Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Sad News

Friends

It is with deep regret that I must inform you of the death of one of our long time members, Jim Hartleib. Jim will be missed and each of us will reflect on our memories of his presence on dock 3 as we pass that way. Please join me in sending our heartfelt regret and sympathy for Jim's family.

Jodi

Here is the announcement from the London Free Press


Deaths (B200)
Hartleib James
Hartleib James HARTLEIB, James "Jim" - Peacefully, at home with his family by his side, on Thursday, January 15, 2009, Jim in his 74th year. Beloved husband to Nancy for 54 years. Loving dad to Rob (Victoria). Papa to Brett and Craig (Natali). Great-grandpa to Angelo and Ayden. Brother-in-law to Joseph Butler (Norene) and to Marianne Backham (Doug). Predeceased by his parents Andy and Marguerite. Jim was a retired OPP Officer with the London Detachment for 35 years. A service of remembrance will be held at FOREST LAWN MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 1997 Dundas St. East (at Wavell) on Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 1 p.m. with visitation one hour prior. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Cardiac Fitness Institute c/o Dr. Larry Patrick, 800 Commissioners Rd. E., London, Ontario N6A 5W9 or Canadian Cancer Society, in memory of Jim.

Message From the Commodore

Hello and welcome to boaters for the 2009 season. It is with great pleasure that I want to recognize and thank the Long Point Bay Yacht Club for electing me to represent our excellent club for this year! I, as I am sure many of my friends and fellow boaters, eagerly await spring and the opportunity to again take to the waters for recreation, cruising or just relaxation. I have been an avid boater for the past ten years, first as a power boater and now a sailor cruising in Lake Superior and now Lake Erie. I look forward to representing the Long Point Bay Yacht Club as commodore and hope that our club, through its members and executive, will continue to enjoy the camaraderie of boating. It is my desire to heighten the profile of our yacht club with enhanced publicity for our sail past, as well as attending and encouraging sister clubs to use our reciprocal agreement to visit Port Dover. The club has planned a number of events over the course of the season and I encourage everyone to join in, get involved, to renew friendships, getting to know new members, and assisting the event coordinators. At this time I would like to wish everyone a safe, enjoyable, memory filled summer of boating!
See you at the winter event in February
Jodi Shorrock
Commodore
Dock 3 Slip 59

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Response From Norfolk County Government

Dear Mr. Sanders:

This is to confirm the receipt of your email regarding the above-noted by Norfolk County and to advise that it was circulated to the Council of Norfolk County and Senior Management for their review and consideration. Council found all of the information received in numerous emails with respect to the Harbour Marina operations to be very informative.

Please be advised that Council, upon consideration of the proposed 2009 Port Dover Harbour Marina fees, passed the following resolution at its Regular Meeting on January 13, 2009:

“THAT, the proposed 2009 User Fees and Service Charges for the Port Dover Harbour Marina be approved with the following changes:

1. Dockage fees be increased by 3% over the 2008 rates.

2. The surcharge for electricity for boats with air conditioners only be $ 50.00.

3. The fee for pump-outs be unchanged.

4. The seasonal boat and trailer storage – dry or summer – per foot, be increased to $ 27.00.

For easy reference, please find attached an excel spreadsheet indicating all of the fees that have been approved by Council for this Marina for 2009.

