Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-01-19, Page 1INSIDE THIS WEEK: IPM - Pg. 9 Brussels' Priors lead by example with barn quilt BABIES - Pg. 10 The Citizen' looks back at local 2016 births CCRC - Pg. 20 Architect speaks at CCRC information night Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON NOG 1H0 4Citiz Volume 33 No. n WELCOME TO BLYTH ESTABLISHED 1877 $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, January 19, 2017 A slick steal Last week the Central Huron Secondary School Senior Boys basketball team was in action on their home court against their counterparts from South Huron. While Brandon Morton -Hamilton (in white) of Central Huron had his pocket picked on this play by South Huron defenders, It would be the locals who had the last laugh with a 58-38 win. (Denny Scott photo) New Natural Heritage Plan causes stir By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron County's proposed Natural Heritage Plan came under fire last week from Bluewater landowner Bev Hill, who has a number of concerns with the document. As part of Hill's delegation, he submitted a list of five questions: How has the need for such a plan been demonstrated? Who requested the proposed plan? Who is the intended recipient of the benefits of this plan? What are the costs of implementing and operating this plan? Would the implementation of this proposed plan in any way impact my landowner's rights of the use of my property? Hill was supported by well over a dozen other landowners concerned about their property rights at council's Jan. 11 committee of the whole meeting. The plan, said Huron County Director of Planning and Development Scott Tousaw, is not new, but rather it is an update of regulations that have protected environmentally -significant lands in the county for decades. Tousaw called the plan more of a "refinement" of a long-term approach to planning, but did acknowledge that some of Hill's concerns were valid. He said that the plan brings better science and improved mapping to the strategy that had already been in place in the county for decades. After two public meetings, one in Belgrave and the other in Zurich, there were a number of people who felt the plan was not needed and that it would infringe on their property rights. In her report to Huron County Council, Planner Susannah Reid included a legal opinion that dismissed those using the Crown Patent argument, who claim that it exempts their properties from regulations. "Further, neither the Planning Act nor any other statute requires property owners' consent for municipal planning decisions. Municipalities are not only empowered to make such decisions, but have an obligation to do so in the exercise of their responsibilities under the Planning Act," stated the legal opinion from lawyer Peter Pickfield. Hill and members of the Landowners Association boasted Continued on page 17 Brussels gives over $14,000 for Reids By Denny Scott The Citizen More than $14,000 has been raised for a family in the Brussels area who lost their home to a fire shortly after Christmas. Amy and Callum Reid and their two sons, three-year-old Liam and six -month-old Jackson, escaped the a blaze on Jan. 7 that completely destroyed their home resulting in a total loss of property. Amanda Bramhill Collins and her husband David Collins have been collecting donations of both goods and money to help the family out during this difficult time, and the two say the response from community has been overwhelming. David said clothes have been plentiful, with all the winter clothes the young boys needed being brought in as well as some for Amy and Callum. "I think now the stuff we're looking for are items they have to replace that were in their home," he said. Items can be delivered to the Collins, which can be arranged by e - mailing Amanda at amandacollinsmusic @gmail.com. David said they want people to get in touch first as a means of making sure that duplicate items aren't being delivered. "If people do have something to donate, they can e-mail us with a detailed list of what they have. We'll let them know if it's something the family needs or if they've received it already, that way if it's a duplicate it can go to someone else in need." David also explained that an account has been set up for the family at The Family Tree, a consignment shop in Wingham. "That account will help them later on when they need to start replacing the clothes they lost," David said. Amy and Reid are David's niece and nephew, which is what got he and his wife involved. "We thought we'd help out by setting up the donation options and collecting items for them," he said. "They don't really have a spot to keep things right now and we didn't want them getting bombarded while they were sorting out their lives." Donations can be made by visiting The Family Tree or through www.gofundme.com by searching for "Callum & Amy Reid House Fire Fund" where $14,227 of the $15,000 goal has been raised as of Monday.