HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-02-23, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017.
Class cut short
Students at Hullett Central Public School had their classes interrupted Wednesday when a fire
alarm, that turned out to be false, sounded throughout the school. Students gathered on the
playground before making their way across the road from the school to the Londesborough
Lions hall, seeking shelter from the cold. (Denny Scott photo)
County approves new cell plan
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Huron County has authorized a
new three-year deal with Bell
Mobility for the corporation's
mobile devices. It wasn't the deal,
however, that raised eyebrows at
Huron County Council's Feb. 15
meeting.
Central Huron Deputy -Mayor
Dave Jewitt was the first to raise the
issue of just how many smartphones
are on the county's bill. The total
number is 153, resulting in a three-
year cost of nearly $275,000.
Howick Reeve Art Versteeg was
similarly taken aback, pointing out
that over 25 per cent of the county's
workforce is equipped with a
smartphone paid for by the county.
"It just seems like an awful lot,"
Versteeg said.
He said it would be interesting to
see the breakdown of where those
phones are located within the
corporation — not a phone -by -phone
analysis, he said, but how many
phones each department has.
Chief Administrative Officer
Brenda Orchard said she would be
happy to prepare a report for
council, but Versteeg said it wasn't
necessary. Orchard, however, said
she may still prepare the report
anyway for council's information.
On another, yet related topic,
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
Deputy -Reeve Roger Watt asked
how competitive the local
telecommunications companies had
been in the bidding process, asking
if any of them were "in the ball
park".
Kim Reid, the county's
information technology (IT)
manager and business analyst, said
Read
Rhea Hamilton Seeger's
Gardening column
on the
Huron Home and
Garden Guide
section of our website
www.northhuron.on.ca
there were tenders submitted by
three local companies, but they
simply couldn't provide the service
at the cost and volume necessary for
the county's needs.
Reid said the local companies
bidding against national entities like
Bell, Telus and Rogers would be like
comparing oranges to grapefruits, in
that they were similar, but dissimilar
at the same time. Her final answer to
council was "yes and no".
Council approved the new
contract, which will cost the county
$74,771.22 the first year,
$103,271.22 the second year (which
includes one device refresh) and
$95,472 the third year. The contract
also includes an annual cost of
$7,200 for 12 lending hubs.
Fire alarm
school clay
PEOPLE AROUND
LONDESBORO
By BRENDA
RADFORD
Call
523-4296
There was a bit of excitement in
the village last Wednesday. Seems
the fire alarm got tripped at Hullett
Central Public School and the staff
was unable to get it shut off. The
shrieking noise and the initial
uncertainty about why it was ringing
had the staff wisely choosing
caution and the school was quickly
evacuated. All those fire drills
proved themselves. The pupils were
directed across the street to the
community hall to await the all
clear. Two fire trucks attended and
eventually the alarm was shut off.
Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn
and Community Improvement Co-
ordinator Angela Smith were also
directed to the hall. They were
scheduled to make a presentation to
the Hullett staff and students that
day on the history of Canada's flag
and what the municipality has
planned for Canada's 150th
celebration. Unfortunately their time
was cut short by the arrival of the
buses. Consequently they made a
quick presentation of a new flag for
the school and left enough small
flags to be given to each pupil at
another assembly. In the future that
flag will trigger a memory for the
pupils of the day the fire trucks
came to school.
The sympathy of the community
interrupts
at Hullett
is extended to Ruth Hulley and her
family on the recent passing of her
stepmother, Grace Munnings, earlier
this month.
FROM LONDESBORO
Gloves
Bainton's
Old Mill
Downtown Blyth
519-523-4740
Book Your Ad Now
for the 2017 IPM Issue
35,000 copies in total
Call The Citizen 519-523-4792
or contact sales representatives
Brenda Nyveld
e-mail: ads@northhuron.on.ca
Looking for local heroes
There are so many people out there who do
so much to improve their community.
Now you have a chance to say thanks.
Nominate that special person for the 32nd
Annual Citizen Citizenship Awards.
Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area
and Brussels and area communities to receive an award for contribution to the
community. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the ballot
and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee
should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and he or she didn't win,
please feel free to try again.
1 nominate
as Citizen of the year for
Blyth Brussels
& area & area
I feel she/he deserves this award because
0
Nomination Deadline July 31, 2017.
Name and phone number of nominator