HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2013-12-11, Page 3Wednesday, December 11, 2013 • News Record 3
Bluewater blooms in 2013, looks ahead to 2014 Bluewater seeks Central Huron
approval on water agreement
Gerard Creces
Clinton News -Record
It was a bloomin' successful year for
the Municipality of Bluewater.
In just its fourth year of participating
in Communities in Bloom, the munici-
pality received a five -bloom rating - the
highest available.
On Monday, Dec. 2, Jim Ferguson
and Heather Reddick of the CIB com-
mittee were before council to both cel-
ebrate their 2013 successes and look
ahead to their 2014 budget and
schedule.
There are no new initiatives for 2014,
however, the CIB committee is looking
to up participation in the current pro-
gram under the catch phrase "Strive for
five times two:'
There were a couple firsts for Bluewa-
ter CIB last year. In spring, volunteers
sold 125 trees in conjunction with Earth
Day. The committee hopes to up that
number to 150 this year. All trees were
purchased from the Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority, and Ferguson
told council that a small mark up is
added to the trees to cover costs in case
some go unsold. If council were to buy
any remaining trees, he said, that
charge could be dropped altogether.
Another first for the CIB committee
was a hay bale sculpture contest. The
contest was intended to provide tourists
and residents a chance to drive around
Coun. Janisse Zimmerman, CIB Vice -Chair Jim Ferguson, profile book author Heather
Reddick, CIB Chair Kay Wise and Mayor Bill Dowson present Bluewater's five -bloom
award at the Dec. 2 meeting of council.
the municipality and showcase the
rural quality of life. However, as there
were only two entries in 2013, there is
much work to be done to promote the
contest for the coming year, including
approaching farm -related businesses
and groups such as 4H.
Ultimately, the goal is to make a "bale
trail" through Bluewater, Ferguson
explained. Other activities under the
CIB banner included both private and
public beach cleanups, as well as a gar-
den recognition program, and a daylily
program featuring a new species of
flower developed at Huron Ridge
Greenhouses.
There will be a contest in 2014 to
name the new hybrid.
Gerard Creces
Clinton News -Record
Central Huron could have a
new drink on tap if an agree-
ment with the Municipality of
Bluewater comes to pass.
In an effort to expand water
services to the area north of
Bayfield, Bluewater will need
access to Central Huron road
allowances, and is proposing an
agreement, which also allows
Central Huron to buy into the
services.
At their Dec. 2 meeting, Blue -
water council gave the green
light to an agreement that will
see 19 properties in Central
Huron supplied with water serv-
ices in the Carriage Lane subdi-
vision. The area is off Jowett
Road north of Bayfield. It does
provide flexibility as to which 19
properties could receive the
water and sewer service, how-
ever the number is set due to
capacity.
Under the Bayfield Water
Agreement, Central Huron will
be responsible for constructing
the necessary services along
their Jewitt's Grove Road allow-
ance, as well as provide a buy -in
charge of $7,500 per property.
Once the work is complete,
Bluewater will assume respon-
sibility and ownership of the
infrastructure as well as provide
maintenance, upkeep and
repair.
However, the agreement did
not go to Central Huron Council
until Committee of the Whole
Tuesday, Dec. 10, so the results
are unavailable as of press time.
Director of Municipal Serv-
ices, Nick Verhoeven, said the
project is largely a trade off,
allowing Bluewater road access,
though whether residents will
buy into it remains to be seen
and ultimately, council will have
to decide how involved they
wish to be.
With water and construction
charges, property owners could
face up to $15,000 to connect,
according to Verhoeven's report
to council.
"The buy -in costs are due
only if and when the Municipal-
ity is ready to construct any
works," his report states. "Cen-
tral Huron would have to com-
plete a Municipal Class Envi-
ronmental Assessment prior to
construction:'
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