWLER STUDIES

Here are the points that we feel need to be addressed regarding the studies supplied by Fowler.

1. The following 3 studies we received from Fowler were commissioned by Fowler. This is hardly objective.

They are:

(A) ENVIRONMENTAL ACOUSTICAL ASSESSMENT REPORT
by Howe Gastmeier Chapnik Ltd. of Mississauga, dated March 22, 2007 with sound-level measurements conducted on arch 21, 2006

(B) PROPOOSED ASPHALT PLANT TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY
by Totten, Sims, Hubicki Associates dated January 31, 2007, based on information taken Thursday, September 7, 2006

(C) THE EMISSION SUMMARY & DISPERSION MODELING REPORT
prepared by Conestoga - Rovers & Associates, dated April, 2007 “using published emission factors and engineering estimates” based on the “portable hot mix asphalt plant.”

I don’t know if there was a “planning report” done by the Township, but, in our opinion, these studies need to be at least peer reviewed.

In fact, a full environmental impact study needs to be done before approving such a project at any government level because there is no study addressing environmental and social concerns.

This oversight is significant, and presents great concern to the Mill Lake Guardians’ Association who feel that the health of people and the environment come before dollars and cents.

Since the OMB is an "urban planning tribunal" dealing with the "planning act," what we really need from McDougall Township is an assessment and opinion from your planning department, and their presence, on our collective behalf, at the OMB hearing.

As far as our efforts, we are connecting with the MOE, MOT, MOR, MNR, and the Conservation Authority, etc. -- in other words, any government agency that can give us any guidelines and straight answers like this township.

I will now address the specific reports.

(A) ENVIRONMENTAL ACOUSTICAL ASSESSMENT REPORT

- The Fowler noise study (Acoustical Assessment Report) was based on one day in March (March 21, 2006) in the existing pit on McDougall Road. How reliable is this data? This is not even close to the height of the building/paving season.

- There was mention again of 24-hour operation of the pit in the studies.

- With regard to noise creation and projections, four residences were cited as being sound receptors of the pit noises. No arrangements were stated in this study as to how these noises may be muffled for the 4 residences.

(B) PROPOSED ASPHALT PLANT TRAFFIC IMPACT STUDY

- The Fowler traffic study (Proposed Asphalt Plant Traffic Impact Study) was based on one day in September (September 7, 2006) at the existing pit on McDougall Road. Again, how reasonable is this data?

The summer traffic has all returned to their principal residences, so naturally, the traffic is less. This is a misleading representation.

- If a new asphalt factory opens in the Fowler Pit on McDougall Road, there will be increased heavy, truck traffic. Can McDougall Road maintain this increase in wear and tear? It is not in the best of shape now. Projected truck traffic means heavier vehicles.

- Let’s also consider the fact that they want to carry hot liquid asphalt to the plant for mixing with the particulate. If a truck on highway 401 can roll over and spill its contents of hot asphalt cement (Monday, July 23, 2007), then it is likely that this could happen on McDougall Road with its many steep hills and sharp corners. If this happens, the extent of the environmental damage will be inestimable, to say nothing of the social costs.

Last week in Toronto a liquid asphalt spill occurred on 401. That spill happened because the truck was not equipped with a special regulating device that corrects the pitch of the truck by automatically applying brakes independently.

Can you imagine if a spill like this were to happen on McDougall Road with the lakes and swamps so close to the road? The trucks might not be going the same speed as this truck was on 401, but they certainly have some long hills and twisty corners to contend with on McDougall Road that they don't have on the 401.

A related question is whether Fowler has pitch regulators on their trucks to avoid this type of accident. All trucks in Quebec must have the regulator or they’re off the road.

The MTO yesterday informed us that the regulations for tankers hauling hazardous materials are the same as the ones for trucks hauling lumber, pigs, etc. In other words, there are no special regulations for these AC (asphalt cement) tankers as there are in Quebec.

A number of bicyclists and runners use McDougall Road regularly for training. Will there be room for a heavily loaded AC tanker truck and a bicycle to both use the road? And what about children on their bikes on the road? As a parent, I was nervous enough dealing with gravel trucks and cycling children on a road (McDougall Road to be specific) with blind corners and steep hills, let alone tanker trucks too.

(C) THE EMISSION SUMMARY & DISPERSION MODELING REPORT

- Fowler's study re Emission Summary & Dispersion states that there are dangerous substances which will not be caught in their system, but that is OK because the amounts are less than the minimum, provincial standards. But the real question is, what will the long-term consequences of these chemicals be on people and the environment?

- Also, the question of monitoring the operation of such a plant has not been addressed.

- No attention is paid to “weather events,” which create high-level runoff, contaminating the watershed below it (Mill Lake, and the Georgian Bay).

- The emissions study (The Emission Summary & Dispersion Modeling Report) was based on the portable asphalt factory, not the new, proposed, permanent asphalt factory. So we have no data for the proposed new factory. Studies on older asphalt factories are not environmentally friendly, to say the least. We need solid, hard data on this new, proposed plant, not projections done by engineers.

