Listowel Banner Serving the Community since 1866
PM43702524
Thursday, September 12, 2024
www.williamsdrainage.com
1-800-565-6478
Quality Farm Drainage Systems
$1.50 per copy (includes GST)
Malayalee community hosts Onam celebration PATRICK RAFTIS
editor@midwesternnewspapers.com
LISTOWEL - North Perth Malayalee Samaajam (NPMS), hosted an Onam celebration at the Agricultural Hall here on Sept. 7. Onam is “a significant and joyous festival for the Malayali community,” explained NPMS President Jomy George in an email to the Listowel Banner. NPMS is a non-profit organization dedicated to serving people from Kerala, India, living in North Perth. “Our mission is to promote cultural heritage, provide support, and foster a sense of community among Malayalis in the region,” George stated. Onam is one of the most significant festivals in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a harvest festival celebrated “with great enthusiasm and joy” by Malayalees (people from Kerala) all around the world. Onam falls in the Malayalam month of Chingam (August-September) and is observed over ten Patrick Raftis photo days, with the most important day TORCH LIGHTING - North Perth Mayor Todd Kasenberg joined members of North Perth Malayalee Samaajam known as Thiruvonam. (NPMS) in lighting a ceremonial torch at the Onam celebration held at the Agricultural Hall in Listowel on Sept. 8. Continued on page 7 From left: Kasenberg, NPMS President Jomy George, Dijo Vazhayil, Jackson Joseph Fernandes and Ashok Nair.
Perth County Council increases stewardship program budget to $100K KELSEY BENT
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter kbent@midwesternnewspapers.com
PERTH COUNTY - It appears the seed for another successful year of the Perth County Stewardship Program was planted by council at its Sept. 5 meeting. A joint report from the Chair of the Agriculture Working Group, Coun. Dean Trentowsky, and Resiliency & Stewardship Coordinator Hannah Cann, asked council to consider increasing the grant funds by $25,000 to total $100,000 for the 2025 year. The Perth County Stewardship Program is a grant program launched in 2023 to support environmental projects to protect the soil, water, and air of Perth County. The program provides resources and financial assistance to landowners and community groups completing meaningful stewardship projects essential to Perth County’s ecosystem resiliency and preservation of quality agricultural lands.
The program offers three grant streams: Private Landowner, Community Projects, and Forest Management Plans. According to the report, year one was highly successful with demand for grant funds surpassing by 22 per cent of the funds available to support proposed projects. The 2023 program supported 39 projects, with values exceeding $250,000, and 14,955 trees planted. “The public interest is very high, and the distribution was throughout the county with all four lower tiers expressing interest in this program,” Trentowsky told council. “I can say that every dollar that is invested into stewardship by a land owner reaps benefits for the future, not only for the landowner but for the community as a whole. It is money that is invested very well into the future, I would encourage my colleagues to offer their support to these recommendations.” Coun. Hugh McDermid com-
mented that he found it discouraging that 50 per cent of the trees do not survive maturity. “We are spending this money and there is a possibility that your only going to see 50 per cent of them reach maturity, thats discouraging,” he explained. Cann explained that the industry standard for tree planting in South Western Ontario is 50 per cent, however, the maturity of trees varies depending on the species.
44 acre canopy increase target “But most of them reach maturity at around 60 years,” Cann said. “That is the industry standard that we are using as a basis, but it will still increase our tree canopy substantially. If the trees we planted last year reach maturity at 60 years we will have increased the canopy by 44 acres, which I think is phenomenal.” Trentowsky added that the program is set up in a way that encourages landowners to properly tend to the tree planted.
“The land owner does have a financial stake in the success of their own tree planting project, because the land owner has to invest their money and time, then there are some reasons for the landowner to make sure the trees approach 100 per cent survival rate,” he shared. Coun. Todd Kasenber asked is a $25,000 increase was sufficient for the demand. Trentowsky replied that $25,000 is the recommended minimum, but, “it is at council’s discretion if they wish to make it a higher amount.” Kasenberg asked if council could consider increasing the amount at the time of the 2025 budget discussions. Warden Rhonda Ehgoetz agreed. However, at the time of the Sept. 5 meeting, county council agreed to increase the 2025 program budget to $100,000. The 2025 stewardship program is planned to launch on Oct. 1 and open for applications on Nov. 1.
the commander vehicle, used by Perth County Paramedic Services, was involved in an accident resulting in the total loss of the vehicle, its fiberglass topper and its associated retrofit equipment. According to the report by Deputy Chief of Operations, Tristan Barter, the insurance claim payment for the loss was $46,322.10. The vehicle was a 2017 Chev-
rolet Silverado 1500, valued at $24,095, with fiberglass cap, decals and associated retrofit equipment, valued at $22,227. “This commander vehicle that was involved in the accident plays a crucial role in supporting coordinating emergency responses within Perth County,” Barter told council. “Its loss has impacted our ability to provide seamless
service, to ensure uninterrupted operations, and it is imperative to replace this vehicle as soon as possible.” According to the report, the projected cost of the replacement vehicle is $189,000. “This leaves the total project cost $128,677.90 plus applicable taxes ($142,677.90),” Barter told Continued on page 16
County replaces paramedic commander vehicle KELSEY BENT
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter kbent@midwesternnewspapers.com
PERTH COUNTY - It appears as though Perth County council and staff are trying to catch up with the ever-moving target that is increasing vehicle prices. At the Sept. 5 meeting, council learned that on May 18, 2024
OPEN DAILY
Sun – Thurs: 11 a.m. – 12 a.m. Fri & Sat: 11 a.m. – 1 a.m. 110 MAIN ST. W. LISTOWEL 519-291-1010
Council appoints building official RACHEL HAMMERMUELLER
rhammer@midwesternnewspapers.com
NORTH PERTH - Council here received the Q2 Activity Report reviewing activity by the Building Department at the Sept. 9 meeting. Additionally, council appointed Mike McKean of RSM Building Consultants as a Building Official in the Municipality of North Perth. The report, prepared by Chief Building Official Sally McMullen, outlined that during the second quarter (Q2) of 2024, a total of 130 permit applications were submitted, compared to 89 during the first quarter (Q1). Continuing, 105 permits were issued compared to 65 issued in Q1. According to the report, over 700 booked inspections and site visits were conducted during Q2, and “Approximately 1040 inspections have been conducted year to date.” The report also charts the category of permits issued and the average amount of days these permits are “in review.” Residential and Agricultural categories accounted for the most issued permits in Q2, with 30 and 26 respectively, a marked increase from Q1 with seven Agricultural permits and 19 Residential. In Q2, the report lists the average amount of days these permits were in review as Residential: 18 days; and Agricultural: 14 days. The highest average of days in review in Q2 was under the permit category of Commercial/Ind/ Inst (Commercial, Industrial, Institutional), which had an average of 37 days. However, the report clarifies that statutory timelines Continued on page 2