Total Returns: 208
Presented to ACW Township Council on November 19, 2002
1. Should the Ashfield Colborne Lakefront Association Continue?
| Yes: | 202 | 97.1% |
|---|---|---|
| No: | 1 | .05% |
| Not answered: | 5 | 2.4% |
2. Presently the name for the association is Ashfield Colborne Lakefront Association. Do you approve of the name change to Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Lakefront Association?
| Yes: | 152 | 73.1% |
|---|---|---|
| No: | 40 | 19.2% |
| Not answered: | 16 | 7.7% |
3. Should the structure of the association be changed to a more formal, traditional format?
| Yes: | 27 | 13.0% |
|---|---|---|
| No: | 114 | 54.8% |
| Not answered: | 67 | 32.2% |
4. Does the $10 fee per property seem appropriate?
| Yes: | 193 | 92.8% |
|---|---|---|
| No: | 4 | 1.9% |
| Not answered: | 11 | 5.3% |
5. Do you feel the association provides useful information?
| Yes: | 184 | 88.5% |
|---|---|---|
| No: | 2 | 1.0% |
| Not answered: | 22 | 10.6% |
6. How do you get Association information?
| Mail: | 62 | 29.8% |
|---|---|---|
| 112 | 53.8% | |
| Website: | 33 | 15.9% |
| Word of Mouth: | 65 | 31.3% |
| Not answered: | Many get information from more than one source | |
Where applicable, please rank the issues which are most important to you.
7. Lake Water Quality:
| Low: | 0 | 0% |
|---|---|---|
| Medium: | 6 | 2.9% |
| High: | 200 | 96.2% |
| Not answered: | 2 | 1.0% |
8. Intensive Live Stock Operations:
| Low: | 3 | 1.4% |
|---|---|---|
| Medium: | 111 | 5.3% |
| High: | 189 | 90.9% |
| Not answered: | 5 | 2.4% |
9. Drinking Water:
| Low: | 16 | 7.7% |
|---|---|---|
| Medium: | 17 | 8.2% |
| High: | 173 | 83.2% |
| Not answered: | 2 | 1.0% |
10. Municipal Taxes:
| Low: | 9 | 4.3% |
|---|---|---|
| Medium: | 72 | 34.6% |
| High: | 125 | 60.1% |
| Not answered: | 2 | 1.0% |
11. Garbage Collection:
| Low: | 43 | 20.7% |
|---|---|---|
| Medium: | 90 | 43.3% |
| High: | 73 | 35.1% |
| Not answered: | 2 | 1.0% |
12. Township Roads to the Top of the Bank:
| Low: | 72 | 34.6% |
|---|---|---|
| Medium: | 71 | 34.1% |
| High: | 55 | 26.4% |
| Not answered: | 10 | 4.8% |
13. Intensive live stock operations and the field application of liquid manure in the township:
| Low: | 3 | 1.4% |
|---|---|---|
| Medium: | 4 | 1.9% |
| High: | 197 | 94.7% |
| Not answered: | 4 | 1.9% |
14. Are you in favour of a buffer zone protecting the lakeshore that prohibits intensive livestock operations and liquid manure application:
| Yes: | 194 | 93.3% |
|---|---|---|
| No: | 7 | 3.4% |
| < 1 km: | 6 | 2.9% |
| 1-3 km: | 39 | 18.8% |
| > 3 km: | 143 | 68.8% |
| Not answered: | 7 | 3.4% |
15. Are you in favour of periodic mandatory septic system re-inspection:
| Yes: | 152 | 73.1% |
|---|---|---|
| No: | 42 | 20.2% |
| Not answered: | 14 | 6.7% |
16. Should the mail-in vote be continued for the 2003 municipal elections:
| Yes: | 197 | 94.7% |
|---|---|---|
| No: | 4 | 1.9% |
| Not answered: | 7 | 3.4% |
17. The ward system: Each of the former townships elects 2 councilors - all voters in theamalgamated township elect the reeve. Should the ward system be continued?
| Yes: | 162 | 77.9% |
|---|---|---|
| No: | 11 | 5.3% |
| Not answered: | 35 | 16.8% |
19. During the election in 2000 most candidates submitted profiles to be posted on the Association website. Was this information helpful?
| Yes: | 146 | 70.2% |
|---|---|---|
| No: | 20 | 9.6% |
| Not answered: | 42 | 20.2% |
Continue posting profiles in 2003 municipal election?
| Yes: | 171 | 82.2% |
|---|---|---|
| No: | 6 | 2.9% |
| Not answered: | 31 | 14.9% |
Approximately 15% of survey returns had comments on one or more questions.
1. Should the Ashfield Colborne Lakefront Association Continue?
Comments: Would depend on what goals are. Stream testing etc. is only useful if we can get people to stop polluting and get government agencies involved.
