HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-11-23, Page 7ytesthetics by l3onnie
Now offering:
Gent's Mini Pedi
Does he need his nails cut?
Discreet, quiet service in a private setting.
Send him to me and I will clean him up for you!
Gift Certificates Available
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2017. PAGE 7.
MVCA faces pointed questions in Morris-Turnberry
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
The Maitland Valley Conservation
Authority (MVCA) faced some
pointed questions from Morris-
Turnberry councillors.
Representatives of the
organization had come as part of a
regular visit to explain the duties and
responsibilities of the organization
as well as talk about the impact of a
significant flood event that happened
earlier this year.
Phil Beard, general manger of the
MVCA, alongside other
representation from the authority,
attended the Oct. 17 meeting where
the group also addressed pre -
submitted questions by the
municipality.
Council was informed that, in the
case of a flood threat, the MVCA is
an advisory board for the
municipality as well as controlling
several dams along the Maitland
River.
The authority will warn the
municipality of flood intensity and
advise further action, however the
municipality represents the boots on
the ground and is responsible for
closing roads, moving ratepayers
and setting up emergency centres.
Stewart Lockie, Conservation
Area Co-rdinator, explained that
many dams in the area are owned by
the Ministry of Natural Resources
and managed by the MVCA,
however, some, like the Howson
Dam in North Huron, are owned and
operated by their host municipality.
Lockie said the dams are inspected
monthly and maintained on an
annual basis, however, Councillor
John Smuck said that, with the
MVCA being primarily involved
with flood warning, damage that
occurred to the boards in the
Bluevale Dam should have been
prevented during the flood event
earlier this year.
"Why weren't the boards pulled
from Bluevale earlier?" he asked.
"With all this technology and early
warning, why didn't the MVCA pull
the boards to prevent damage or ask
the municipality for help?"
Smuck said that a tree that had
been lodged in the dam could have
been removed by the municipality
for less than the MVCA had spent
removing it.
The answer from the MVCA was
that there simply isn't enough staff
to monitor floodwaters around the
clock throughout the entire
watershed.
"As to the boards, by the time the
alarms went off [indicating a flood],
the boards couldn't be removed,"
Stewart said. "There are significant
responsibilities for only two staff
members."
Smuck said that doesn't explain
why the municipality couldn't be
helping with the dam, which he felt
may have prevented some of the
damage.
"We could be doing something
when you have all this going on," he
said. "Even with all the up-to-date
information, it didn't help us."
Director of Public Works Mike
Alcock said he wasn't sure what was
involved with the operation of the
dam, but he could look into it.
Smuck was also concerned with
the fact that developers are charged
for letters from the MVCA regarding
development if there is no issue for
the MVCA to report.
He explained that individuals had
been charged hundreds of dollars for
a letter that stated the MVCA was
not aware of any problems with the
area. Smuck said that kind of work,
which he believes would involve
only briefly looking at a map and
documents, should not be so
expensive.
Smuck was told the authority is
trying to address the charges and
adding they don't want to slow down
Continued on page 11
791 Sports Drive, Brussels 519-887-6661
See you at the parade
in Brussels!
Ho! Ho! Ho!
Come on out to the Brussels Santa Claus Parade
Saturday, November 25 at 5 pm
and help fill the Brussels Optimists Parade float,
the famous 22' long barbeque.
,1,(ie Ciptimists will 8e
collecting non-pexidialle (iwd
f" the
.1twwn Count* had gaidi
this Pw&dw season.
Ito
N'.\
® This ad is sponsored by The Brussels Optimist Club
So come on out and have fun at
the parade and bring an item to
help someone in our community
have a better Christmas.
10114t -
See you at the parade in Brussels!
1i
•
Brussels' Christmas Headquarters
1
tuait
sJOIM
I
41111.11=11.111041111
% � a
CK S
AEI
LIKE
Clocks & Mirrors
Picture Frames
Willow Tree
Home Decor
Christmas Trees
Unique Decorations
and Ornaments
Stockings and
Stocking Stuffers
Toys
4
'N•
•
SKs
Still don't know
what to get?
Gift cards always fit.
Our selection
can't be beat!
McDONALD
Home Hardware Building Centre
Brussels 519-887-6277
www.mcdonaldhomehardware.com
•
•