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6 - The Canadien Champion, Tuesday, July 3, 2001 <COMMENT Approving an audit is ail board can do The Halton District School Board was really Ieft with no choice but to vote in favour of an audit following the recent charges made by Burlington Trustee Michael Ellis. As reported elsewhere in this newspaper, the board decided an inde- pendent audit was needed after Mr. Ellis made allegations of misrepre- sentation of financial matters pertaining to school closures, last-minute information before votes, as weII as violations and abuses of board bylaws and policy. After this, what else could the board - maintaining its innocence - do but calI in the auditors? As Chair Ethel Gardiner points out, the allegations plant questions in the minds of the public and put the board and staff at risk in termns of public trust. At the same time, the audit is expected to cost up to $50,000, so this leaves the public in a tough spot. The public doesnt want the board to be found guilty of wrongdoing, but at the same time they don't want the $50,000 to end up wasted. Mr. Ellis had better have his facts straight and be exercising good judge- ment in his cail for this investigation. Otherwise, he will owe taxpayers $50,000. N~ 'v ARE ALLOF A SUPP1N D>ONT G VAR R4EINIE ABOUT TE O[SYMICII/ m O UR R FADER S WRITE Reader hopes community's best înterest wii be consîdered regarding quarry proposai Dear Editor: A recent letter regarding Dufferin Aggregates quarry proposai bas prompted me to write this letter. While it's understandable that many resi- denis of Milton lament the loss of rural lands to new subdivisions, raiiway yards and other developments it's perhaps the price we psy for being in the OTA. The one certainty is the growth of Toronto will continue and towns like Milton wiil have pressures that accompany it. I, for one, wouid hope that our political and community leaders wouid look carefully at al the (acta of each new deveiopment and make their decisions on what's the better choice for the whole community. Aggregate pits and quarries have been s part of Halton since before most of us can remember. They exist to fulfili a primary need in the local economy. New bouses, industries, and roads can't be buiît without aggregate. Do we really want to haul aggregate from some place like Collingwood, and pay perhaps twice the cost flot to mention doubling the number of tnucks on the roads with the accompanying increase in pollu- tion caused by the extra trucks? Many people (ail to realize that the quality of aggregate is also an issue. If we want our build- ings, bridges, and roads to be safe and lsst their full life without falling spart we must use quali- ty aggregate. Quality sggregate is availabie on a number of places on the Niagara Escarpment. In a recent letter to the editor, the writer wrote, ..no attempt was being made to recycle highway materials." In fatt Dufferin Construction, the Sister Company of Dufferin Aggregates, recy- cled more than 300,000 tonnes last year in the area. Other road building companies in the GTA recycled similar amounts. The Ministry of Transportation and the City of Toronto have in particular developed programs to encourage the recycling of ail road materiais. Other municipal- ities have similar programs. Recycling of road materiais makes sense (rom ail perspectives, it saves money and disposai spaces, reduces pollu- tion and replaces quarried and pit material. It's a win-win solution. Unfortunately there's only sufficient quaiity of recycled material to replace a fraction of the market requirements. In addi- tion recycled material is generally not of high enough quality for re-use in ready mixed con- crete. Safety and structural integrity require high quality stone in high stress, high demand con- struction projects. Recycied aggregates comple- ment these uses. My understanding of the Dufferin Aggregate expansion is that it will enable the company to continue to operate for 20 years at the present level of production. 1 believe the proposai includes providing buffer zones between the quarry and its neighbours as well as protecting the environmentaily sensitive areas. Progressive rehabilitation wili retumn the ares to a natural state following the ciosing of the quarry. In summary, hopefuily there's the poliical will and public support to continue quarrying on the less sensitive rural lands behind the escarpment. Ron Fraser Campbellville Rural resident thanks Champion for council coverage +THE CANADIAN CHMPION Box 248, 191 Main St. E., Thme Canadian Champion, publishal every luesday and Friday at 191 Main St. t., Milton, Ont., L9T 4N9 (Bsx 248), is one nf TIre Mtrolanti Milton, Ont. L9T 4N9 Pnînting, Pubislhing & Distributina Ltd. grnup of suburban companies which inclades: AafPickering News Atiertiser, Aliston Hrerald/Csanier, Barrie Advance, Barrys Bay TIis Weete, Blten tntarpnisa, Bampton Guardian, (905)8 7 8I - 2 3 4 1.m Bulinton Post, Burlington Shospping Nawse, City Panent, City of Yrkr Guardian, CllingwosdlWasaga Connection, tast Yrk Mirror, Erna EditrialFax:878-943 AdvocatalCountry Routas, Ettbicska Guardian, Flamborsaglr Post, Fsrevnr EditrialFax:878-943 oung, Gnorgetown IndnpandentlActon Fer ess, Haltes Businss limes, A J., Huronia Business limas, Kingston This Wek, Lindsay Tbis Weak, Markhtam .ri.verising Fax: 876-2364 tcenomist & Sun, MidlandlPenatanguishana Mirsr, Milsa Shopping Nawse, Mississauga Business Timas, Mississauga Nnws, Napanan Guide, Classified: 875-3300 Nassagawaya News, Nawmarkt/Aursra tra-Bannen, Northumbterland Nawse, Noeth rkn Mirrsr. Oakville Beaver, Onkeille Shroppng News, Oldtimers Ian Oliver Publisher Hockey News, Oilia Today, OshawalWhitby/Clarington/Port Ferry This Waak, Peterborough Tois Waek, Picton County Guide, Richimondi Neil Oliver A.e.ocale Pablceher HiI/ThornhilbVaughan Liberai, Scarbonouglr Mirror. Stouffvill/iiobridge Tribune. Wendy McNab Adverti.ing Manager Adoatisng is acceptait on tira condition tran, in tira avant of a type. graptocal errer, that portion of tira advartising space sccupind by tha ares- Karen Smith Ediur neous item, togalline witit a easonable allowanca toe signature, wîll ast Ire Steve Crozler Circulatian Manager chargad to, but the balance et the adoartisamant reili ba paid tonaltirae appli- cubte rata. Tira publishar csernas the iirate catagenize adveansements se Teri Casa Office Manager daclina. Dear Editor: Thank you for the coverage of our meeting with town council. I'm quite uncorofortable with the designation of intermodal expert. I did spend an entire career in the logistics industry with special con- centration on intermodal. However there are numerous others with more expertise than 1 have. Unfortunately it appears that none of them are involved with this proj- ect. I'm committing my time to the RAIL group because 1 believe that this site selection serves no one. Pud It's wrong for a variety of rea- sons. Recent new intermodal terminais were ail built with more thought and concem for the environment and community. Mike McElhone CampbeiviIIe by Steve Nease SAMMY, i IFgÇLIZE rVÇIlH /~~ -BUT IT JUSflPOE SIfE 11*5SE PAYS FORBflh WO sRrs!- YID T<IP flt WEARHIR "NySM L fim4T VO4N w1.. J Il- .1 v Mmqý The»h'onCvadimChwoWisoRecrJ"Pmduct Tim Coles Production Manager