HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-02-23, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017.
Campbell concerned over severance precedent
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
A surplus farm property severance
approved by North Huron Council
has Deputy -Reeve James Campbell
concerned the council may be setting
an unwanted precedent.
The surplus residence is owned by
the deBoers and will be split in two
so both halves can be sold. The
retained farmland would be bought
by the Hardys, a neighbour who had
rented the land for years, and the
house would be sold to a family
looking to move into the area.
Campbell, however, felt the
severance didn't match the intent
that North Huron Council had when
it elected to allow such severances.
"We've only been doing these for
the last two or three years," he said.
"When we did this, we were the
second -last municipality... to allow
it. This wasn't how I figured we
would do surplus residences though.
The owner had to declare the
residence surplus."
Campbell said that Huron County
Planner Laura Young was applying
criteria that could be used in the
southern end of the county, which he
felt didn't match North Huron.
"This isn't the same application
because the owner is going to remain
in the county and he owns all sorts of
lands," he said. "The severance
should be applied for by the Hardys.
I don't think it meets our criteria."
Councillor Trevor Seip said he
understood why Campbell didn't
agree with the severance, but said, at
the end of the day, if the farmland
still ends up severed from the farm
house and owned by the same
buyers, there's no difference in who
severs it.
Campbell disagreed, stating that
the deBoers, the family applying for
the severance, were able to sell the
two properties for more money than
they would have if they sold the
property alone. He also said that he
had been in contact with the
applicants and was told they were
denied this severance once before by
the Huron County Planning
department.
Ken deBoer said he had spoken to
the planning department and that he
wasn't attempting to gain any kind of
advantage through the severance, but
trying to give back to his community.
"We have two signed offers for the
properties I'm not going to own," he
said. "The result will be the same,
regardless of what happens with the
severance. You say that I've probably
got more money for the property
than if I would have sold the entire
farm, but I didn't list the farm [for
public sale]."
He went on to say he has lived in
the community for 32 years and had
that property for 12 years.
"Somebody from away could have
bought it," he said. "However, it
worked for the Hardy's operations. I
have not got, for either property, the
market value I could've got if I sold
[it through listings]. I've always
operated locally. I looked at who is
going to care for this property the
best way."
Keeping them on their heels
While the Blyth Brussels PeeWee Local League Crusaders posted a convincing 7-1 win over
the Howick Hornets in Brussels on Saturday, the third period was a rough one for the
Crusaders as they couldn't stay out of the penalty box. The team successfully killed four
penalties totally 10 minutes in the 15 -minute period to come up with the big win. (Denny Scott
photo)
Landfill fees among increases
Continued from page 3
Sharon Chambers said a
comprehensive review of the
document is likely in order.
"I do think that's a point well taken
and something we could sit down
and do," she said. "Traditionally our
main source of revenue is taxation,
but we really need to seek out every
chance of revenue we can. A lot of
municipalities are looking at one-off
services or services that benefit a
small number of residences and
looking to charge for them. I would
look for recommendations in trying
to do that."
Chambers said the operation of the
Wingham landfill was one such
opportunity, later noting that the site
brings in $200,000 annually but
costs $450,000 to run, leaving the
extra $250,000 to be paid for by
taxes.
Councillor Trevor Seip agreed to a
comprehensive review of the fees,
but he wanted to see the fee list
become less complicated, pointing
at the minimum $10 landfill charge
that he felt wasn't well
communicated when it was
implemented.
Seip felt that classifying each fee
wasn't necessarily needed and that
broader fees could be more easily
communicated. He pointed at new
charges for disposing of furniture
($20 per piece) and mattresses ($10
per piece) at the landfill as an
example.
"If someone takes in a mattress,
it's a minimum load and it's $10 in
that blanket statement," he said.
"I'm not sure I would add more
charges until we know what the full
usage of the site is."
Reeve Neil Vincent fell on the
other side, saying that some charges
need different tiers, specifically the
use of tents. He pointed out that,
regardless of whether it's a tent that
measures 20 feet squared or five feet
squared, the inspection cost for a
tent in a public space is $101 from
the municipality and requires a $120
fire inspection fee.
Seip said he thinks the fees need to
be simpler.
"We have staff that have to
administer these fees," he said. "If
we have to look them up to know
what we're charging, are we making
it too complex for them?"