The Fowler reports represent a sort of “minimalist” approach to EIA, using standards which are of a general nature (to meet minimum Provincial standards), rather than geared to this U.N. designated Georgian Bay “Biosphere.”

One of the things your planners could do is drive an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making. It aims to

-- predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design
-- find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts
-- shape projects to suit the local environment and
-- present the predictions and options to decision-makers.

By using EIA, both environmental and economic benefits can be achieved, such as

-- reduced cost and time of project implementation and design
-- avoided treatment/clean-up costs and
-- impacts of laws and regulations.

The key elements of an EIA are

(a) Scoping: identify key issues and concerns of interested parties;

(b) Screening: decide whether an EIA is required based on information collected;

(c) Identifying and evaluating alternatives: list alternative sites and techniques and the impacts of each;

(d) Mitigating measures dealing with uncertainty: review proposed action to prevent or minimize the potential adverse effects of the project; and (e) Issuing environmental statements: report the findings of the EIA.

5 - CLOSE

On McDougall Road, we already have one possible environmental risk in the form of the landfill site. Is it prudent to add another potential environmental risk in the form of an asphalt plant?

The safer location for all, if there must be an asphalt plant, is located in the Industrial Park, where a number of these aforementioned risks are addressed.

Question - How does this plant fit into your Official Plan (OP)?

Question - Will the present McDougall Township Council defend their position at the OMB?

Question – Who is the lawyer that you will use in this matter?

Question – Who is the planner that will be working on this issue?

On behalf of the MLGA, thank you for your time and consideration.

Brian Hull
Co-chair, MLGA

MLGA Summary - Cottage Watch

2007-07-15T06:15:00.000-07:00

Summary of Cottage Watch Presentation – Steve Kramer, OPP
July 7, 2007

What can we do?

BE ALERT

Notice oddities. Take down information. Be the extra eyes and ears for your neighbours. Jot down the information. You are not inconveniencing the OPP to make the call. Information from calls is filed. Police may not show up right away, but they will follow up for sure.

Property crimes. 30 per cent of calls are property-related crimes. Without evidence, police are at a loss to solve the break-in. So get the information you need. Either call right away or keep the information for later reference. One OPP officer has the job of investigating nothing but break-ins.

IDENTIFY YOUR PROPERTY

Identifying your property benefits both the OPP and the cottager. If something is stolen, it’s important to be able to identify the property so that if it’s recovered, you can identify it.

“That’s my chainsaw because…”

Identifiers make your property unique. If there are 3 or 4 put in front of you, you can identify yours from a group that is similar.

By law, the OPP cannot take stolen property unless it’s clearly identified as belonging to someone else and is stolen property.

The OPP has an engraver they are most willing to lend out to area residents who wish to identify their belongings.

The photo shows many of the attendees at the July 7 meeting. OPP officer, Steve Kramer, is in the centre.

Do an inventory. Take a day and do an inventory of your possessions for safety’s sake. The OPP have engravers that you can borrow to engrave your own identifiers on all your items. That’s a good idea.

Types of property stolen includes small appliances, kitchen appliances, tools, electric motors, power tools, outboard motors, marine equipment, liquor, stereo, computers, and other similar items.

Wrenches? Everybody has Mastercraft wrenches so make yours unique. Some cottages have been cleaned right out – happens rarely but it does happen.

Items may be pawned off locally -- Orillia, Barrie, for example. The local OPP will call pawn shops to check inventory.

OTHER IDEAS

FOCA have a website and offer cottage-watch signage. We can erect signs in this area. Some associations have opted to put up signs for cottage watch. The choice up to us. Signs may acts as a deterrent. Erect them high enough so that people cannot tear them down.

We would have to check on what clearance would be necessary for erecting signs in this area.

Are signs a deterrent? Making eye contact with a stranger may be sufficient. Sometimes, nothing is a deterrent.

What phone numbers should we use to notify the police?

-- 1 888 310-1122 (anywhere in Ontario to nearest OPP detachment)

-- Cell phones: *OPP or *677 (nearest OPP detachment)

-- In Parry Sound 746 – 4225

(This last number forwards to North Bay dispatch center. Depending on the urgency of the call, it may be transferred back here.)

Thanks to Officer Steve Kramer for his time and his valuable insights.

Welcome to the Mill Lake Guardians' Association

2007-07-08T17:06:00.001-07:00

Latest meeting was July 7 at the home of Jim and Marian Ferris, FR 304, McDougall Road. Minutes will be forthcoming.

Meeting comprised the following:

9:30 a.m.
Presentation on Cottage Watch by OPP Officer Steve Kramer

10:30 a.m.
Meeting with three McDougall Councillors - Peter Daleman, Kim Dixon, and Lewis Mallott

11:30 a.m.
A brief meeting of those still present

Currently, we plan a presentation from MLGA at the August 1 Council meeting.

In the meantime, please send your email comments to be included in an initial letter to McDougall Council to ladykit@xplornet.com. We hope to send a letter with comments from MLGA prior to the July 18 Council meeting.

Co-Chairs of MLGA are:
Jim Ferris (jmferris@zeuter.com)
Brian Hull (bthull@rogers.com)