This is where puslinch.net readers can express their opinions on matters of interest to the residents of Puslinch. Or, you can promote an upcoming community event, or report on a past event. Or, you can just say what is on you mind. Its simple, just send an e-mail to puslinch.net by clicking here.

Please note: the e-mail here is printed just as it is received--it is not edited for spelling or punctuation.

This is the second page of the Readers Forum. To go back to the First Page click here.

Dear Paul,

Thank you for posting my question regarding the moving of Townline Road on the website. I keep checking back to see if there are any answers. I've noticed a lot more questions and I have a reply for one of them. Regarding the egg smell, my friends found the following sight to be the most useful/helpful "http://www.hhs.state.ne.us/puh/enh/feswater.html" when faced with the same problem (now have a UV system on their well). Basically it advises calling a well technician as all cases vary, but if you have access to your well I suppose you could try the shock treatment first.

Regards,
Karen

P.S. I just wanted to let you know that as per the map on your website in the section labeled Western Puslinch Township, Townline Road is the Western Boundary and Gore Road is the Southern boundary.

Thank you Karen for the web site link. Since we don't seem to be able to be able to provide you with any information about the widening of Town Line Rd. at the 401 here, it may be time to call a Councillor or the Mayor. The Mayor has made it clear that he would rather deal with individual phone calls, rather than address issues of concern directly on this web site. His number is 519-623-7970.

Please let us know what you find out.

Here is an interesting suggestion:

Hi Paul.

Due to the increased power of the Region of Waterloo, which threatens Cambridge's existance as a political entity, I have proposed that Cambridge leave the regional government and join the County of Wellington. I think the city and county will both benefit. Cambridge would take back some of its services such as transit, and at the same time won't have to face the hefty cost of taking everything back at once. The county could look after police, water treatment (while the city distributes it), garbage collection, roads such as Franklin and Hespeler, as well as the new regional attraction in the Galt Core (McDougal House) which could be considered a county attraction. As for the school board, we could be part of the school board which covers Guelph and Wellington County. We will also remain as a municipality as the chances of amalgamation will be greatly reduced. As, for the county, the county economy will improve as it will be able to claim hold of one of the most prosperous cities in the country. Also, the county population would increase by 115,000; thus giving it a stronger voice at Queens Park. I'd like Puslinch and the rest of the county to support this because I really feel it is neccessary for Cambridge to leave the region. Perhaps Cambridge could sign a contract of some sort that it would not swallow the county would make this more appealing to you guys. I've already E-mailed the mayor of Cambridge, and would like you to forward this to the Puslinch mayor and tell me what he said in response. Thanks.

Regards,

Nicholas Ermeta

Thanks for your suggestion Nicholas, but my guess is that the under 6,000 predominantly rural residents of Puslinch Township, will not readily open their arms to accept an urban area of 115,000 individuals. However, the floor is open, what do other Puslinchers think?

Last night I e-mailed back to Nicholas, asking if there was support in Cambridge for what he was suggesting. Here is his response:

Hi. There is actually support for this in Cambridge. Many Cambridge residents want to separate from the regional government but feel decreased service levels or higher taxes will result if the city goes one tier so they would like to see some kind of organization such as Wellington County to look after police, major roads, water treatment, garbage, and education. Many feel Cambridge is a good size and that the city should not become another Mississauga, so amalgamation with the county would be out of the question. The mayor of Cambridge, Doug Craig, says provincial legislation makes it difficult for the city to separate from the region. If we could get support from the county and its municipalities, this would help. Also, if Kitchener increased its supply of industrial land, they could become the regions cash cow when we separate. So, hopefully something can be worked out here.

Regards,
Nicholas Ermeta

I don't think Puslinch Township is equiped to take on those responsiblities, nor is it capable, particularly with the garbage issue.

Sorry, Nicholas, but my hope is that Doug Craig is right.

5 June, 2002 Here is a follow-up from David Paterson:

Dear Paul,

Thanks for publishing my earlier letter about By-law 1/2000. You asked why citizens of Puslinch should be concerned. Among other deficiencies of the by-law is the safety issue that it does not meet the Ministry of Transportation's standards at higher speeds (ie 80 kph). This leaves the Township open to a lawsuit should an accident happen in which negligence in this respect has been a factor. We have alerted Council of the exposure but they have shown no more interest in correcting it than they have in convincing the Roads Department to correct some dangerous safety situations on Carter-Cook's Mill Roads.

Several serious accidents have occurred here in which the lack of proper warning signs has been a contributing factor. We have repeatedly reminded Council of this problem but with no results. As with the implications of By-law 1/2000, this could result in costly judgements against the Township should another serious accident occur. Awards of several million dollars are not unknown. These costs would, of course, be passed on to the taxpayers of Puslinch.