He went on to say that ratepayers
are going to lose their connection to
what they are paying for if there are
different prices for each individual
item.
The proposed increases, which are
detailed below, were passed until a
review could be done in the future.
INCREASED FEES
• Tax certificates have increased
from $40 to $50.
• Zoning certificates have
increased from $50 to $75.
• The opening fee for the
Wingham landfill will remain at
$100, but a $45 charge will be
applied for every hour open.
• Landfill tipping fees have
increased in various categories from
$85 to $95.
• Landfill price per tonne for
unsorted refuse has increased from
$170 to $180.
• Mattresses will now cost $15 to
dispose of at the landfill.
• Furniture will cost $20 to
dispose of at the landfill.
• A 1.8 per cent consumer price
index (CPI) increase has been
applied where applicable to
recreation and facilities fees.
• Under water and wastewater, a
3.5 per cent increase has been
applied based on an engineering
firm's recommendation several
years ago. The increase is the third
annual increase over a five-year
plan.
• Transport and materials in the
public works fees have been
updated. For more information,
contact the North Huron Public
Works Department.
He went on to explain that, by
applying for the severance, he was
making it possible for a young
family with children to own the
house instead of having someone
else buy the home and level it for
land use. He said neither buyer could
afford the severance process if it
were sold first, so he helped.
The Huron County Planning
Department suggested the severance
be approved, but contingent on the
Hardys owning the farming land. At
the request of council, a second
condition was put on the severance
so that the new homeowners would
have to be listed as well so council
knew the deBoers weren't keeping
the home. The applicants didn't have
an issue with the suggestion as the
closing date for the sale on both
pieces of property is the same.
Campbell, however, didn't feel the
severance should be made at all,
regardless of any kind of stipulations
put on the process.
"We're splitting hairs here and I
think, down the road, we're going to
regret doing this," he said. "We're
going to open our whole severance
[policy]"
Seip said he was under the
impression that each severance was
to be dealt with individually on a
case-by-case basis, meaning no
precedent would be set.
Reeve Neil Vincent said several
severances similar to this one had
been brought before Huron County
Council and he felt it was cleaner for
everyone involved and included less
legal expenses. Young agreed, saying
there were also less land transfer
taxes charged.
An amended motion passed
allowing the severance provided the
purchasers of both the house and the
farmland are identified and the sale
is completed within one year.
Campbell opposed both the vote to
amend the motion and the motion to
pass the severance.
Letter to the Editor
Lack of vote reform
frustrates McQuail
DEAR JUSTIN TRUDEAU,
You are clearly the leader of the
Liberal Party and not the Prime
Minister of Canada as your actions
on electoral reform are a cynically
calculated effort on behalf of party
politics and a betrayal of the
Canadian people. We deserve better.
When you promised to "Make
Every Vote Count" you were either
woefully ignorant of what it meant
or woefully dishonest. You had an
opportunity to put a new face on the
Liberal Party and demonstrate that
you valued democracy and an
electoral system that would ensure
all voices were fairly represented in
Parliament.
Instead you offer us the same old
sad picture of a flashy politician
prepared to say anything you can to
get elected and then do whatever you
please afterward. Such behaviour is
far more destructive to Canadian
democracy than terrorist attacks for
it weakens our trust rather than
strengthening our resolve.
Do the honourable thing. keep
your word to "Make Every Vote
Count". Work with the other parties
in Parliament and bring in legislation
for Proportional Representation as
recommended by the Parliamentary
Committee on Electoral Reform.
Then you could be addressed as "the
Right Honourable Justin Trudeau".
Tony McQuail, a saddened,
betrayed and angered voter
Meeting Place Organic Farm
RR 1, Lucknow
Find a restaurant on
the Stops Along The
Way section of our
website at
www. northhuron.on.ca
BLYTH SOCCER & BASEBALL
REGISTRATION
February 23 & March 2
7 pm - 9 pm
Blyth Legion
For more information call:
For Soccer - Dianne Siertsema 519-523-4705
or email - blythbrookc hurontel.on.ca
For Baseball - Heather 519-530-8965
Brussels
Minor Soccer
Registration
Tuesday, March 7
and Thursday, March 9
7:00 - 8:30 pm
at the Brussels Arena
Registration forms can be found on the
Brussels Minor Soccer Facebook page.
First time registrants require a copy of their birth certificate