Beverley Wood

Clerk/Manager of Council Services

519-426-5870, Ext. 1228

519-426-8573 - Fax

Description TAX Rate 2008
Charge












Seasonal Berthage (with Hydro & Water) - 23 Foot Finger - (min. 27 ft. - cost per foot) 1 45.00
Seasonal Berthage (with Hydro & Water) - 26 Foot Finger - (min. 30 ft. - cost per foot) 1 45.00
Seasonal Berthage (with Hydro & Water) -
30 Foot Finger - (min. 35 ft. - cost per foot)
1 45.00
Seasonal Berthage (No Hydro & Water) -
Boats up to 23 Feet (flat fee)
1 818.00
Seasonal Berthage - Dock #5 - 35 Foot Finger -
(min. 42 ft - cost per foot)"
1 53.50
Seasonal Hydro Surcharge- Per Outlet Utilized
Only boats with Air Conditioning
1 -
Monthly Berthage – (with H & W) - cost per foot 1 18.00
Monthly Berthage – (unserviced) - cost per foot 1 15.00
Weekly Berthage - cost per foot (Hydro & Water) 1 -
Weekly Berthage - cost per foot (Unserviced) 1 7.50
Daily Berthage - cost per foot (Hydro & Water) 1 -
Daily Berthage - cost per foot 1 1.50
Seasonal Rampage – Recreational - cost per season 5 180.00
Seasonal Rampage – Commercial - per season 5 306.00
Launch (in/out same day) 5 15.00
Seasonal Trailer Storage – dry or summer – per unit 1 214.00
Seasonal Boat & Trailer Storage –
dry or summer – per foot
1 25.50
Boat Storage – Winter – per sq.ft.
(length x beam)
1 1.30
Boat & Trailer Storage – Winter – per unit
(max. 25 ft.)
1 214.00
Cradle Handling & Storage – cost per season 1 75.00
Pump out - per unit 5 13.00
Daily Boat & Trailer Storage – Summer - per unit 5 20.00
Extra Tenders – incl. seadoos, small sail, zodiacs, etc. 1 107.00
Dock Box Rentals - cost per season 1 75.00
Washroom Keys (refunded upon key
return at end of season)
4 10.00
























































































































































bev.wood@norfolkcounty.ca - Email

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Response From Norfolk County Government

Dear Mr. Sanders:

In response to your request to the Mayor below, attached please find a Request for Deputation Form. Please complete the form and return by email to me no later than noon today in order to get on the Agenda for the Regular Council Meeting scheduled for Tuesday January 13, 2009. Once I receive your form, I will provide confirmation with more details. If you have any further questions, feel free to contact me.


Beverley Wood
Clerk/Manager of Council Services
519-426-5870, Ext. 1228
519-426-8573 - Fax
bev.wood@norfolkcounty.ca - Email

Form Required To Speak at Town Hall

Clerk & Council Services

P.O. Box 545, 50 Colborne Street South

Smcoe, Ontario

N3Y 4N5

Request for Deputation

Request for deputation and/or any written submissions and background information for consideration by either Council or Council-In-Committee must be submitted to the Clerk’s Department by 12 noon on the Thursday prior to the requested meeting.

PLEASE PRINT

Council Date:

­­­

Council-In-Committee Date:

Subject:

Name:

Address:

Phone: Home: Business:

Fax: E-Mail:

Name of Group or Person(s) being represented (if applicable):

Details of nature of the business/purpose: (Additional information can be attached separately)

Personal information on this form will be used for the purposes of sending correspondence relating to matters before Council and Council-In-Committee. Your name, address, comments, and any other personal information, is collected and maintained for the purpose of creating a report that is available to the general public in a hard copy format and on the internet in an electronic format pursuant to Section 27 of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, C.M 56, as amended. The applicant may request the removal of his or her personal information when submitting this form. Questions about this collection should be directed to the Records Management/Freedom of Information Coordinator, P.O. Box 545, 50 Colborne Street South, Simcoe, Ontario,

N3Y 4N5, Telephone: 519-426-5870, Extension 1261; Fax: 519-426-8573; E-Mail: katherine.bristol@norfolkcounty.ca.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT: www.norfolkcounty.ca

Information for the Public on Making Presentations to Council/Council-In-Committee

We are pleased to provide you with some information that will help make your presentation to Council or Council-In-Committee effective. All Council and Council-In-Committee meetings of Norfolk County are televised. There is frequently an audience at our meetings. It is therefore necessary to follow certain procedures to ensure that your presentation is seen and heard by the Council and Council-In-Committee members, the television audience and the audience in the gallery. Deputations are limited to ten minutes. The following are our suggestions for making an effective presentation:

Provide Information to County Clerk

Provide a copy of your presentation to the County Clerk either prior to or at the meeting.

