The community hall at the PMD arena was packed on Oct. 7 for the all-candidates meeting, but instead of sparks and accusations flying among the candidates, most of them received polite questions and gave civil answers about the issues.
John Linde, Richard Molenaar and Bruce Whale are running for mayor.
Linde began his two minute speech by asking God’s blessing on the assembly. He said he is running for mayor because there is a perception council is forcing business out of the township.
“We just push them out,” he said. “That’s not quite right.”
He said he wants to have a good look at the administrative costs, and wonders why council passes more and more bylaws that intrude on people’s lives.
“That is what we’ll press forward to do,” he said.
Molenaar cited his work with the Moorefield Optimists and minor ball, and said he is a self-employed building contractor in the area.
Molenaar said he is “proud of the community” and he added in Mapleton, “The quality of life is second to none.”
But, he said, he would like to take “a step back” to a time when a real person answers the phone instead of a machine, and to a time where people can get real answers to their questions.
“I promise to listen,” he said.
Whale told the audience “We’re lucky to live in a community like Mapleton,” where there are lots of farms and small businesses. He is a fifth generation dairy farmer who has now had two terms on council.
He cited a number of improvements over the past two terms, including an addition to the arena, a new hall in Alma, a new medical clinic, an Aging at Home health program in the township, as well as the paving of roads and work on two bridges. He noted the Festival Theatre received an upgrade this year, and there is a downtown revitalization program ongoing.
Whale said council was able to do $12.2-million worth of work with only $3.7-million by taking advantages of federal and provincial partnerships.
He credited staff, which he said is “the key to getting things done.” Whale said he would set up a citizens’ advisory council and hold town hall meetings to ensure council hears from citizens about issues.
Questions
After a long pause, a resident asked if there was any truth the township was paying for political signs.
The answer from Molenaar was there is “not one dollar of taxpayers money for our campaigns.”
A resident then complained the township’s new bylaw officer has taken it upon himself to demand quick clean-ups of properties.
Whale said the township does not send a bylaw inspector out looking for problems, and inspections come only after a complaint is made.
He added if people “break the bylaw” it is “our job” to enforce those bylaws. “He’s not just walking the street” and looking for problems, Whale said of the bylaw officer.
Molenaar said he has heard some complaints the official “has been a little forward with not a lot of time” to fix problems. “He should be using some tact.”
Linde said he has heard lots of complaints, but he has been unable to contact the official. Linde said the community has a “free and easy attitude” about property, and “That’s why we live here.”
A resident wanted a commitment that the township “will do whatever it takes” to protect residents from wind turbines.
Molenaar said he would check with other communities and hear what they have to say about turbines before committing himself to a strategy.
Whale said, “We want answers” and noted the problem goes beyond humans and includes problems for livestock health and production. He said turbines “will be very difficult to fit in Mapleton.” He added there are places where wind turbines should go, “but not in Mapleton.”
Linde said the first thing to do is determine the problems. “We’ve got to do the research on them.”
Another citizen cited pressures for higher density developments with smaller setbacks from property lines, and said he does not want the community “looking like the cities.”
Linde said, “We’d like to keep our township … spread apart.”
He acknowledged there are pressures, but council should try its best. “I’m not sure we can” stop higher densities.
Molenaar said he does not believe side yard setbacks should be reduced.
“There’s no place for row housing in a small community,” he said.
But, he added, he does not want building on prime farmland, and council will have to consider alternatives.
Whale agrees council should stick with its original side yards instead of reducing them, but he said there is “provincial pressure” for more intense urban growth in order to protect good farmland.
He said Drayton already has its growth areas designated, and it will depend on how the community can handle its sewage and wastewater. He added there are places for duplexes in coming subdivisions if they are desired.
