The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2017-02-23, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2017. County to consider shoulder paving for cyclists By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen One repaving project has turned into a referendum on whether or not Huron County should be paving road shoulders in order to encourage cycling and make it safer. Huron County councillors discussed the topic as part of a broader budget discussion at their Feb. 15 committee of the whole meeting. The two paving projects in question, which are on the same contract, are County Road 1 from County Road 25 to Hawkins Road and County Road 31 from Westmount Line to Falls Reserve Line. The cost of paving the two portions of road without expanding to pave the shoulders will be $2,198,183.75, while the cost to pave the shoulders will raise the total to over $2.8 million. Both tenders were from Lavis Contracting. Warden Jim Ginn said he was in favour of paving the shoulders, saying that the economic spinoff and economic development from encouraging cycling in the county was what made him feel the way he did. He added that Huron County Council had recently received and approved a cycling strategy which recommended further safety measures for cyclists such as paving the shoulders of roads as they came up for resurfacing. Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Reeve Ben Van Diepenbeek also spoke in favour of the expanded paving, saying that with the longevity of paving projects, another chance to pave the shoulders won't arise for another 20 years. "We've got to make it safe for [cyclists] if we're going to let them on the roads," Van Diepenbeek said. Central Huron Mayor Dave Jewitt said he too was in favour of the project, but added that he'd like to see a comprehensive strategy of which roads would have paved shoulders and where. He said it's important that Huron County be able to present trails that cyclists can travel, rather than "plopping them in piecemeal." Howick Reeve Art Versteeg, however, came out against paving the shoulders of the road, saying that addition alone would add hundreds of thousands of dollars to a very tight budget. He said he felt like projects in which council is considering paving the shoulders should be held up to the same scrutiny as road resurfacing projects. For example, he said, it's well known that if 400 vehicles per day don't travel a road, it's not worth paving. He said he couldn't imagine that 400 cyclists would travel the road per day, a volume, in his mind, that would warrant paving the shoulders. He added that he had personally been one of the councillors who worked to develop the Huron County cycling strategy. He said there were a number of initiatives it suggested implementing, including better education and increased signage. Those cheaper options, he said, should be implemented before the county began paving the shoulders of its roads. In terms of the recommendations made by the committee through the cycling strategy, Versteeg said paving shoulders was the final thing the county should be doing, adding that it would have the "least impact" on cyclists in Huron County. Ginn disagreed, saying that he was taking the long-term view of the cycling strategy and looking past the cost to take into account things like youth retention and engaging young people through encouraging cycling. While the discussion took place under the umbrella of ongoing budget deliberations, councillors said it was essentially a separate issue. Because the repaving would be a one-time cost, councillors said that if the money was to be spent, it would come from the county's reserves. Other councillors wondered about the potential for grants that would assist with the repaving. Council then instructed staff to prepare a report on the differences between the two options and the potential for grants that could be presented at the Feb. 22 meeting. Engineer Steven Lund said that county staff could produce a report, but that tender prices were only guaranteed for 60 days, so the process couldn't go on much longer. In addition, he said, if approving the paving project tender were to be delayed a month or two, it would ensure that the paving wouldn't be done in 2017 and would most likely have to wait until 2018. Staff was directed to prepare a report that was scheduled to be presented to council at its Feb. 22 meeting. The decision will then be ratified by council at its March 8 meeting in Goderich. Business Directory Pharmasave® HEALTH AND WELLNESS CONNECTION BROWN'S PHARMASAVE 198 Josephine St., Wingham, Ont. 519-357-1629 Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 - 6 Sat. 9 - 4 Rear Parking Available Live well with After Hours Emergency Service Available* PHARMASAVE PAUL COOK ELECTRIC Home, Farm & Commercial Wiring BELGRAVE 519-357-1537 Bernard Enterprises Authorized dealer for Central Boiler Classic Outdoor Wood Furnaces, E -Classic Outdoor Wood Furnances And Maxim Wood Pellet and Corn Burners Gasification units available Carman Bernard 519-887-6405 RR #4 Brussels centralboiler.com Free delivery in Wingham & surrounding area / Large instock selection of pallet racking, store shelving, display cases and more for Industrial, Residential, Farm & Retail www.lakesideshelving. Iakesidemarket@gmail. 33842 Market Rd., North of Goderich, off Hwy. 21 519- - have 21444,at CONCRETE FORMING For All Your Concrete Needs! COMMERCIAL RESIDENTIAL • Foundations • Floor Finishing • Circular Tanks • Sandwich Walls FREE ESTIMATES RR#3 Blyth -- Fax 519-523-9604 519-523-9971 &MACHINE SHOP LTD. RR 2, Auburn, Ont. NOM 1E0 Tel. 519-529-7212 Fax. 519-529-3277 Snowblowers, Header Wagons, Quick -attach Buckets, Sweepers, Woodsplitters, Land Rollers, etc. Website: smythwelding.com Email: info@smythwelding.com Eat right Exercise too Ask your doctor about a healthier You naanavarnan;® www.participaction.com SEAFORTH ANIMAL HOSPITAL Dr. Kathleen Day Dunbar Exams, vaccinations, spay/neuter, dentistry, laser treatment and more New Patients Always Welcome! 519-527-1760 www.seaforthvet.com - COMPLETE MECHANICAL SERVICE - COMPUTERIZED TUNE-UPS - TIRES - BRAKES MUFFLERS - VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION DAN'S AUTO REPAIR Owned and Operated by Dan & Heather Snell RR 3, Blyth, Ont. NOM 1 HO (on the Westfield Rd.) DAN SNELL, Automotive Technician 519-523-4356 Book your next build or reno today! • Additions • Renovations • Seamless Eavestrough in both Aluminum and Heavy Gauge Steel • New & Replacement Windows & Doors • General Repair • New Homes • Supply and Install stairs, rails, kitchen cabinets NORTH 1-IURON CERPENTRY INC. 38728 Moncrieff Rd., RR #3 Blyth, ON David Werkema Ph.: 519-526-7634 Email: northcarpentry@harontel.on.ca Dave - Mobile - 519-531-0224 Berman - Mobile - 519-525-0232 SUNSHINE COUNTRY CONSULTING ACCOUNTING & INCOME TAX SERVICES Ralph Watson 42662 Graham Rd., Brussels, ON NOG 1H0 Bus.: (519) 887-6011 sunctry@ezlink.ca L. Mtge • oven Carpentry NEW CONSTRUCTION AGRICULTURAL RENOVATIONS RESIDENTIAL ex, 519-524-0253 Affordable CAR AND TRUCK RENTALS Large & Small Trucks fridge carts - piano dollys- moving blankets Complete Selection of Cars Our rates qualify for insurance replacement Passenger Vans full size or mini GODERICH TOYOTA 344 Huron Rd. 519-524-9381 GODERICH 1-800-338-1134 CaII 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 to book your spot today! voldrienue's HAIR (DESIGN 2 TANNING BEDS • MANICURES & PEDICURES • • IONIC DETOX FOOT SPA • • SHELLAC NAIL SYSTEM • • EYELASH EXTENSIONS • 306 Josephine St., Wingham 519-357-3894 Clearview Remy ions Scott McDonald General Carpenter Fully Licensed Carpenter Over 10 Years Experience! 42475 Moncrieff Rd., R.R. #2 Blyth, ON NOM 1HO 519.955.1215 D. C. Craig Excavating • Snow Plowing • Snow Removal • Excavating • Bulldozing • Septic Systems • Drainage 519-523-4966