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The Citizen, 2015-04-23, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2015. Clark talks weeds Using what’s on hand When it comes to putting out a field fire, firefighters use what they have available including the dirt on the ground. Shown above are several firefighters from the Fire Department of North Huron (FDNH) putting out a fire on a Maitland Block Road farm on Sunday that was sparked by a burning refuse pile. The fire spread from the field to a nearby forest before FDNH firefighters were able to contain it with the assistance of Central Huron firefighters. (Denny Scott photo) County completes strategic planning After two days at the Benmiller Inn, Huron County Council, as well as county staff, have outlined their priorities for the future of this community. Held over the course of a Thursday-Friday stretch earlier this month, councillors and staff members kept busy with their long- awaited strategic planning session. Chief Administrative Officer Brenda Orchard says that some of the ideas are new, others have been around for decades, but they’re all important in Huron County going forward. As a result of the discussion, aided by a consultant who has worked all over the world, Orchard says, council is now ready to look to the future with a “living” document. The first five priorities for council, as well as Orchard, are: the terms of reference for the economic development strategy, which are due in June; the Emergency Medical Services consolidation review, which is due in December; a report on the county’s agricultural strategy, which is also due in December; the internal services review, which is due in September and the OPP service levels agreement, which is also due in September. Orchard says that these five items are the most immediate priorities going forward for council. Each department, however, has established its top three tasks going forward and has outlined potential delivery dates for their completion. Orchard says the document is an important item for council to have at every meeting. It will keep them updated at a glance, she says, and it will let them know where departments are, in terms of their priorities. If a project is lagging behind, she says, council will know and as goals are reached and come off the list, new priorities will be established and become part of it, making it a true “living” document, she says. One of the great things accomplished during the sessions, Orchard said, is the new items that have been identified, such as the agricultural strategy. With the 2017 International Plowing Match coming to Walton, she said, it’s important that the county be involved in helping with the event and with promotional materials. Continued from page 3 sign language repeated in the response. The hymn “Behold, Behold, I Make All Things New” was followed by the interactive scripture from Matthew 13:10-17. Rev. Clark invited the children to come to the front for their story time. He asked the children how can you tell a good seed from a weed seed? There were many answers. Some were – by looking and feeling or smelling. Rev. Clark told the children that Jesus was not talking about plants but about people. Good wheat are the people with love and compassion and the parable that Jesus told the people was not to pluck the weeds out, but let them grow and come harvest time they can be separated out. Rev. Clark’s message to the congregation was “The Weed Debate.” We all have the same thoughts about where weeds come from. In the Bible, it tells us that someone must have planted them after the wheat had been sown. We each sow the seed of faith in Jesus. The Bible tells us to let the weeds grow along with the wheat and they will be sorted out at harvest time. Years ago when children came to church they were to be seen and not heard. We have lost at least two generations to the church and we will have to work hard to get these people back to church. We need the wonder of a child in our community and church families. Our circle of blessings requires us to change and to look outward. TAKE NOTICE that the Corporation of the County of Huron will hold a public meeting on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. in the Court House Council Chambers (1 Court House Square, Goderich)to consider a proposed official plan amendment affecting all lands in the County of Huron under Sections 17 & 21 of the Planning Act, R.S.O., 1990, as amended. ANY PERSON may attend the public meeting and/or make written or verbal representation either in support of or in opposition to the proposed official plan amendment. IF you wish to be notified of the adoption of the proposed official plan amendment, or of the refusal to adopt the official plan amendment, you must make a written request to Susan Cronin, Clerk, County of Huron. IF a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the County of Huron before the proposed official plan amendment is adopted, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision of the County of Huron to the Ontario Municipal Board. IF a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the County of Huron before the proposed official plan amendment is adopted, the person or public body may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Ontario Municipal Board unless, in the opinion of the Board, there are reasonable grounds to add the person or public body. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION and a copy of the proposed amendment is available for inspection during regular office hours at the County of Huron Planning and Development Department, 57 Napier St., Goderich, (519) 524-8394 Ext. 3 and on the Huron County website at www.huroncounty.ca/officialplan. PURPOSE AND EFFECT The purpose of this County initiated amendment is to amend the County of Huron Official Plan to ensure consistency with the 2014 Provincial Policy Statement. The following is a list of key changes made to the Plan: • The Agriculture section has been amended with the addition of updated policies for on-farm diversified uses and agriculture-related uses, and by deleting the Minimum Distance Separation formula requirements for the severance of existing residences surplus to a farming operation where barns exist on separately titled lots. • The Extractive Resource section has been amended to include policy to permit accessory aggregate recycling facilities, in accordance with the requirements of the Aggregate Resources Act. • The Settlement Patterns section has been amended to eliminate the reference to a 5 lot limit for development on private water and septic services, and to require developments on private services to demonstrate no negative impacts. • The Natural Environment section has been updated to reference the requirement for development in areas of habitat of endangered species and threatened species to be in accordance with provincial and federal requirements. • The Community Services section has been strengthened to support active transportation. DATED AT THE COUNTY OF HURON THIS Susan Cronin, Clerk, County of Huron 16th DAY OF APRIL, 2015.1 Court House Square Goderich, ON N7A 1M2 519-524-8394 NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING CONCERNING PROPOSED OFFICIAL PLAN AMENDMENT NO. 4 TO THE HURON COUNTY OFFICIAL PLAN “Thanks so much for returning my keys. You saved me the $400 cost of replacing my electronic fob.” – Diane Protect the valuables on your key ring with a War Amps key tag and help support programs for amputees. The War Amps 1 800 250-3030 waramps.ca Charitable Registration No.: 13196 9628 RR0001 Order key tags online. The War Amps Key Tag Service It’s free – and it works! Opening Monday, May 4th Spring Hours Monday - Saturday 9-6 Closed Sunday Bert & Carol Reinink & family 43079 Hullett-McKillop Rd. R.R. #4 Walton 519-527-0761 Come in and see our selection of annuals, perennials, patio pots, hanging baskets, flowering and evergreen shrubs and trees. Love to plant your own containers but don’t like the mess? Bring in your own planter pots or choose from a variety of new planter styles from us and we will do them together or... you can drop your planter pots off anytime and we will do them for you. ❀ Don’t miss our Open House Saturday, May 9th 9 am - 6 pm