South Muskoka Doppler

Read Local

Reader Interactions

7 Comments

  1. Earle Robinson says

    Hi Muskoka. There was encouraging news yesterday!

    Your District Council chose to defer approvals to construct an unneeded $600,000 alternate grass runway to accommodate the request by an individual to construct a building on the existing more favourable grass runway. This new runway introduces serious hazards to aircraft and pilots which will decrease safety and increase liability. It also hobbles economic growth at this airport which is so important for Muskoka’s future.

    I would like to thank the councillors that voted down this motion yesterday and hope they continue to lead more visionary decisions for the future of this airport and all of Muskoka.

    Well done Councillors.

  2. Kay Godden says

    Is Muskoka going to the dogs?

    This summer I have observed a dog (not a service dog) sniffing at the produce and meats in a small grocery store. He could have as easily lifted his leg and urinated. The manager said there was nothing he could do!

    I was waiting for my car to be serviced when I had a dog jump onto my lap and the owner thought it was just wonderful! Another dog was romping around the waiting room unleashed. The owner said he was not going restrict the dogs (or their owners).

    I was mauled by a dog as a child and as a nurse have seen what dogs can do. Dogs are not people, folks, and should not be expected to behave as people in people settings..

  3. RONALD RITCHIE says

    It seems everywere in the world people are not satisfied with the governing power. When did we loose the meaning of ” think for yourself”? So many people have problems and government can not begin to serve them all, so maybe it time to for people to start planning and doing for themselves, as well as others when possible. Being thankful for the people willing to step forward to run our country as best they can is important. Borrowing every year to satisfy the voters is not working and taking us into bankruptcy and still leaving many people with their own problems. If only we could be more positive! We are free and do live in the best country in the world!

  4. June Dunlop says

    If resources are used (Eg firefighting men and equipment) due to carelessness, all charges SHOULD go to the person(s) who caused the issue. And perhaps if more people were aware of having to pay for their poor or unthoughtful actions, more care would be taken. Similar to skiing or sledding in prohibited areas, etc

  6. Earle Robinson says

    “Public ALERT . . . please pay attention!
    Your airport is being reduced to a worthless business park through continuing short term vision and poor planning so please take action. Write a letter to your District Councillor (all councillors is better) and the District Chair and tell them to put runway 09/27 back into service now as a grass runway to prevent further damage and harm to existing tenants, stakeholders, businesses and taxpayers. This runway should be preserved (again) for future use so options are still available when the councillors and Board finally realize that they actually do need it to sustain future economic growth and scheduled flights. After all, it is the only into wind runway at the airport. Even birds know better than removing such a valuable asset. They takeoff into wind too, just like airplanes. Seven generations should be a planning objective, as our First Nation friends have been saying. They are right!” This is your economic future at stake, and your children’s, grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s future.as well.”

    FYI, below is the letter that I sent to Council on May 15, 2023

    (Correspondence received 23-232)

    Greetings Councillors

    This email is another attempt to prioritize awareness and reason on airport issues before Council on Monday. This airport Board and this CEO have demonstrated to Council, on multiple occasions, that they have no interest in building or keeping a grass runway. Their arguments to Council have been technically incorrect. Proof and links were provided to Council explaining these details. They recommended NO grass runway and if you recall Council did not accept that. Now it is clear that they are trying to skirt the safety and economic issues using inflated costs and deferring construction.

    This is completely consistent with their stated objectives. I am very concerned that Council is losing oversight control over them.

    If elected officials want a robust economic future for Muskoka by properly managing this key infrastructure, it must put runway 09/27 back into service as a grass runway in the short term and must protect it as an extended and paved runway in the long term for large aircraft. This is the only feasible option at Muskoka, as explained in multiple presentations to Council. This must be done before it is too late. Saving runway 09/27 will solve most of the issues which have been raised to Council for years.

    In my opinion, this Council should recognize that the previous Council’s and Board’s short term “vision” demonstrated so far is inappropriate for Muskoka’s long term future growth. Council should develop and provide a new, broader, well considered and fully reviewed Terms of Reference for the Board and CEO to follow. These TORs must be reviewed by all airport users, stakeholders and businesses prior to Council voting on them. A robust review will ensure proper directions for long term growth at this airport. Seven generations, as the First Nations suggest, is a very good model.

    Local airport businesses and stakeholders are being hurt as a direct result of the current airport policies. This will continue to have large negative impacts on this airport’s future, and hence on Muskoka’s future economic growth unless changed by Council.

    The recent Finance and Corporate Services committee resolution to look into a Municipal Corporation, in my view, is yet another attempt to minimize Council’s oversight on this Board and for some Councillors to simply off load this responsibility. This will also have a negative impact on the airport’s future and will let short term business interests and influences have even more control and influence.

    It is Council’s role to protect infrastructure and the public’s interest. Taxpayers and voters expect this.

    Please take these issues seriously and manage the direction of this airport soon before it is lost.

    Regards

    Earle Robinson,
    M.A.Sc, P.Eng.

  7. Bill Warren says

    Why are you not publishing the death notices for the local funeral homes now? I would expect that this would be a free service provided by your newspaper for the Funeral homes for the people of Muskoka.

    Please re-instate this service immediately. It is basically and no cost item to you and service to the community and goodwill to you. It is a win win situation please take the necessary action.

Join the discussion:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All comments are moderated. Please ensure you include both your first and last name and abide by our community guidelines. Submissions that do not include the commenter's full name or that do not abide by our community guidelines will not be published.

Enable Notifications OK No thanks