Windmills a day later - in response to 'Not opposed to windmills, but project':

Yes, agreed and so did a near-full house at the Melancthon 2 Wind Project meeting held March 14th at the Dundalk Community Arena.

Concerns of that very nature were on the agenda with the audience urging Melancthon Township to put brakes on the project, at least for a year until impact studies on the total area and surroundings could be done and analyzed.

Concerns raised included depressed land values as a result of these monstrosities. It was brought to public attention that Melancthon Township is losing money on theses things.

Originally, the township placed a land tax levy value of $5,000 or $6,000 per year per unit, of which $1,500 plus change was to go to the school board and $500 plus change to the provincial coffers, leaving $500 and change for Melancthon.

Now take into consideration depressed land values lowering the tax levy and roads that need re-construction due to the increased traffic, directly attributable to Canadian Hydro and its truckloads of gravel and cement. At that point the taxpayer of Melancthon is stuck with increases just to cover present road repairs.

Another concern is the environment, pertaining to windmill byproducts such as used gear lubricants. According to Canadian Hydro personnel, standard lubricant is used as opposed to natural or eco-oils, due to the economics involved. This in itself casts doubts as to how green-friendly these machines actually are.

With migratory bird season just around the corner, I am waiting to see what will happen then.

One of the things insisted upon by ratepayers at their first meeting over a year ago was that all of the cables would be placed underground. That was agreed to by Canadian Hydro until the final plan. Trees are now cut with overhead wires strung between tall hydro poles.

Many residents of Melancthon did offer their lands to be purchased by Canadian Hydro but were flatly denied. If underground cables were established it would make it more difficult for Canadian Hydro and its agents to pull up and leave Dufferin County quickly, while we get stuck haggling over the clean-up of these poles and wires left behind.

Try driving down Melancthon's 4th Line - you only need a tank or ATV! Watch out for the smooth spots!

Kind of makes you think all their talk about wealth and prosperity is nothing more than breaking of hot wind.

I guess they make good neighbours, that is if you like flashing lights and the sound of a jet aircraft hovering over top of you constantly. Gives you that Pearson feeling all over again, with added reminders of disco days past.

(Personally, for this privilege of having two of them within 150 feet of our property lines, our property tax assessment was raised by $30,000 if not appealed. Ontario Municipal Land Tax Assessment Board deadline for this round of increased assessments is March 31). Mark Benvenete

(and family) Melancthon