The County Clerk may be contacted at bev.wood@norfolkcounty.ca or 519-426-5870, Extension 1228. If you are providing a Powerpoint presentation please e-mail a copy to the Clerk by Monday morning prior to the meeting to ensure that it is set up for you when you arrive at the meeting.

Speak through the Chair

When addressing Council/Council-in-Committee or answering a question, regardless of where the question came from, you should always address your comments to the Mayor or Chair. This maintains order in the meeting. The Mayor is addressed as Mayor Travale, Mr. Mayor or Your Worship and the Chair of Council-In-Committee can be addressed as Chair.

Speak into the Microphone

When addressing Council/Council-In-Committee or answering a question, always use the microphone.

· If you must move from your position to use a microphone, please move to the microphone before you begin speaking.

· If you have moved back to a seat in the gallery and you are asked another question, please return to the microphone to respond.

· Do not try to address Council from a seat in the audience as people both in the Council Chambers and watching the broadcast cannot hear you.

Test your Presentation Materials before the Meeting

If you are presenting drawings, documents or a PowerPoint presentation that you wish to display using the projector, you are advised to attend the Council Chambers during the day prior to the meeting to ensure that your presentation can be properly loaded and displayed. Note that any Powerpoint presentation is to be emailed to the Clerk by Monday morning prior to the meeting. Power point presentations should be less than 200 megabytes (equals 210,000 bytes) to run properly. If you need information regarding the presentation equipment in the Council Chambers please contact Colleen Coons, Administrative Coordinator, County Manager’s Office at colleen.coons@norfolkcounty.ca or by telephone (519-426-5870, ext. 1226).

Make sure your Presentation will be visible

When preparing any drawing or document to project using the document camera, or digital projection, you should make sure the text of the diagram will be visible in the Council Chambers. This means that any text or diagram on sheet or overhead is large. If you want your presentation on the screen to be legible for the audience the words on the document or drawings on the sheet of paper should be legible from a distance of 8 feet away (This means using a minimum font size of 24)


Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Norfolk County Email Addresses

Folks if you use these email addresses, this will get you around the gatekeepers


mayor dennis.travale@norfolkcounty.ca
councillors mayorandcouncillors@norfolkcounty.ca
gatekeeper maureen.rebbetoy@norfolkcounty.ca
mpp toby@tobybarrett.com
simcoe reformer simcoeclass@bowesnet.com

Norfolk County Proposed Marina Operations

The Corporation of Norfolk County

Normally, I finish each year by renewing my slip, paying my deposit for the next boating season. I have not done this yet, because I have not received the renewal forms. I have made inquiries to why, and have learned (through my efforts, not proactive measures by the Marina), that the reason I have not got my renewal forms, is because the Marina Board resigned. The County Government is going to run the Marina and is proposing a 20% increase for dock fees and a 5% increase for electricity. I have also learned that there is a town hall type meeting scheduled for Jan.13/09. My facts may be wrong, but I have not been given the courtesy of the Marina informing me of the correct facts even though I have been a customer for 10 years. If it were run like a proper business, a letter of intent would have been sent even if it were to say, we are reviewing our policies and will get back to you later.

I suppose the County Government strategy is to delay informing its customers of the proposed increased in the hopes of blindsiding boat owners, or perhaps they just not up to the task of running the marina? We recently had a large increase, is another one warranted due to the current economic circumstances? The members of the Port Dover Harbor Marina are primarily middle class families that struggle with the same issues as everyone else, rising gas prices, taxes etc, and have limited resources to dedicate to our boating activity. The Marina Board would know this if they studied their fuel sales for the last few years. The increase in fuel cost has limited the usage of boats. It appears the County Government is looking for more money, without taxing its voters. Well guess what? I vote with my wallet, in the stores and restaurants around Port Dover, and I have a limited amount of resources, if I didn’t then I would have a boat on Georgian Bay.