We have covered these matters, as well as others, in considerable detail on our website which can be found at www3.sympatico.ca/paterson.dave.

David and Barbara Paterson

Thanks for the background info David and Barbara. If other Puslinchers are concerned about this issue you can contact David and Barbara through their web site.

June 10 2002,

Hi Paul,

It's been awhile since I've had the opportunity to read Puslinch.net -it's been a hectic few months with school.

I do have some possible answers to questions that have been posted on the reader's forum- this is just what I've heard through the grapevine and reading.

Townline Road bridge expansion:

The bridge is being expanded to be a ten lane bridge- this is to allow for future growth of the area. The road known as Lake Rd which is also County Rd. 32 is going to be rerouted to join up somehow with Pinebush. I hadn't heard that they will make Townline south of the 401 into 4 lanes down to Gore but that only stands to reason that they would.

I also read that they won't be putting a pedestrian or bike lane over the bridge which makes no sense to me. The Cambridge Reporter (or maybe it was the Times) had a good article out a couple of weeks ago talking about the expansion. It is slated to start this summer with the work being done at night.

Travelled Road:

I believe that they actually get garbage pickup and recycling pickup for a few of course! The road is pretty small so I don't a Township plow would even fit down it to shovel it out in the winter. With regards to the building permit- they are best to contact Dave Prentince our building inspector and ask him how they go about doing what they want to do- it's certainly not impossible to get a permit as long as you follow Township guidelines-but if he's concerned he should call Dave first to get an idea about what would and wouldn't be permitted.

Amalgamating with Cambridge

Are you kidding me- my tax bill just went up another 91.26 from last year- this was not because of Puslinch but because the County of Wellington hiked the price up by 3-4% because now they have to pay for policing and subsidized housing etc etc. Thanks but no thanks we don't need another big city breathing down our little rural necks- Guelph and Wellington are enough!

Well that's all I know about the above stuff and of course it's just what I've heard from different sources.

Thanks for keeping my school posted on the Community Service Page- I really appreciate it and have several parents find out about the school through Puslinch.net. Keep up the great work by keeping the community informed!

Jacqueline Flowers

Thank you Jacqueline for your information. But, a 10 lane bridge in Puslinch! Aimed at Cambridge, I hope.

And, thanks for your support of this web site.

Here is a serious problem, presented by a regular contributer to this page--Karen Dailous.

Hi Paul and fellow readers,

I need your help, comments etc. regarding the following. The 10 acre property next to us is currently for sale and to my shock it has been listed with an out of town real estate company as a "Trucking Business" We love Puslinch and everything about it , but I am tired of being pushed around by people or companies with enough money to fight to get their way. So, my dilema. This property has been zoned agricultural-harard with no changes, however, with no resident complaints it has operated as a trucking business for over 10 yrs.I also, have not complained, we have lived at our current residence for 2 1/2 yrs. The neighbours are a great family with other interests as well.

Now that the property has come up for sale we have been approached by a number of trucking companies outside this area who are looking for cheaper land to run their operation. I love our house and it's location and we have horses and I am not about to let another commercial business with more equipment and trucks move in next door on land that is clearly zoned A-H.

If residents drive for a living, having a truck or two is quite acceptable but how do I prevent the other. I have received clear zoning information from the township and feel that it their responsibility to make sure zoning legalities are met, especially when they are aware of previous problems. Small time residents are pushed enough by gravel pits, developers etc. I want people and real estate agents to be held responsible as well as the township in preventing such situations. What should I do Puslinchers? Please help.

Thanks
KJD

My guess is that Karen is right--it should be the Township's responsibility to see that zoninig bylaws are respected. But, it would probably be a good idea for her to contact the mayor (his phone number is at the top of this page) or a council member to clarify this.

Does anyone else have any more information or had a similar zoning experience?

We already know Mayor Whitcombe does not have e-mail and appears to have no interest in this site (see The Mayor's Page ). I hope that some of the coucillors do, please let's here from them.

16 February 2003

I don't see much new on the site. I hope I am browsing the correct way. By the way, counsellors, thanks for the 4 way flasher at 34 and Victoria. A great job. I have a question for any one in the know. How does a person set up a new kennel in Puslinch and what if any regs. have to be followed? Is there a ceiling on the number of dogs permitted in a kennel? And what about noise? If there is constant barking now, what about in the summer when windows are open and we are taking advantage of the great outdoors? And if problems arise and continue to occur to whom do you contact for some action to be taken? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

KJD

Karen is right. There isn't much new on the site! When I started this site two years ago Puslinchers seemed pleased that Puslinch had it's own site and were eager to write to me about events and comments. As I had invisioned the site content would be largely generated by Puslinchers. However, that has not happened. I also thought that I could off set the cost of the site by selling advertising space on the web site. I have yet to make a penny!

