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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-10-12, Page 1INSIDE THIS WEEK: SCHOOL FAIR - Pg. 8 Results from the Elementary School Fair are featured REVIEW - Pg. 14 Board hopes to increase ec. dev. efficiency ON STAGE - Pg. 19 McGregor set for Blyth 'Guys in the Garage' run Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON NOG 1 H0 Citizen Volume 33 No. 40 WELCOME TO BLYTH ESTABLISHED 1877 $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, October 12, 2017 Test drive While the morning of Saturday, Oct. 7 might have been a little on the cold and wet side, there was still plenty to do in Clinton at its annual Harvestfest, which went ahead despite the less - than -ideal conditions. There were reptile demonstrations, vendor booths and plenty of animals to see, pet and even ride. (Quinn Talbot photo) North Huron seeks policing comparison By Denny Scott The Citizen North Huron Township Council will be seeking a true comparison by pricing out several different policing options for its three wards. Council recently received a report from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) during a special information - only public meeting to have the OPP cover Wingham instead of the Wingham Police Department. While some have pointed to the OPP's coverage as a potential opportunity for savings, during the short-term change -over contract, the OPP will will cost more than the Wingham Police Department had budgeted for 2017. The proposed OPP contract would see North Huron pay more than $1.26 million annually for three years while the Wingham Police Service costs ratepayers in the ward an estimated $1.18 million this year. Unfortunately, the OPP report didn't answer some of the questions council members had, such as whether there were efficiencies to be found by having the OPP cover the entire municipality since it already covers East Wawanosh and Blyth. The recommended motion called for a report following up on that presentation, however Councillor Trevor Seip felt the report needed a wider scope. "I think, opposed to [the OPP] servicing cost, we need to incorporate all alternatives," he said. "I know we have an OPP cost... but we need to look at [all options] to make this exercise worthwhile." Seip said he wanted the public to have information about all the alternatives before asking the public to provide its feedback to council. "I want the public to understand what they're paying for," he said. "They are going to understand the level of service, what they potentially could get and what they potentially won't get." Reeve Neil Vincent asked Seip to clarify what he meant by all options and Seip said there were three: the status quo with Wingham with its own police service and East Wawanosh and Blyth under the OPP; all three wards under the OPP or all three wards under the Wingham Police Service. Seip said the OPP presentation didn't address the pricing of police service past the three-year transitional contract. During the presentation, the OPP said their average annual cost of protection across the province is $355 per property, which is less than the $1.26 million quoted as part of the contract. "We need to know what year four, five, six, seven and eight are," he said. Seip went on to say that the OPP have a costing formula and North Huron has information regarding the services and number of calls the Wingham Police Service handles. He didn't understand why they couldn't give an estimated cost beyond the three-year transitional contract. Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans said his recommendation would be to invite the OPP back to explain those costs to council after the report outlining other options had been prepared by staff. Council approved having such a report brought back at a future council meeting. ESTC, Alderman hope to attract training to ESTC By Denny Scott The Citizen Under a modified management structure, the Emergency Services Training Centre (ESTC) in Blyth is welcoming new and renewed training programs in the next year. Fire Department of North Huron (FDNH) Assistant -Chief Mark Alderman gave his first presentation at a North Huron Council meeting on Oct. 2 to explain his efforts to council in bringing more training opportunities to the ESTC. The creation of Alderman's position was approved by North Huron Council with the caveat that he inspire growth at the ESTC and help increase the facility's economic impact in the municipality. Alderman said, to meet that goal, he was going to treat the ESTC like a business. "There is a lot of potential to bring in revenue," he said to council. A significant portion of Alderman's presentation dealt with two different paths the township could take with the ESTC to help turn the facility into an educational facility that would bring in students for most of the year. He pointed to the community college designation or the private career college designation. The two provided different benefits to the municipality, however his preference would be to operate a blended private career college. Students would take part in 180 hours, or 20 days of programming over three weeks, for $6,500 each, plus $1,500 for personal protective equipment. He said the program could accommodate 15 students per intake, making $97,500 with a projected expense of approximately $45,000, meaning a projected profit of $52,500. "There is an initial start-up fee with the program of approximately $40,000," he said, explaining that part of what made the project appealing was that students could do work ahead of time which would require an e -learning platform. Several programs have started this year and, due to a rule requiring programming to be scheduled a year in advance, many more are scheduled to start next year. Included among those courses are Continued on page 14 Council approves Walton tree planting By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen To commemorate Canada's sesquicentennial anniversary and the hosting of the 100th International Plowing Match, Huron East will plant six trees at the Walton ball park next spring. The proposal was first made a number of months ago and the Walton ballpark was shortlisted as a potential location. However, not all councillors agreed that it was a good place for the trees at the time. However, now with the success of the International Plowing Match just a stone's throw from where the trees will be planted, councillors were all in favour of the site. The plan will be to plant five trees of the same species in a semi -circle, one to represent each of the municipality's five wards, with a tree of another species in the centre, representing the municipality. While staff had suggested paying a tree -planting service $160 per tree to plant and maintain each tree this fall, councillors opted for the more economical option of buying trees from local conservation authorities and planting them themselves this spring, without the help of any tree - planting services or companies. As suggested by Councillor John Lowe, the councillors will pay for the trees themselves as a gift to the municipality, rather than having the taxpayers pick up the tab. Council passed the motion. The trees will be ordered this fall and delivered in the spring, at which time they'll then be planted.