Pile of wood being given away for free on Wallace Point Rd. violates township's property standards bylaw: Clerk
News
Property owner Allen Dunford argues the wood doesn't belong in the landfill when people could use it to heat homes
Posted By ANDREA HOUSTON/Examiner Staff Writer
Posted 1 month ago
A massive woodpile is at the centre of a dispute between a county resident and the township of Otonabee-South Monaghan, who has ordered the wood be trucked off to a landfill.
Allen Dunford, who owns property at 3413 Wallace Point Rd., said the wood is the equivalent of about 4,000 litres of oil, which he planned to burn to heat his home throughout two winters.
"So we have a difference of opinion," he said. "I'm saying the township is stealing my wood pile. And worse still, they're going to charge me $1,000 to take it away."
In April, the township issued a property standards order, demanding that Dunford clean up his property and take the pile of wood to the dump, located about four kilometres away.
Dunford argues that the wood — a recyclable and reusable material — doesn't belong in a landfill.
"It's 2010, and we live in an environmentally aware, conserving society," he said. "The township disagrees. They think it should be in a landfill. They see it as garbage.
"The reeve needs to wake up," he said.
Otonabee-South Monaghan Reeve Dave Nelson admits he has not visited the site. He said the order was issued because of the property's proximity to Stewart Hall.
Although he said he doesn't know where the wood will be taken, Nelson said the pile is not destined for a landfill.
Nelson also stressed that "there's more in that pile than just wood."
The Examiner did not see anything other than wood on Dunford's property.
"A contractor will pick it up and process it, probably take it to a furnace somewhere," he said. "It's not going to a landfill and that's all I know."
Otonabee-South Monaghan clerk Heather Scott said Dunford is in violation of the property standards bylaw.
"It's about the minimum standards that the township sets out on properties," she said. "We received some complaints with respect to the property."
Dunford disagrees that the pile violates the bylaw at all.
"These bylaws are to serve the public good," he said. "Who is this harming? How is the public good being served if the pile is taken away?"
The pile, tucked behind a ramshackle barn on his property, is made up of barn wood, most about 150 years old, Dunford said.
"It's dry as a bone," he said. "It's about 200 years dried."
The pile is only visable by airplane or by trespassing, Dunford said.
But Scott said the pile is not just wood.
"It's my understanding that there are construction materials and wood," she said.
Dunford is now challenging the township to give him a month to give the wood away.
"In one month's time, if the pile is still here, I guess its garbage. If it's gone, then I was right," he said. "I think it will be gone in a week."
He encourages anyone to come to his property and help themselves to as much wood as can be carried.
ahouston@peterboroughexaminer.com
Topic guidelines: We welcome your thoughts, stories and information related to this article.
Please stay on topic and be respectful of others. Keep the conversation appropriate for interested readers.
