HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-02-26, Page 3Wednesday, February 26, 2014 • News Record 3
Bayfield to reap rewards of first farmers' market
Vendors needed for
inaugural market
Gerard Creces
Clinton News -Record
Calling all local food producers, the
Village of Bayfield is starting up its first
farmers' market this spring.
The market is a direct result of con-
sultations with food producers in the
municipality this time last year - part of
an effort to add value to local products.
Economic Development Officer Mark
Cassidy said the anniversary of the ag
study was the perfect time to unveil the
market.
"This is a follow up after one year, but
this isn't the first initiative we've been
active immediately following the report
we released, he said.
Already Bluewater has hosted the
inaugural meeting of the Huron Food
Council, and partnered with the county
on their Ag Ambitions project - helping
young farmers understand what is
involved breaking into the business.
For the farmers' market, the number
one choice of those surveyed is Clan
Gregor Square, with the most popular
time being May to October. Because
there are so many markets in the area in
summer, Bayfield will be holding theirs
Friday evenings, between 2-7 p.m.
"We view this as a complimentary
activity to our merchants in Bayfield,"
Dawn Johnston Clinton News Record
Breaking the ice
The Service Ontario building called in
the big guys for their icicle problem
this past week. Pictured, a worker
from Bayfield Tree Service was up on
a boom truck cutting away ice with
a chainsaw, using a shovel for the
tricky bits.
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Cassidy explained. "We felt Friday would be the
ideal time for the market. (Merchants) have been
trying to expand their selling day later in the
evening."
While he said the goal of getting the market
ready for May is ambitious, Cassidy said they have
some expert help. Joan Brady of Sustainable
Futures has helped launch other markets, and has
been a vendor herself for 12 years. Her recommen-
dations come highly lauded by the market work-
ing group.
As part of the startup, Bayfield service clubs will
be taking the lead on a $20,000 Trillium grant
application, with the money spread out over three
years to cover startup costs.
"It's a small amount," Cassidy said. "But that will
be supplemented by fees vendors pay each week
at the market."
Bluewater is already soliciting vendors for the
market, and so far local producers are showing
good interest in the idea. Even if the Trillium grant
does not go through, there is still enough interest
to make it a go. The grant would not be announced
until July if successful.
While they book by the week or for the season,
Cassidy said with a new market people want to
"kick the tires," and get a feel for it. But, with many
firmly rooted farms and young, dynamic couples
getting back to their roots, there is no shortage of
local producers.
Criteria are yet to be determined by the steering
committee. While many markets allow for produce
brokers bringing product in from larger centres,
the focus of Bayfield will be locally, naturally or
organic grown produce.
A public information meeting will be set up for
March, and the location will be confirmed by the
14t. Launch day is tentatively set for May 16.
Full cost of council beyond modest paycheque
Expenses listed
by councilor
Gerard Creces
Clinton News -Record
It's not the highest -paying job,
but there are some perks to
being on municipal council.
Remuneration figures are in for
the 2013 calendar year, and all
told, council cost taxpayers in
Central Huron a total of
$157,266.77.
Salaries are low for politicians
in Central Huron, compared to
Goderich or South Huron, with
individual councilors taking
home $5,485.69. The position of
mayor pays $12,068.38 while
deputy -mayor comes with a
paycheque of $8,228.54.
Salaries were about one-third
of all council costs, at $53,311.06.
Meetings and expenses were
nearly double that, at
$98,003.14.
Topping the list for expenses
was Mayor Jim Ginn, with
$20,049.17 in expenses and
$601.92 mileage. Ginn was also
reimbursed $3,171.69 for con-
vention fees.
Second to Ginn, Councilor
Brian Barnim racked up the next
biggest tab at $15,316 in meet-
ings and expenses and $1,637.69
in mileage, as well as $5,141.81
in convention fees.
Third on the list was Coun.
Alison Lobb, with $14,551.08 in
meetings and expenses, $656.74
mileage and $3,647.55 conven-
tion fees.
Coun. Marg Anderson filed
$11,716.10 in meetings and
expenses, $798.22 in mileage
and $3,662.44 conventions,
while Alex Westerhout filed
$9,950.49, $1,247.80 and
$1,647.72respectively.
The most economical coun-
cilor was Burkhard Metzger,
charging just $5,066.36 in
expenses and $536.29 in mileage
and $1,275.90 conventions.
Coun. Dan Colquhoun
charged no mileage or conven-
tion costs for 2013, but filed
$7,050.84 in expenses.
•
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