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The Citizen, 2017-06-15, Page 1INSIDE THIS WEEK: SPORTS - Pg. 10 Blyth native honoured as OHL's top captain FREEDOM - Pg. 11 Walton's Freedom Syrup enjoys record growth FESTIVAL - Pg. 19 2017 season to begin with Mr. New Year's Eve Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON NOG 1HO C1t1Z Volume 33 No. 24 n BLYTH ESTABLISHED 1877 $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, June 15, 2017 A meaningful tradition Members of the Blyth Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion and the Legion's Ladies Auxiliary were out in full force (and full regalia) on Sunday for the organization's annual decoration service at the Blyth Union Cemetery just south of the village. Huron Chapel Pastor Mark Royal!, who also serves at the Legion's Padre, was the lead of the service, which saw dozens of locals attend on a beautiful Sunday in Huron County. (Quinn Talbot photo) Director resigns from NH By Denny Scott The Citizen North Huron Director of Public Works Jeff Molenhuis tendered his resignation during a closed -to -the - public session at North Huron Council's June 5 meeting. Molenhuis was brought on last year as director of the North Huron- Morris-Turnberry Public Works shared service initiative. He was director of public works for both municipalities and, following the dissolution, stayed with North Huron in the same capacity. North Huron Reeve Neil Vincent reported that Molenhuis will be working for another municipality. "He was recruited by another municipality 15 minutes away from his home in Stratford," Vincent explained in an interview with The Citizen on Monday. "Jeff would have loved to stay with us a bit longer, but sometimes these opportunities present themselves once every decade or two." Vincent said the offer being so close to home made Molenhuis' decision easy as the outgoing director had previously commuted from Stratford to jobs in Kitchener, Tillsonburg and London. In a press release from the municipality, Vincent said North Huron was saddened to lose Molenhuis from its senior staff. "He brought a high level of professionalism to North Huron, and has done a tremendous amount to advance the Public Works Department during his time here," he said in the release. "We wish Jeff well as he moves forward to his new opportunity." In the same release, Molenhuis said he had enjoyed his brief time Continued on page 20 Governance review to be debated on June 21 By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Jim Lynn, chair of the Huron County Economic Development Board, has reassured councillors that the service delivery review being suggested is in no way related to single -tier government. Lynn and several other members of the board were on hand to answer questions at Huron County Council's June 7 meeting after the governance service system delivery review proposed by the board evoked strong reactions from several councillors last month. One of the major bones of contention has been the proposed cost of the study, which has been estimated to be $60,000. Lynn, however, said that is simply an estimate and the board doesn't yet know for sure how much the study will cost. He did say, however, that the board felt strongly about hiring an outside consultant rather than attempting to review in-house. He said that he felt there were few issues more important in Huron County than how the community is being governed and the price tag of $60,000 is just $1 per resident, to put it into perspective. In regards to the controversy regarding the review being a bridge to single -tier government, Lynn said that the board is not in any position to make that sort of recommendation, nor would it. The review, he said, would hope to analyze how business is being done in Huron County and to investigate if that's the most efficient way it can be done. To look at the county's structure and systems and see if efficiencies can be found, he said, only makes sense. Dave Jewitt of Central Huron said that he felt the review was a good step and that council has been talking about trying to find efficiencies for a long time, so it made sense that action was finally taken. Bluewater Mayor Tyler Hessel said that he felt the natural place to start such a review would be with the municipalities' official plans. A municipality's official plan dictates everything about a community and how officials want it governed. If the board wants to affect change and shape the future of a community, the official plans would be a logical place to start. Several other councillors agreed with Hessel's point. Past -Warden Paul Gowing said that it was logical for the county to search for ways to improve, so he was supportive of the review. Chief Administrative Officer Brenda Orchard told councillors to ask Lynn and other board members questions if they wanted to, but told them to save their discussion for the committee of the whole meeting scheduled for June 21. At that meeting, she said, the motion regarding the bylaw would be returning to council and that's when official discussion on the issue should take place. Council will revisit the issue at its June 21 committee of the whole meeting, scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the Huron County Courthouse in Goderich.