Suppose you increase the rates 20% and lose 20% of the boats,

Your net result:

  • to the Marina is loss of revenue of 4%,
  • but your costs don’t decrease, the grass still needs to be cut,
  • the community impact is far greater.

That is:

  • 20% less people at the Marina,
  • 20% less work for Bridge Marine, Dovercraft etc.
  • 20% less marina customers at the Restaurants, drinking establishments, theatre, shops, and the farmers market.

I would suggest that amount is far greater, even more because hardly a weekend goes by that we don’t have guests. The guests at times book hotel rooms, shop in the craft stores, and eat in the restaurants. Most other boaters have visitors as well.

For those that do stay, they have 20% less money to spend, perhaps they bring their food, don’t go out to see live entertainment, so it becomes a slippery slope. Businesses have fewer customers, need fewer employees, and it recesses from there. Is this the course the County Government wants to chart?

It is estimated that a dollar gets multiplied (some say up to 8 times in a community) so the loss to business could be much more substantial when you consider the three fold decrease:

  • less boats,
  • less visitors to boats,
  • less disposable income for those that stay.

A business needs to balance several items to maximize the net over all benefit to the shareholders, and this is a business. The County Government’s plan has not considered the net effect to the loss of revenue to the businesses and residents (the shareholders) of the town of Port Dover, they have missed the big picture.

So here is the big picture. The Marina is a cash cow which brings money into the community. The County Government needs to balance how they want to milk the cow, because their current course of action will kill the cow, and dead cows don’t give milk.

Geoff Sanders

Dock 1 of the PDHM

Monday, January 5, 2009

Winter Rendezvous

Hey Stop Shovelling and Come to the Winter Rendezvous!

See your friends
Spent some $$
Eat some food
Lament about the weather


Winter Rendezvous Sunday February 22/09
1:00 pm at Callahans Beach House
RSVP by February 16/09 to Judy Redmond,
email to 1whisper@sympatico.ca or
phone @905-385-0313.
Thanks
Judy

January 13/09 PDHM Townhall Meeting

A message from a Member (anyone can add to the blog)

Geoff please see revised email below for the mayor and councilors, we have been asked to send emails to Maureen Rebbetoy and she will distribute to the mayor and councilors.

Geoff as we spoke on the phone today we attended a meeting put on by Cliffside Yacht Club to address the proposed 20% rate increases. This meeting was for all interested parties.

It was suggested that as many letters/emails as possible go to council from INDIVIDUALS was the way to go, with copies to the local MP and media.

The chair of the meeting asked for our executive contacts emails but I did not have anything with me so I said I would email his information to our exec, I will list his name and email/phone number below.
Meeting chair (Cliffside Yacht Club) Pat Young Ph 519-583-3502 email pyoung@kwick.com
Mayor and Councilors emial maureen.rebbetoy@norfolkcounty.ca (she will distribute to the mayor and councillors)
Address The Corporation Of Norfolk County
50 Colborne Street South
Simcoe, On.
N3Y 4N5
Local MP Diane Finley email Finley.D@parl.gc.ca
Constituency office 70 Queensway West
Simcoe, On.
N3Y 2M6
Simcoe Reformer 50 Gilberts Drive
Simcoe, On.
N3Y 4L2
Ph. 519-426-5710
FX 519-426-9255

Port Dover Maple Leaf 351 Main Street,
Port Dover, On.
Ph 519-583-0112
FX 519-583-3200
My suggestion would be to urge all members to send individual letters to the mayor and councilors with copies to others listed above. The more they hear from the boaters the more they will listen.