Order to pay township's legal fees sets a 'dangerous precedent' says Lystek protester Thursday, December 13, 2012 by SUSAN MANN Southgate Public Interest Research Group has been ordered to pay Southgate Township’s $41,185.34 worth of legal fees by Judge Leonard Ricchetti after he dismissed the group’s building permit challenge earlier this fall. But SPIRG vice president James Cooke says it launched an appeal last week of the decision to dismiss the group’s challenge. The group has been seeking to overturn the building permit issued to Lystek International Inc. for its Southgate Organic Materials Recovery Centre. In early October, Ricchetti, of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, ruled the zoning and permit for Lystek to construct its facility was appropriate. The facility will be located in the Eco-Industrial Park near the village of Dundalk. Cooke says the decision ordering SPIRG to pay the township’s legal costs has been “deferred until the end of the case and that includes our appeal.” He adds that SPIRG doesn’t support the decision to pay the legal fees. “We had no other choice but to appeal the building permit.” Having to pay the township’s legal costs “sets a dangerous precedent for other community public interest groups that want to take somebody to court,” he says. SPIRG is opposed to Lystek building its facility to process dewatered biosolids, septage and other liquids into a fertilizer product to be spread on farmers’ fields. The group is also appealing Lystek’s Ontario Ministry of the Environment approvals. In a Monday press release, Southgate Township Mayor Brian Milne says the latest court decision on legal fees reaffirms what they’ve known all along: that “our efforts around the Eco Park have been the right thing for the economic and environmental sustainability of our community. This decision acknowledges that the time and money we have put into defending the Eco Park was appropriate.” The Dec. 7 decision on legal costs also says since Lystek’s interests were identical to Southgate’s, Lystek wasn’t awarded legal costs. BF Dryers cheaper to buy than to certify Growing Forward programs announced
Updates to Case IH RB566 Round Baler Wednesday, October 29, 2025 The Case IH RB566 round baler has been redesigned with a strong focus on serviceability, dependability, and efficiency, offering farmers a more advanced and reliable baling experience. According to Brian Williams, livestock product specialist with Case IH, the latest improvements... Read this article online
22 young leaders graduate from Rural Ontario Institute’s Change Makers Program Tuesday, October 28, 2025 The Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) has marked a milestone in rural leadership development with the graduation of 22 participants from its Rural Change Makers (RCM) program. The private ceremony, held this October, celebrated a year of learning, collaboration, and community impact. “We are... Read this article online
Demco-Welker Farms Collab Delivers Big Buddy Tuesday, October 28, 2025 Demco recently introduced the Big Buddy grain cart, a product of collaboration with Big Equipment, the makers of Big Bud tractors, Titan Tires, and the well-known Montana-based Welker Farms. The project began when the Welker family decided to rebuild and modify their iconic Big Bud... Read this article online
New MacDon FD2 Plus Draper Header Monday, October 27, 2025 Case IH continues to expand its innovative harvest equipment lineup with the launch of the MacDon FD2 Plus Draper Header, a new series designed to provide farmers with smoother, cleaner, and more efficient harvesting. Available in multiple widths — 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and even 61... Read this article online
Lots of news from the Ontario Pork Congress Monday, October 27, 2025 The Ontario Pork Congress (OPC) took place on October 20, 2025, at the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford, Ontario, with over 50 attendees. At the event, Arnold Drung, President of Conestoga Meats, was honoured with the . Drung has been a dedicated supporter of the OPC for over 23 years. This award... Read this article online