2. Presently the name for the association is Ashfield Colborne Lakefront Association. Do you approve of the name change to Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Lakefront Association?
Comments: Name would be too cumbersome — Wawanosh does not have lake frontage — most cottage issues pertain to Ashfield and Colborne wards, but since amalgamation some topics could involve Wawanosh.
3. Should the structure of the association be changed to a more formal, traditional format?
Comments: If it works why change it? — Yes, to provide status in the courts — workload of "directors" must be more widely distributed.
4. Does the $10 fee per property seem appropriate?
Comments: In general most comments support higher annual fees - if needed.
5. Do you feel the association provides useful information?
Comments: Good information for people with internet access - many, without internet access, did not get information in a timely manner or none at all.
6. How do you get Association information?
Comments: One person suggested an annual mailing (snail mail) — others commented they did not have e-mail.
Eight people thought the association is very much needed at this time and thanked the executive for the work being done (stream testing in particular). Others thought that it was excellent that members of council participated at Association meetings. It was also suggested that the Association join the Ontario Federation of Cottagers. A number of people had suggestions for changing the structure of the Association and also suggested identifying and concentrating on a limited number of key issues.
7. Lake Water Quality:
Comments: Without clean water and beaches, no one will want to be here or care about future events. — We should insist that meeting Provincial Standards of Water Safety all the time are not negotiable.— If water quality diminishes so will our property values. —The Great Lakes are an incredible Canadian resource and pollution from intensive livestock operations should not be tolerated.
8. Intensive Live Stock Operations:
Comments: Comments were uniformy negative. Generally there is great concern that these operations have and will affect surface and groundwater quality. — These operations should not be treated as farms, but should be classified as industrial operations.— One comment called for a class action legal initiative to stop these operations. Another comment called for the treatment of liquid manure before manure is land applied.
9. Drinking Water:
This question was inappropriately phrased and is subject to misinterpretation.
Question should have been: Are you concerned with the present supply and quality of drinking water?
10. Municipal Taxes:
Comments: There has been a 50% increase in taxes since amalgamation.— We pay the same amount of taxes in the city, but here we have virtually no services.— The county and the Township seem to see the cottagers as a bottomless well of funds.
11. Garbage Collection:
Comments: All comments requested recycling facilities within a reasonable distance. One comment requested curbside recycling pickup every 2 weeks( example Bruce Beach).
12. Township Roads to the Top of the Bank:
Comments: Unassumed roads are unfair. — The Township should gravel and apply calcium to roads to the top of the lake bank.— Birch Beach Road should be widened for safety reasons.
13. Intensive live stock operations and the field application of liquid manure in the township:
Comments: Farmers have the right to farm, but strong penalties should be imposed for those who circumvent the law. — The field application of liquid manure greatly endangers water quality in Lake Huron.
14. Are you in favour of a buffer zone protecting the lakeshore that prohibits intensive live stock operations and liquid manure application:
Comments: Buffer zone should also apply to rivers and streams feeding into Lake Huron. — Cattle should not be allowed in streams. — Buffer zones are punitive for farmers in affected areas. — There are restrictions in other non-lake areas. — Buffer zone should at least extend to Highway 21.
15. Are you in favour of periodic mandatory septic system re-inspection:
Comments: If we expect farmers to help stop polluting the lake and drinking water, we should show the same willingness. — Cottagers and farmers are a tiny concerns compared to the big polluters such as Goderich and Kincardine. — Septic systems should be inspected and upgraded when building permit is issued for reconstruction.
16. Should the mail-in vote be continued for the 2003 municipal elections:
Comments: All comments emphatically - yes.
17. The ward system: Each of the former townships elects 2 councilors - all voters in the amalgamated township elect the reeve. Should the ward system be continued?
Comments: The ward system is inequitable in its current form relative to number of electors. — Consideration should be given to establish a lakeshore ward. — Present ward system perpetuates former township divisions.
19. During the election in 2000 most candidates submitted profiles to be posted on the Association website. Was this information helpful?
Comments: Candidates should address lakefront issues in their election platform. — Profiles posted in previous election did not address any issues. They were "motherhood" statements.
Trees should be preserved on the lake bank. — Dogs should be leashed. — Restrict dirt bikes and ATVs on beach. — Our beaches and water quality have deteriorated. A more intensive study and action plan should be pursued.
Beach closures are posted on public beaches. Can beach associations obtain signs to post for their cottages? — Beach closure sign should be posted at corner of Amberley Beach Road and Lake Range Road (Rick Elliot's).
Need more information from municipality and County on budgets and spending priorities.
All residents of ACW must work together to ensure safe drinking water and safe recreational waters. The ACW coastline can be developed to broaden tax base.