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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2014-11-26, Page 1010 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, November 26, 2014 Vertsteeg, Gowing and MacLellan all vying for position of warden Dave Flaherty QM' Agency Three members of county council have thrown their names in the race for county warden. Howick Reeve Art Ver- steeg, Morris-Turnberry Mayor Paul Gowing and Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan are all seeking the position. The new warden will serve a two-year term. Vertseeg, who has run for position before, believes becoming warden would be a logical next step in his political career. He said with his experi- ence as reeve in Howick and sitting on committees, he has a "good grasp on the procedural guidelines and how to implement them with orderly fashion and good discussion." Versteeg said local munic- ipalities are going be facing some "financial pressures" due to cuts in provincial funding, so he said county council needs to be careful not to add too much on their level as well. He said there are a num- ber of potentially major projects coming up for the county, including possibly looking at a new ambu- lance station and addressing a lack of space in the archive facilities. With the creation of the county's new economic development board, Ver- steeg said he is interested to see what benefits the county can reap from it. In his view, Warden's responsibility is to see that the decisions of council are acted on and moved forward. Versteeg supports the idea Bluewater Wind Energy Centre -xi-era ENERGY Community Liaison Committee (CLC): Meeting No. 3 December 10, 2014 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Stanley Community Centre, 38594 Mill Road, Varna, Ontario In April 2013, Varna Wind, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of NextEra Energy Canada, ULC (NextEra), obtained approval from the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) to build a Wind Energy Centre in the Municipality of Bluewater, Huron County, Ontario. We are hosting the 3rd Community Liaison Committee Meeting Good planning involves the community so we have established a CLC to discuss key aspects of construction, installation, operation, maintenance and retirement of the Bluewater Wind Energy Centre. While this Committee is a requirement of our Renewable Energy Approval, it is also a vital part of our continued commitment to communicate and provide a forum to exchange ideas, share information and to offer project updates. The CLC is not intended to re -visit matters already addressed through the MOE approval process. About the Bluewater Wind Energy Centre The Bluewater Wind Energy Centre, which includes a transmission line that extends into the Municipality of Huron East, has a maximum generating capacity of up to 60 megawatts, using 37 wind turbines; this is enough clean energy to power over 15,000 homes. The wind farm created about 150 construction jobs and currently employs 6 full-time local operations team members. Over its 20 year lifespan, this project is expected to contribute almost $9 million to local governments in property taxes and $13 million in lease payments to landowners. About the Community Liaison Committee The Committee is made up of people with diverse perspectives and varied backgrounds and experiences, so as to provide a broad and balanced perspective. Representatives of the following groups were invited to make up the Committee: persons residing or owning lands within 1 km of the Project; other area residents and landowners; members of the agricultural and business community; government agencies; local organizations; special interest groups; and Aboriginal, First Nation and Metis communities. A total of four (4) CLC meetings will be facilitated by AECOM. While committee membership has already been established (i.e., the application process is complete), all meeting materials (e.g., agendas, minutes and presentations) will be made available for public review at www.NextEraEnergyCanada.com/projects/bluewater.shtml. All meetings are open so that the public can attend and observe the conversation — as well, requests for delegations are welcomed. To be considered for a public deposition, please submit a request and the actual written deposition to Avril Fisken (AECOM) by December 3, 2014. CLC Meeting # 3 Agenda • Registration and Welcome • Provide update on the Bluewater Wind Energy Centre • Discuss Construction Mitigation Progress • Discuss Operation and Maintenance Plans • Public Depositions, if any • Identify Future Topics for Discussion Email: avril.fisken@aecom.com Fax: 519-763-1688 Mail: 55 Wyndham Street North, Suite 215 Guelph, ON N1H 7T8 For more information regarding the Bluewater Wind Energy Centre please contact Derek Dudek at the following: Tel: 1-877-257-7330 Email: b I u ewate r.wi nd @ nexteraenergy.com of a two-year term. "It's pretty tough to learn the job, do the job and be consistent in one year," he said. "I think it will give a little more con- tinuity. We don't know for sure but I think it is a good move." This is Gowing's first time running for warden. He said his love for Huron County has grown and developed during his time on county council. "We are one of the best kept secrets in the province," he said. Moving forward, Gowing said it will be key for the county to follow up on a number of initiatives that results from council revisit- ing their strategic plan. "One is a review of our facilities as a county to see what is really needed there to keep Huron County func- tioning at the same level." He too is very alarmed by the "reduction of transfers from the province': which he said will have an effect on the county's budget and those of lower municipalities. Gowing said one of Huron County's greatest strengths is the diversity between all of its municipalities - but it is important they all work together. "We can't stand alone in what we do," he said. He was also a supporter of the two-year term. "It creates a level of conti- nuity," he said. "Once you have made contacts with organizations and people at different government levels, being there for a two-year term would see that progress go through:' To Gowing, the role of the warden is to act at the will of county council and follow through initiatives they want to see them move forward on. The third candidate, MacLellan, already has one term as warden under his belt, albeit, when it was a one-year term. Perhaps one of the strong- est proponents of the two- year term, McLellan said after his tenure as warden he recognized the fact "you could barely get yourself comfortable." McLellan said he doesn't believe Huron County gets enough credit and doesn't market itself enough. Building relations with the provincial and federal gov- ernments are key to him. He is a strong supporter of economic development, and he said whoever is warden has to have that attitude and recognize potentially good ideas. MacLellan said one of the biggest issues facing the county is "the provincial government trying to bal- ance its books on the back of the taxpayers' "That is a topic that all rural municipalities need to get together on and ask 'why"; he explained. "Some of the decisions the province is making have only affected rural municipalities." He said the part of the role of warden is being a good spokesperson on behalf of the county. Namely, even if the war- den didn't vote for a particu- lar issue, if it is the decision of county council, they must support it moving forward. "Doesn't matter if you agree or disagree," he said. Another important issues for the county are its facili- ties, MacLellan said. In his opinion, there are a number of facilities across the county that could be rented out for good revenue. He would also like to see a central facility that could house more depart- ments in one spot and be better designed for today's needs. The new warden will be chosen by county council at the Dec. 3 meeting. Keep your funny -bone in shape! Laughing has proven stress -release and health benefits. Funny how that works, eh? Sha ri n9 a ut Healthivitner 41111, Fure- v paRnaparnan ®