Edition: January 18, 2022
wellingtonrotary.ca Chartered November 22, 2002
Rotarian of the Year:
Mike Lattner
Club Bulletin for week of January 18, 2022
Shannon Coull
(PECMHF Back The Build Update)
President's Message
The winter season is definitely upon us… what I call the ‘cat days of winter’, as our cat just moves from heat source to heat source. There are fluctuating temps, and dreary overcast days followed by bone-chilling temps and bright blue skies. For the most part, it keeps us indoors, often with a ‘hmmm …what do we do today’. For some, that means indoor projects such as renovations, painting, or new furniture or linens. For others, it may be cooking and trying out new recipes, reading a book, catching up with old friends on the phone (or via Zoom), cleaning out closets/cupboards/drawers, online classes (educational or exercise), 1000+pc jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, solitaire, or binge watching movies or TV series. And, hey, for those that are more adventurous, put on those winter jackets, and boots, mitts & toques, and get outside and embrace the weather … perhaps for a walk, or snowshoeing, or cross-country skiing.
Take passion in whatever you do. It will only last for another 6 to 8 weeks, at which time we will be into our spring project mode!
Trudy Brown
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Last Week: Councillor Mike Harper
The meeting started promptly at 7:07 with 27 Rotarians plus guest speaker Councillor Mike Harper, on Zoom. Instead of singing the regular O'Canada anthem, MPres Trudy played a special "Up Here in Canada" video clip, which was both amusing and uplifting.
Mike Harper provided the club with a comprehensive update on various topics of concern to Wellington residents:
1. Update on Development in Wellington and PEC:
About 3200 housing starts expected in PEC in the next 5 yrs., of which about 1400 will be in Wellington.
Kaitland Group's Fields of Wellington north of the Millennium Trail is proceeding at pace and is in draft approval stage.
Need to upgrade water & sewer infrastructure to accommodate growth. About $68million in cost. 75% to be paid by developers and 25% by rate payers. Water tower, trunk lines, designs for upgrades in the plant will begin 2022. County has obtained a letter of credit from developers, enough for financing phase 1 of development.
Wellington will get bigger and will not stay a small village, but hopefully will retain the small village charm.
expected development start coming spring and completing in fall/winter 2023
County is single shareholder of PEC Affordable Housing Corp. Will assumes debt.
Other affordable housing planned in Picton (Isreali Street)
3. Convenience Store Redevelopment:
Has been sold to the Spriglen Farms family. Site is considered Heritage
Currently addressing legal issues related to the easement over the creek
4. Rotary Beach Development:
Working Group will be formed this February. Rotary will be contacted to participate.
Work will include visioning, show & tell, and execution of the planned improvements. The conceptualization will start in February.
5. Proposed changes to deputation procedures in Council:
No real change in procedures planned, but the objective is to make Council meeting more efficient
Contrary to reports in the newspapers, topics that require extensive deputations will continue to be accommodated.
6. Doctor Shortage in the County:
Expecting 5 doctor departures, due to retirements and other reasons, this year
Current generation of young doctors want smaller patient rosters, so the problem is made worse than just replacing 5 doctors.
County is entertaining the idea of funding signing bonuses for doctors on 5 year contracts. Need about $100K per doctor. Surrounding areas like Belleville, Quintek West, Brighton are offering similar amounts.
7. Ball Diamond Move:
Idea was floated as part of reviewing the Secondary Plan for Wellington.
Belleville Street from Main Street to North towards the new planned developments area is likely to become a new commercial thoroughfare for Wellington. When that happens, it is more desirable to have a recreation complex that is on the same side of the road, and the question was whether the baseball diamond park should be on the same side of the road as the Community Centre.
This was just a 'what if' idea and is by no means a decided plan. Rotary Club will be consulted if any changes are planned.
8. Q & A:
Rotary Beach Accessible Mat: Our Club is considering that as improvement to the Beach. Will the Rotary Beach Development Committee impact that? Answer: That would be something that is impacted by the Committee. Mike Harper will connect David Robinet with County's Dir of Operations who is co-chair of the Committee.
Dr. Recruitment: Comceptually, if the Rotary Club were to raise funds for the Dr. recruitment will the County be receptive? Answer: Yes, probably. David Smith to follow up with Mike Harper.
Would adding 3000 residents in Wellington not make the Dr. shortage issue worse? Answer: That is why the Dr. shortage issue is critical but we cannot stop growth just because of the issue.
Development plans call for 1 million square feet of commercial growth with a $32million tax levy. Its that realistic given current commercial space in Wellington is so much smaller - ie. exponential growth expectations. Answer: That is the growth projection. Provincial rules stipulate that County infrastructure must be able to accommodate for 10 years of future growth. But growth must pay for growth.
Update on Picton Terminal operating in Picton Harbour: County has denied approval for container and cruise ships to use the Picton Terminal. County has also stopped any surface mining.
The practice of requiring new residents to give up their incumbent family doctors before being assigned to a queue to acquire a family doctor in the County, with long waiting times, is not right and must be changed. Answer: Will need to be addressed by the PECFHT., and will relay it to them.
Supplying water from Wellington to Picton via a trunk line along the Millennium Trail. If the trail is torn up due to this construction, it needs to be restored after construction. Answer: Yes, the plan has option to do a trunk line along the trail. Yes, any construction will require restoration of the trail to pre-construction state.
In other Rotary business, Bottle Bill is OK for volunteers for January, except for January 26th, which several members subsequently volunteered to fill the need. David Robinet's ask for volunteers to do pick ups at Closson Chase for this winter was filled. MPres Trudy announced that there will be a training session for maintaining the new Wellington Rotary website on Monday at 4 p.m. Barry Davidson reminded participants that there will be a meeting of the Annual Fundraiser Dinner committee immediately after this meeting. Ken Robertson asked for volunteers to staff the vaccine clinic for 3 days / month in January and Fekbkruary, which was filled enthusiastically by members at the meeting. Happy Birthday to John Inwood. Meeting was adjourned with the Four Way Test.
Notes from Phyo Kyi
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Bottle Depot Volunteers Schedule for This Week
Wednesday January 19, 2022
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: John Inwood, Ted Nash,Ken Robertson
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Barry Davidson, Norm Dodgson., Seth Madhaven (FoR)
Saturday January 22, 2022
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Howard Ziedenberg, Ken DesRoches (FoR), Sethu Madhaven (FoR)
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Trudy Brown, Phyo Kyi, Dough Little (FoR)
O Lord and giver of all good
We thank thee for our day food
May Rotary friends and Rotary ways
Help us to serve thee all our days.
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Four Way Test
Of the things we think, say, and do:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and better
FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all
concerned?
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Rotary Song
R-O-T-A-R-Y, that spells Rotary.
R-O-T-A-R-Y, is known on land and sea.
From north to south, and east to west,
They profit most who serve the best,
R-O-T-A-R-Y, that spells Rotary.
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