HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-11-23, Page 21Come together
A celebration of North Huron Publishing Company founders Keith and Jill Roulston was held
at Blyth Memorial Hall over the weekend. The Roulstons were honoured with a come -and -go
event featuring displays of the magazines and newspapers produced by the company and
Keith's contributions to the Blyth Festival. Dozens of visitors took in the event, recounting their
experiences with the Roulstons. (Denny Scott photo)
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2017. PAGE 21.
`Surfin' Safari' show
set for December
Get read to have some "Fun, Fun,
Fun" when Surfin' Safari: The
Ultimate Beach Party Show comes
to the Blyth Memorial Hall for one
night only on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 8
p.m. No matter what the weather
outside, "Surfin' Safari" delivers a
hot evening of audience -interactive
entertainment for all ages.
True to the beach party theme of
the show, "Surfin' Safari features
exciting tributes to Jimmy Buffet,
Frankie Avalon, The Ventures, Jan
and Dean, and of course, the
legendary Beach Boys, backed by an
all-star live band. Throughout the
performance, the crowd will be
encouraged to clap their hands, sing
along and maybe even get up and
dance! They will also get the unique
opportunity to meet the Surfin'
Safari cast after the show.
Song highlights include "Surfer
Girl", "Margaritaville", "Venus",
"Wipeout", "Little Old Lady from
Pasadena", "Good Vibrations", "It's
Housing, museum discussed at meetings
Continued from page 1
which is the provincial average for
the municipalities."
He said he has nothing against the
Wingham Police Department, but
when it comes time to weigh the
expenses and the benefits, in a
community of 3,000 people in a
township of 4,800, a dedicated
municipal police service isn't
affordable.
Councillor Trevor Seip thanked
Brown for his comments and said his
concerns were exactly why council
is looking at three different options:
OPP coverage for the entire
municipality, Wingham police
coverage for the entire municipality,
or maintaining the existing policing
services.
"The costing for the police service
hasn't been looked at since
amalgamation," Seip said. "There
has been no change in service since
then .... We have to look at all the
services we provide and ask, 'are
they sustainable?' Council has asked
for all the alternatives. We don't
want to subsidize one ward for
another."
Hill, taking to the podium a
second time, asked if the North
Huron Police Service Board
meetings could be moved to
Wingham Town Hall so the meetings
could be broadcast similar to council
meetings.
Seip, who sits on the police
services board, responded, saying he
has already placed that issue on the
next police board agenda, saying he
wants the meetings moved for the
same reason.
Brian Rintoul also had queries
involving the Wingham Police
Department, asking about specific
incidents.
Rintoul asked about "walkabouts"
performed by the police. He said that
while it was claimed there was an
on -the -ground police presence
provided by the Wingham Police
Department, local business owners
hadn't seen it.
Seip said the foot patrol isn't done
when business owners are in their
shop because that isn't when the
service is most needed.
"The foot patrolling is at night,"
he said. "The foot patrol is not there
during day hours."
Seip explained that, among other
services, the police are checking to
make sure businesses are secure
during the patrol.
HOUSING STOCK
Blyth ratepayer Gary van
Leeuwen asked council what was
being done to address his perceived
housing stock shortage in the village
of Blyth.
"I've spoke with someone [who
was] approached about selling their
house," he said. "One of the
employees of Cowbell came to ask.
I'm not sure there is much building
stock left in the village."
Agricultural homes are also
disappearing, van Leeuwen said, as
farmers expand their operations by
buying additional farmland.
"Is there a good plan council is
going to put in place to keep homes
available for 25 years?"van
Leeuwen asked.
Vincent said he couldn't provide a
name, but said someone was looking
at developing between 40 and 50
houses at the north end of the
village.
Weber acknowledged the
development, but couldn't speak to
it. North Huron Chief
Administrative Officer Dwayne
Evans said township staff is working
on the development.
Another concern van Leeuwen
shared was a potential shortage of
business properties, referencing
Blyth's recent commercial boom.
"[Are lands] being set aside for
businesses that want to move to
town?" he asked, pointing to the fact
that Tim Hortons and Blyth Cowbell
Brewing Company developments in
Central Huron.
He also identified rumours of a
new hotel potentially being built in
Central Huron as another example.
Vincent said there is one 16 -acre
lot zoned for industrial development
in Blyth and van Leeuwen asked if
council was promoting that space as
available.
"The township does not own that
property," Vincent said. "[A
developer] would have to go through
private owners for a business [to use
it]. If asked, council definitely says
there is industrial land available in
Blyth."
