As a councillor during the 2019-22 term, Ernie Margetson, a listener who arrives at decisions with both thoughtfulness and integrity, demonstrated the qualities of a leader. Confronted with complexity, he reviews, and reviews again, until the facts are clear — and then  he is not afraid to be direct.

He’s been straightforward, for example, about his support for Delhi as the site of six new pickleball courts — at the risk of losing support in Picton. He is also clear that Hallowell needs a new water source, that housing development is a key economic driver, and that development charges could become an important source of revenue.

“I don’t speak high level jargon. I get into the weeds to try to understand what I’m talking about. I’ve worked in every sector, farm, heavy construction, environmental, heritage, building subdivisions, engineering, the earth sciences. I’ve done a lot of different things.”

He has worked for the County as an environmentalist, an engineer, and on exemplary heritage projects, such as the renovation of the Drake Devonshire in Wellington.

Asked what he considers the most pressing items on the agenda for the incoming council, “I see a lot of things,” he says. “It’s important to break it into smaller bites. I might start with trust.

“The community needs to be working with the government to restore trust. There are accusations of bribery. Those need to be put aside so we can unite as a community.”

Waterworks

“Then there’s water, and by that I would start with the water quality in Picton Bay. There’s sediment, leaching from industry, worries about shipping traffic. We need a new water source for Picton. We’ve got a water threat there that we are not going to be able to deal with. We need either a new long pipe going further out into Picton Bay, or to source water from Lake Ontario.”

A priority is “making sure our choices are financially sustainable. We have many priorities. The McFarland home, for example, means a 25-40 year debenture. That’s $80 million dollars right there.”

On the other hand, misinformation is rife. I note that the Times, for example, says the County’s waterworks financial strategy — the one defeated at Council in an 8-6 vote —will cost $350 million. The official number is closer to $250 million, with $100 million coming in the form of development charges, and a further $40-$60 million in grants.

He agrees, noting, “I have heard concerns that taxes are going to be raised because of new water infrastructure. I hear that coming from candidates running for office.

“It makes you wonder if people understand basic things about how Shire Hall works. People not paying water rates do not pay for water infrastructure. Period. New water infrastructure will have no effect on taxes. Full stop. Water rates pay for water. Ratepayers pay for water. And of those, everyone pays the same rate across the system.”

When it comes to new infrastructure, he is clear that development will pay some of the costs. “We’re going to take the debt, but a prepayment agreement would soften the blow. Things like Kaitlin’s $13 million. That helps cover taxes and interest on the loan until things get going —and then development charges apply.”

He notes that the new $31 million wastewater plant in Wellington, currently in the design phase, is 80 percent paid for.

He has other questions though, starting with concerns about the financial strategy for a regional waterworks plant. He would like to see if keeping two plants might be a viable option after all.

“I’d like an opportunity to go over the numbers carefully with staff, in council. There are some numbers in those reviews that I do not understand.”

On the other hand, infrastructure to serve growth in Wellington would all be paid for by DCs, he notes. And in Picton, “if there were growth there, development charges would minimize the impact of new waterworks infrastructure on ratepayers. Those facts are clear. In Picton, an expansion will accommodate new users on the system. We need more capacity.”

New residents would also help. “If people are building, new residents pay for new services.”

Economic Engines

Facilitating economic development is another key priority. But when it comes to tourism, he has concerns about the role played by the County’s Destination Management Organizations (DMOs), Visit the County and StayPEC. 

“I have heard from a lot of tourism operators who feel they are not doing much for them. I’m not discounting the work they do, but we do have to make sure we are not directing more money than we need to be to them.

“I would get in touch with Queen’s Park to see if we can amend the regulation that requires 50 percent of our MAT revenues to be directed to DMOs.

“I don’t want to minimize what they’ve done, but do they need a million dollars to do it?” he asks.

While development is a powerful economic engine in itself, “development never pays for itself,” he notes. “We need development, it brings economic benefits, starting with the building itself and the trades required, for our economy. New neighbourhoods bring diversity and growth, but in terms of minimizing our tax burden down the road, it never happens.” He suggests infill development puts the least burden on long term investment and infrastructure.

About Base31, “if people want those homes and they are going to finance and build them, well, let’s see what happens,” he says. “Let’s see how Phase One goes. Certainly, the land they are building on is marginal.”

As for the thousands of new homes in the County’s planning pipeline, “the economy just might regulate the rate of change, while council can stress keeping the sense of place in any new development.”

“Nobody wants subdivisions sprawling out across our farmland. The County’s Official Plan works actively to prevent that.”

The Base31, Kaitlin, and Cold Creek developments are all planned within an existing, serviced corridor along the Loyalist Parkway. “Residential and commercial development zoning is spaced along the existing development corridor from Picton to Wellington.”

Pickleball

Since his campaign launch in June, the Friends of Delhi Park has collected over 900 signatures on a petition demanding a reevaluation of the process that placed six paved pickleball courts in the park.

Mr. Margetson suggests that the proposed site, opposite the Picton Community Gardens and close to York Street, “is urban and even industrial and already has considerable traffic noise and disruption. It also does not interfere with the interior portions of the park.” Some of those areas could be naturalized, he notes, “instead of mowing acres of grass.”

“At the moment, the pickleball plan makes a vacant, mown-grass site better by planting trees, placing benches, and incorporating courts.” He wants to see wild spaces continue to flourish in Delhi, and points to secluded areas along the Marsh Creek valley. He suggests negotiating dedicated land from surrounding developers — at Base31, Nicholas Street, and Sandy Hook Road — to extend the park beyond the cemeteries. Then this central greenspace could connect with the Millenium Trail along Sandy Hook Road. 

Above all, he wants to negotiate a shared, community plan for Delhi as Picton grows.  “I would seek out a win/win on the pickleball debate. Right now, this contentious, ongoing concern is framed as a win/lose depending on the outcome for each side. That’s not productive, in my view.

“Both sides need to feel acknowledged to arrive at a solution.”