HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2015-05-28, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2015. PAGE 11.
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former Wingham systems, we’re
giving something we maintain
away,” he said.
Vincent said that in the past
Morris-Turnberry gave property to
North Huron for the services it had
extended to other properties,
showing that council recognized the
value of what was being given.
North Huron needs, according to
Vincent, a number or commitment
so that they can direct staff to come
up with an agreement, however,
Morris-Turnberry, in his opinion,
isn’t interested in working together.
“We’re willing to look at a number
of things they can give us, however
we have got a consistent no from
them,” he said. “They are unwilling
to go forward. I’m not sure they are
committed to going ahead. They are
not committed to getting a deal. I’m
willing to take different options, I’m
willing to accept other methods of
payment but, with the negotiations
that have already gone on through
these years, we need to have an offer
from Morris-Turnberry, something
that we could work with.”
Vincent said he didn’t want to
direct Chambers to work on
anything without a specific number
in mind, however, Chambers said
that individual projects could be
reviewed prior to service
connections being made and
agreements could be made then.
Council was divided on the ‘soft’
services issue, with some, like
Campbell and Councillors Brock
Vodden and Trevor Seip saying
council should look at using
negotiations as a means of making
those facilities and services more
self-sustaining while Vincent and
Councillor Bill Knott said that they
weren’t a viable negotiation tool.
Knott said that, with how transient
some of the services are, it wasn’t a
permanent solution.
“We can ask for money for arenas
or libraries, but who knows how
long they will be there?” he asked.
“We could be out that money
because it was invested in something
that’s no longer here,” he said.
Seip said the problem with taking
funds was that Morris-Turnberry
didn’t know where they went. He
said that was one question that came
up at the meeting, though he did
later admit that where the funds
were set to go was inconsequential
as Morris-Turnberry had flat out
refused any kind of taxation-based
payment.
Vodden said he wished North
Huron had never put a figure in
the document, citing that as the
point at which negotiations fell
apart.
Despite Vincent’s outlining of the
29 services that North Huron has
provided to Morris-Turnberry with
little or no recompense in his
opinion, council directed Chambers
to draw up a new document.
When asked what could take the
place of the 30 per cent clause in the
policy directly, Chambers said that
any report she produced would have
to be discussed by council before
being announced publicly, however
some thought had been given to how
it would change.
“The policy will need flexibility
for specific agreements to be
implemented,” she said. “Specific
agreements may include cost-
sharing in the absence of ‘soft’
service contributions.”
CBS sees changes
Line construction begins in HE
At Huron East Council’s May 19
meeting, Chief Administrative
Officer Brad Knight told council that
construction of the Northland Power
transmission line, which will run
through the southern portion of
Huron East, is set to begin at the end
of the month.
Construction, Knight said, will be
“very intrusive” and lead to a
number of traffic control measures.
“The line will be dug in rather
than plowed in and will likely be
very intrusive in terms of equipment
and the need to close sections of the
road during the installation,” Knight
said in his report. “Traffic control
and safety barriers will be critical to
this aspect of the project and
will be closely monitored by our
staff.”
However, the schedule is ideal,
Knight said, because construction
would take place during a time of
“minimal impact”.
Knight told councillors that any
costs incurred by the municipality
will be recovered by way of Huron
East’s road user agreement and that
community vibrancy funding from
the wind turbine company is already
in place for $5,000 per kilometre of
the transmission line.
***
Treasurer Paula Michiels
presented council with the annual
rankings of Huron County
municipalities, in terms of municipal
taxation rate from lowest taxes to the
highest.
While there was some movement
between Huron East municipalities
(Grey moving from fifth lowest to
eighth and Seaforth moving up from
16th lowest to 15th), most Huron
East wards maintained their 2014
positions.
Ranked from the lowest taxes to
the highest, here are the lower-tier
wards in Huron County:
1. Ashfield, Colborne, Wawanosh
(tie)
4. McKillop
5. Hay, Stanley (tie)
7. Bayfield
8. Grey
9. Hensall
10. Zurich
11. Tuckersmith
12. Usborne, Stephen (tie)
14. Brussels
15. Seaforth
16. Goderich Township, Hullett
(tie)
18. Exeter
19. Howick
20. Clinton
21. Morris, Turnberry (tie)
Funny stuff
The third annual Royal Flush Improv night was held last
Friday, May 22 at Blyth Memorial Hall. The event, which is
put on through the Blyth Festival, features The Wild Card
Players who, this year, include event organizer Nug
Nahrgang, right, Nigel Downer, left, and, not shown, Ashley
Comeau, Liz Johnston, Allison Price and Connor
Thompson. The show was put on with the help of music
director Chris New and stage manager Mark Andrada.
(Denny Scott photo)
Good work
The Huron Tourism Association handed out its annual awards last month and it was the
Maitland Trail Association that was the big winner of the Blyth Festival Annual Tourism
Development Award. Susanna Reid, centre, and Roger Goddard, left, accepted the award on
behalf of the association from John McHenry, right, vice-president of the Huron Tourism
Association. The Trail Association, for 40 years, has provided the county with quality trails, all
through volunteer time. (Photo submitted)
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