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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-12-07, Page 1INSIDE THIS WEEK: NATIVITY - Pg. 2 Melville Church's Nativity event continues to grow MARKET - Pg. 8 Blyth's Scrimgeours reflect on decades in business TOURISM - Pg. 10 RTO4's DestinationBLYTH final findings presented Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON NOG 1H0 Citizen Volume 33 No. 48 $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, December 7, 2017 Council Icritical No goal! The International Silver Stick 2017-2018 Wingham Regional Atom tournament wrapped up on the weekend with Listowel topping Saugeen Shores 3-0 in the 'B' Division championships while Walkerton downed Kincardine 3-2 in the consolation final. The 'C' Division saw West -Grey beat South Bruce 2-1 while Minto took the consolation championship. West -Grey and Listowel will participate in the Forest International Silver Stick Finals early in the new year. The Blyth and District Community Centre played host to numerous games of the tournament last weekend and in previous weekends. Above, the team from South Bruce took on Georgian Shores and won by a score of 5-2. (Denny Scott photo) By Denny Scott The Citizen North Huron Councillor Bill Knott provided a hostile response to a presentation from Huron County staff regarding the intersection of County Roads 4 and 25 on Monday night. Huron County Engineer Steven Lund and Huron County Acting Chief Administrative Officer Meighan Wark attended Council's Dec. 4 meeting and provided an update on the intersection, however, the update wasn't as timely as Knott had anticipated. The presentation was based on a report that Huron County Council saw in February of this year after a delegation from Blyth attended an earlier meeting requesting it. Lund explained that Huron County's Public Works Department was directed to respond and, in basic terms, said there wasn't sufficient traffic or collisions to prompt the placement of traffic signals. Despite that, his report did suggest that Huron County Council could investigate placing traffic signals at the location, either with a powered red flashing light or solar -powered models. He said that, even in the 10 -year forecast by B.M. Ross and Associates, an engineering firm that conducted traffic analysis as part of the Blyth Cowbell Brewing Company development, traffic lights weren't expected to be necessary. Lund explained that there would need to be 15 collisions at the site over three years to prompt any immediate change, however they would need to be specific types of collisions. He said collisions such Continued on page 20 OPP service could save millions in Wingham By Denny Scott The Citizen Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) coverage in Wingham could result in significant long-term savings for Wingham ratepayers according to North Huron Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans, however that is predicated on OPP costing only increasing two per cent per year. In a report to North Huron Council during its Monday night meeting, Evans outlined how switching to the OPP in Wingham would result in savings in that ward after six years of service. However that was based on current pricing and a maximum two per cent Consumer Price Index (CPI) increase annually. As Evans pointed out at the end of the presentation, however, that estimate may not reflect the actual OPP cost in three years when a transitional contract between the OPP and North Huron would end. When taking into account all expenses, including one-time costs for retiring the Wingham Police Service and outfitting additional OPP officers to cover the area, the next 10 years of police service in Wingham is forecast to cost, according to Evans, $10,463,270 under the OPP or $12,597,256 under the current Wingham Police Service. The savings, which total $2,133,986, are based on existing costs increasing two per cent annually under either service and a new $20,000 capital reserve being created for the Wingham Police Service. Council members pointed out, however, that OPP costing has never decreased and has increased substantially in past years and could do the same between now and the end of the transitional contract that council is considering. This could result in the township losing its police service and paying more money in the long term. Working with a five-year average for costing, Evans stated that the current Wingham Police Service costs each property in Wingham $768 while the OPP would cost Wingham ratepayers $727. Evans also priced out expanding the Wingham Police Service to cover East Wawanosh and Blyth, which would lower Wingham properties' costs to $659 but double Blyth and East Wawanosh cost for police services from $339.66 per year now to $659 annually. The increased coverage area would require hiring more police staff, said Evans, and more equipment, which was reflected in the $659 pricing for each household. Councillor Yolanda Ritesma- Teeninga pointed out, however, that while Blyth and East Wawanosh's costs would double, the service experienced in Blyth and East Wawanosh, if it was the same as Wingham's current service, would be an improvement over its current coverage from the OPP. Council received Evans' report and plans to have the OPP return to its next council meeting on Dec. 18 to present information regarding pricing and follow that up with a public meeting in the new year that would, according to Evans, include a chance for public feedback.