Now I get very few e-mails from Puslinchers. I do get requests for Puslinch lapel pins, tourist information and real estate information. Yet the site is getting increased traffic every month--687 visitors in January 2003.

That said, here is another inquiry about dogs.

Posted Feb 21, 2003.

Does anyone know what bylaw or if there is one regarding barking dogs. We live on Puslinch Lake and love our home or used to. It has come to the point that we wan to move from our beautiful home because of this issue. We have not only 1 but 3 neighbors on all sides of us that put there dogs out for hours and hours barking continuously in the early morning and late at night as well as through the day.

Why have a dog if all you're going to do is let it sit outside and bark for hours. I have nothing against dogs we have one, but I do against owners that don't take their dogs for walks and would rather have them tied up causing noise pollution for the neighbors around them. We have been here for 7 years and loved the quite peaceful setting of the lake and now we feel like instead of the birds and calmness of the lake we hear dogs all day yelping. Please have some respect for the people around you. We have 2 children that are not able to sleep at night because of these dogs. Any suggestions.

Thanks
DOG BARKING ANNOYING

Puslinch does have Dog Control Officer who may be able to offer more information. The Puslinch Directory lists her as Gail Huether and her number is 824-1268. Can anyone else add any information?

Here is a response to to an enquiry posted above.
Posted Feb 21, 2003.

Questions about Traveled Rd on Puslinch Lake

We live on Swastika Trail on Puslinch Lake and we built an addition 5 years ago. We had no height restrictions and found it quite smooth process to add our large addition. Our property value has sky rocketed which is good and bad I guess.

Travelled Rd is plowed by the township but has not been fixed for years. It has many many potholes and every time I call they say they will continue fill it with ashphalt to fix it but not repave it. Maybe some others could call regarding the road condition and they might fix it. Swastika Trail isn't plowed because it is a private rd. Garbage pick up is a joke you have to drive to Guelph to pick up bags and it's 75 cents, We dump our garbage at my husband work which is next to nothing.

Puslinch Lake is a Fabulous place to live BUT the with the taxes we pay it doesn't give us hardly any services and we get no Government help to clean up the lake.

Hope this helps
Living on the lake

Here is a most intersting suggestion concerning the potential expansion of our fine Township.
Posted April 17 2003.

Good day!

First of all great web site. Keep up the good work!

Secondly, I have a suggestion. Reading the comments on the discussion page, It seems to me that Puslinch needs a stronger voice. This may help the township residents get their way more at town hall and at the County of Wellington.

I am suggesting that Puslinch annex much of the former Town of Flamborough.

The borders of Puslinch would remain where they are, except would reach as far south as the Fourth Concession which would be the southern boundary line. The boundary would move eastward to Highway 6. It would then go north on Highway 6 and then across on the 5th concession east to the Halton Regional boundary where it would move north from there eventually along the current eastern boundary. The western boundary would be along Cambridge, North-Dumfries, and Brant County.

Many villages such as Sheffield, Rockton, Millgrove, Flamborough Center, Carlisle, and Freelton would all be part of Puslinch.

While development could occur along the outskirts of the villages above, the purpose of the annexation is not for development purposes but to boost the towns population. It will also allow Flamborough to remain mostly rural since I believe that it is safer for the town to be part of Puslinch than Hamilton for that matter. I really don't like the idea of countryside in the city as there is always the risk of sprawl as a result. This is why I was largely against the Hamilton merger. Also, Puslinch is at the end of my street and I hope it stays there because I like being able to walk to the country even though I'm in the city.

A new township hall would be built for Puslinch in a more central location to meet the needs of the annexation. I'm recommending Freelton.

Puslinch would have a lot to gain from this with the numerous parks and tourism attractions such as Valens, Beverly Swamp, Mountsburg, the African Lions Safari and Westfield Heritage Village. While many are perceived as Cambridge or even Hamilton attractions, they would really lie within Puslinch and could help better put the township on the map.

I think Puslinch and the County of Wellington would really have a lot to gain from this. Also, I know of many in Flamborough who would rather go with Puslinch than Hamilton. You'd be doing them a favour.

Also, a friend of mine who lives in Guelph believes that his city may eventually wipe Puslinch out of existance. A greater land mass with a greater population could help increase Puslinch's resistance to future annexations. It could also stop Hamilton from giving Flamborough over to developers.

So I urge you all to convince the Township of Puslinch and the County of Wellington to take up this proposal.

I'm putting this up for discussion. What is your input?

Feel free to put your responses up on the site or you can even E-mail me.

Thanks and have a great day!

Regards,

Nicholas Ermeta
Candidate for Waterloo Regional Council
Nov 10 vote
City of Cambridge Ontario

At this point this page has become to large to be easily edited. You may continue reading Puslinchers concerns and comments by going to Readers Forum page 3.

Back to the Top