COUNCIL REMUNERATION
Hill asked individual council
members whether they would forego
their meeting stipends as a means of
encouraging volunteerism in the
community.
"I'm wondering if council
would give up their $1,000 a
month paycheque for council
attendance," he asked councillors.
Council members didn't think that
was a fair ask of them.
Vincent said it wasn't just to ask
anyone to give up the relatively
small remuneration for the
significant amount of time being a
council member takes. He said he
works 30 hours a week between
responsibilities for Huron County
Council and North Huron Township
Council.
Seip felt the same, saying he
didn't run for council for the pay but
to provide a voice for the public.
He said that, for the amount of
time council members spend on the
job, the pay wasn't as much as Hill
may believe it is.
Seip said he wouldn't request any
change to the remuneration formula.
MUSEUM
Jason Schiestel asked about the
North Huron Museum in Wingham
and the details on the $3.8 million
pricetag for rehabilitating the
structure entailed.
Director of Recreation and
Facilities Pat Newson explained that
the report dealt with bringing the
building up to code as well as costs
to operate it as a museum.
She pointed to the fact that the
entire structure doesn't have central
temperature control, instead relying
on window air conditioner units to
maintain temperatures for artifacts.
FUTURE FEEDBACK
After queries from the audience
were exhausted, Seip asked what
council needed to do to encourage
more feedback from the
municipality.
Seip asked what would encourage
more public engagement through
meetings like the town hall one.
Schiestel said he would ask for it
to be later. The meeting started at 6
p.m., which he said was difficult to
attend after having left work at 5
p.m.
Councillor Brock Vodden said he
receives significant feedback from
ratepayers when he is out in the
community, saying he likely talks to
more people in his daily trips to the
post office than he would at any
meeting.
Vodden's statement led van
Leeuwen to ask if there was any kind
of record kept of the conversations
that happen away from official
forums such as the town hall
meeting.
"Every conversation I have in
regards to a service or an issue is
passed on to senior management or
staff," Seip said. "I don't keep a log,
as not all conversations are
constructive, but if there is an issue I
hear about, I pass it to the staff
[member] it should go to."
Vodden said there are too many
questions and conversations to keep
track of but if there are numerous
people asking about the same thing,
he takes note.
Primarily, Vodden said, he
directs people to fill out the online
forms out for issues that go
directly to staff and can then
be addressed that way.
Five O'clock Somewhere", "Walk
Don't Run", "Help Me Rhonda",
"Kokomo" and of course, "Surfin'
USA" amongst the many audience
favourites.
Tickets to see Surfin' Safari: The
Ultimate Beach Party Show at the
Blyth Memorial Hall in Blyth on
Saturday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. are on sale
now, value -priced at only $39 all
inclusive! Tickets are available by
phone at 519-523-9300 or via pick-
up at the theatre box office located at
423 Queen Street in Blyth or online
at www.BlythFestival.com Get your
tickets today for this incredible
beach party show!
VISIT THE
CITIZEN'S NEW
CAREER
SECTION AT
northhuron.on.ca
Municipality of
Huron East
FINAL
TAXES
Property owners are
reminded that the due
date for the final installment
of property taxes is
November 30, 2017.
P. Michiels
Treasurer -Finance Manager
Municipality of
Morris-Turnberry
TAX INSTALLMENT NOTICE
The final installment of the 2017 property taxes is due on Thursday,
November 30, 2017.
Payment can be made by mail or directly at the Municipal Office, 41342
Morris Rd., PO Box 310, Brussels, ON NOG 1H0. For your
convenience, a drop box is available at the front door for after hours
use. Payments can also be made at most banking institutions and by
telephone and Internet banking.
Failure to receive your property tax bill does not in any way exempt you
from payment.
Nancy Michie
Administrator Clerk -Treasurer
519-887-6137
CORPORATION OF THE
Now,01.TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HURON
HURON TAXES DUE
The 2017 final tax installment for the Township of North Huron is due
on Monday, November 27, 2017. Interest at 1 1/4% per month will be
charged on unpaid accounts as of November 28th, 2017 and the first
day of each month thereafter.
NOTE: Persons who have acquired properties and have not received
a tax bill should contact the Municipal Office. Failure to receive a tax
bill does not relieve a taxpayer from responsibility for payment of taxes,
nor from penalty for late payment.
Please contact the Treasury Department in regards to the various
payment options available. Pre -authorized payment sign up forms are
available at www.northhuron.ca or at the Town Hall.
Donna White
Director of Finance
Township of North Huron
www.northhuron.ca