The issue of a recreational trail to run alongside 1.2 kilometres of railway track in Orangeville will come to a head at a special March 29 public council meeting. The Orangeville Trailways Committee will be making a final pitch to salvage the Rails with Trails (RWT) project, which council is poised to vote down by a 4-3 margin. As it stands now, Councillors Scott Wilson, Mary Rose, Gail Campbell and Sylvia Bradley stand against, while Mayor Rob Adams, Deputy Mayor Warren Maycock and Councillor Gary Kocialek support the project. The March 29 meeting, which takes place at 7 p.m., will feature two 15-minute segments where opponents and supporters of the trail can speak their piece. “It will give the committee the opportunity to present complete drawings and design and safety specs,” said Trailways Committee chair Bernadette Hardaker. “Then, we will know we have done our best to answer the questions of the public. ““At that point, it will be up to council’s discretion how things work out.” Those unable to attend the meeting, but would like to submit written comments, are asked to ensure written comments are received by 4:30 p.m. on March 24. They are to be written to town clerk Cheryl Johns, 87 Broadway, Orangeville, L9W

1K1. Phone 519-941-0440, ext. 2242. Fax 519-941-9033 or e-mail cjohns@orangeville.ca.

At a recent Trailways Committee meeting, Mayor Adams had suggested a public workshop be scheduled to update and inform the public on the progress and intent of the RWT, while allowing a forum for those who oppose it.There was a consensus, though, that such a workshop would be waste of money and effort since a majority of council has said it’s unwilling to support the project.

There have also been arguments that the public council meeting on the issue should be little more than an academic exercise since council had previously voted to proceed with the project, along with the rest

of the Trails Master Plan, in

June, 2008.

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The plan aims to have a connected loop of trails throughout the town in place by 2017.

In an interview Tuesday, Mayor Adams explained that there have been changes to the

RWT plan, including additional study and risk assessment, since that vote and council still has to vote on the final product. “We make decisions and the public holds us accountable,” he said, adding that people must be kept up to date before council makes decisions. “This process is important.” Mayor Adams also noted that town staff is in a current state of flux and needs to know whether it should proceed with, or stop, the project. The vote will determine which way to go. An ongoing objection to the RWT is its projected price tag of around $330,000; a figure opponents have said is exorbitant. It is over one sixth the total estimated $1.8 million cost for finishing the final seven kilometres of a 15-kilometre “core network” of paved trails There has been $220,000 in federal and provincial grants for the RWT, however, that have been specifically designated for the 1.2- kilometre rail trail project. Guaranteed The remaining cost of $110,000, which would be borne by the town to with fulfill its agreed-to share of the funding, would Included be slightly over one third the $257,000 percapita Orangeville cost of each 519.941.3900 kilometre of trail yet to be completed. If the RWT project is voted out, the federal and provincial funding will be forfeited. As well, the town has allocated a total of $277,500 for

trails between 2007 and 2010. This works out to 1.2 per cent of the approximate $19 million gross expenditure on parks and recreation over the same period.

One such recreation expenditure involved a $240,000 purchase of a dehumidifier for the Tony Rose pool in 2008. Council had originally rejected that purchase, but relented after a large number of recreation-conscious residents demanded they buy it.

A substantial portion of the cost of the trail system, so far, has come from private sources, notably developers who have built trails in subdivisions they are constructing.

Deputy Mayor Warren Maycock is, along with Mayor Adams and Councillor Gary Kocialek, a proponent of the project. “I’ve always been a supporter of trails throughout the community,” said Mr. Maycock in an interview. “Any time you get two thirds of a project already paid for, you should step to the plate and go for it.”

The Orangeville Optimist Club is a community organization that, in the words of its publicity chair Ian McGugan, has invested “a lot of sweat equity” into the town trails. It includes fundraising efforts as well as the local Optimists pitching in and working on the various portions of the trails.

In an interview Tuesday, Mr. McGugan was skeptical in regards to the recent spate of safety concerns expressed by opponents of the RWT. These concerns range from fears that children using the proposed trail would be easily cornered by bullies, to prospects that trail users could be killed by possible train derailments.

“It seems ludicrous what they’re concerned about,” said Mr. McGugan, indicating that there is room for compromise on the issue. “If a fence (between the trail and the tracks) would make a difference, then let’s put in a fence rather than give up on a good idea.”

Some neighbours of the proposed RWT are worried that it will attract vandals and rowdy, partying youths.

At the January 21 Trailways Committee at Town Hall, a neighbour complained about boisterous kids drinking and partying on the railway tracks near her home. She turned to Mayor Adams, who was present at the meeting, and said: “I could have been murdered.”

Another neighbour, far less dramatic but nonetheless concerned, asked: “(The RWT) may be beautiful during the day, but what about at night?”

Councillor Kocialek lives in a home that is backed by a trail and said in an interview that “there hasn’t been any issues with vandalism.

“I have always supported the idea of some sort of connected trails network,” he continued. “The Trails Master Plan came with a good proposal and the rail trail was an integral part of the entire program.”

As to the latest round of safety protests, he figured “there is always a lot of fear of the unknown. But what I can say is that (the RWT plan) is a heck of a lot safer than what is there, right now.

“In terms of recreation, it is relatively inexpensive to implement. We already own the land. And it’s something that can benefit everyone.

“I hope there’s an opportunity for (opposing councillors) to change their minds.”