KENILWORTH – A Wellington North property owner verbally berated members of township council on Monday night over his objection to a seemingly routine municipal fee.
Andy Tarc’s pleas for an exemption to Wellington North’s $2,000 road damage deposit fell on deaf ears on Aug. 26.
Tarc, who wants to build a 36-by-36 foot shed on a farm property on Concession 11, is required to pay $2,000 – including an inspection fee of $100 and a refundable damage deposit of $1,900 – in advance to the municipality to cover any possible damage that may occur to the township road at his farm entrance.
Prior to Tarc’s presentation, councillor Lisa Hern, who was chairing the meeting in the absence of Mayor Andy Lennox, asked delegations to refrain from making detrimental comments or maligning the integrity of staff/council.
Tarc, who described himself as a high school teacher and farmer, did not heed that advice.
“Our greedy Mount Forest mayor and council are imposing an unfair … road tax on small farm building projects … and prevent(ing) community growth in Wellington North,” Tarc stated.
He called the $2,000 fee benefitting “the Mount Forest road inspection police” a form of “blackmail” because it is required by the municipality prior to the issuance of a building permit.
Tarc requested an exemption from the up-front payment because of the small square footage of his farm shed.
“I think this bylaw is totally unfair and discourages small growth within the community,” he stated.
He claimed that if the bylaw was abolished, “maybe McDonald’s will really come to Mount Forest.”
Tarc then suggested members of council should be required to pay a similar deposit in order to use township equipment, to cover possible missing/damaged items.
Hern again reminded Tarc that delegations are not to speak ill of councillors or staff.
Tarc said he did not believe he was. “I’m talking about equality,” he said. “Please consider the state of the small farmer.”
Council did not discuss the matter or vote on an exemption.
