Purpose, Jan Purvis
To represent the interests of
the residents of the Hay West and Stanley West Wards in the Municipality
of Bluewater.
Goals
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To protect and enhance
the interests of Bluewater shoreline residents and to act on behalf
of our member associations and affiliate members
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To communicate regularly
with the Hay West and Stanley West Councillors to ensure that they
are aware of the concerns and views of shoreline residents
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To provide positive
communication with Bluewater’s Councillor-at-Large, Deputy Mayor,
Mayor, other Councillors, Bluewater Administration and also with
other lakeshore organizations
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To monitor and
participate cooperatively in the development and implementation of
local, provincial and federal government policies that affect
shoreline residents
To monitor, and adjust where necessary, those BSRA services to
member associations that are not readily available through other
sources or obtainable at lower cost through group purchasing
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To communicate
effectively with the shoreline community, the public and the media
through the BSRA Newsletter, the BSRA website, e-mailings and media
releases.
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Attend all Bluewater
Council meetings
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Meet regularly with the
Hay West and Stanley West Councillors and, as necessary, other
members of Council and Bluewater Administration
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Monitor and respond to
Council-related issues that affect shoreline residents: for example,
atv’s on the beach, wind farms, planning issues, sewage treatment
plans for the south part of Bluewater, taxation levels, etc.
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Continue to monitor water
quality in Bluewater and investigate/implement ways to improve water
quality
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Track the impact of the
2008 assessment changes on the property taxes paid by Bluewater
shoreline residents over the next 4 years
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Communicate with
shoreline residents by issuing the BSRA Newsletter three times each
year and communicate with Member Associations’ Contact Person, using
email, when necessary
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Continue the
redevelopment of the BSRA website
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Initiate planning for the
2010 municipal election
In keeping with tradition at our general meetings I am making a
report. As you know our fiscal year was changed to the calendar year
in 2006. My report at June's meeting included the 12 month financial
statements for December 31, 2007.
This report is for the almost 8 months ending August 21, 2008.
We ask our member associations to pay their membership fees by the
end of June. At this time we have 3 subdivisions still working on
this. We thank the 44 subdivisions who have continued to support
BSRA. Your confidence in BSRA and its programs is appreciated by the
whole membership.
Our financial position:
$ 1,531.62 is available for regular operations.
$ 1,571.71 is in the water quality fund.
$ 6,705.63 remains from the generous grant from Bluewater of
$15,000.
It is on its way to the 2008 project John will talk about later.
$8,294.37 was dispersed for the water testing program in
2008
The Reserve Fund is $16,696.48.
Revenues and expenses are as anticipated in the budget presented
with the financial statements June.
For the past 3 years we have issued email receipts for membership
fees paid by associations. They have been well received. We have
made the paper receipt available at our General Meetings. We still
have a large number of 2007 receipts uncollected. Next year we
advise that we will only issue paper receipts when requested at the
time of payment. We will issue paper receipts for cash payments.
Are there any comments on this change?
20 year Master Plans for service area complete.
Bluewater committed to plant capacity in 2007.
Public meetings on plant design held Jul 15 and Aug 16.
Tri-municipality committee reviews/recommends - each council
approves.
Plant: Decision on design to be made this fall.
Then ESR (Nov). Then design and construction.
First Phase of the Plant may be built by 2012 - $13 million.
Collection System pieces: Process called Environmental Assessment
1) Lambton Shores south of Southbend Estates.
2) South Huron and 4) Bluewater lakeshore
5) Dashwood. Probably all separately.
Public meeting planned for late September.
Phase 2 and 3 of the plant construction - $3.2.
Phased over 20 years as the collection system is built.
Comment: there may be delays but in the end there will sewers.
June and August 2008
Determining the issues that are most
important to BSRA members was the focus of BSRA’s General and
Annual Meetings in 2008. Clearly, property
assessment and taxes are the dominant
concerns for our shoreline residents and our members want BSRA:
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to increase the shoreline voting rate in
municipal elections above the current 40% participation
rate, and
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to press the provincial government to
change the assessment system
To address these concerns, BSRA will continue
to support WRAFT – a provincial group focused on convincing the
provincial government to change the assessment process in
Ontario.
Our annual analysis of the assessments and taxes in Bluewater
will continue so that our local Councillors are fully aware of
the shoreline’s disproportionate tax contribution to the
municipality. And, finally, BSRA is beginning its planning now
to prepare shoreline residents for the 2010 municipal election.
Also important to
shoreline residents are various Bluewater environmental issues.
These include:
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the
potential development of commercial wind turbine operations
in the municipality
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the need to have
septic systems inspected regularly
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the possible installation of sewers in
south Bluewater
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water quality
concerns in the ravines and lake water.
BSRA is addressing these concerns as well.
As Bluewater developed its Wind Turbine By-Law, BSRA
presented its views about setbacks; the current By-Law means
that no wind turbines will be constructed west of the Bronson
Line. The importance of septic inspections continues to be
emphasized with the Huron County Health Unit.
The Grand Bend sewer project and its implications for
south Bluewater are being monitored. And,
through BSRA’s Environment Committee and the Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority, rehabilitation projects continue in the
St. Joseph’s
ravine and will be initiated in the Ridgeway ravine.
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