HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-02-21, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013.
Morris-Turnberry not happy with planning delays
Langlois plays hockey years after suffering stroke
Ice kings
The Kitchener-Waterloo Sidewinders and the Markham Islanders squared off in a standing-
room-only sledge hockey match on Saturday night at the Brussels, Morris and Grey
Community Centre. The Sidewinders, who hit the ice with several familiar faces, including
Doug McArter and Steve McCutcheon, took the contest by a score of 8-2. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
Morris-Turnberry Deputy-Mayor
Jason Breckenridge wasn’t content
with a suggestion put forward
regarding additional budget
considerations for the Huron County
Planning Department reviewed at
Morris-Turnberry Council’s Feb. 5
meeting.
A report presented by
Administrator Clerk-Treasurer
Nancy Michie outlined the results of
a meeting between the lower tier
administrators and the Huron
County Planning Department. It
stated that a suggestion would be put
forward to Huron County Council to
include additional resources in the
2013 draft budget. It also stated that
other options for increasing service
levels should be studied in 2013 to
make recommendations for the
following years budget.
Council, however, wasn’t
completely convinced that this was
the proper path to take.
Breckenridge questioned whether
or not the county planners were still
serving their intended purpose.
“My question is how much of
county planners’ time is actually put
towards county planning,” he said.
“Other workloads and jobs are
delegated and downloaded to them,
but wouldn’t it make more sense,
instead of hiring more, to streamline
their department and have them do
the job they are supposed to do?”
Mayor Paul Gowing answered,
saying the department is having
trouble keeping up with their own
day-to-day issues.
“There is a lack of resources and
we need to manage that and manage
the situation in the most efficient
way to get it done,” he said. “Really,
that’s what is in front of us.”
Council was informed by Michie
that, among the overdue jobs that the
planning department has on its
docket, Morris-Turnberry’s own
planning documents had fallen
behind. Breckenridge was also
frustrated by this, wondering how
much time would actually be
dedicated to getting the projects
Morris-Turnberry felt were priority
done.
“This goes before the county
Committee of the Whole next week,
do we have any guarantee that our
documents will be done in 10
years?” he asked.
While Gowing felt that the tasks
were high priority and would be
done “as soon as possible,”
Breckenridge felt that wasn’t good
enough.
“As soon as possible is not a
priority, giving them a deadline
makes that priority higher than as
soon as possible.”
Gowing said he would pass that
message on and said that, one way or
another, something needed to be
done. He indicated that this is a
major issue facing Morris-
Turnberry.
“This is certainly one of the main
By Jo-Ann McDonald
On Saturday evening George
Langlois achieved his goal of
playing hockey one more time.
George had played hockey for 40
years in the Brussels
industrial/oldtimers/ sinners
leagues until he suffered a stroke
five years ago. George did not
regain full mobility following the
stroke, but that has not kept
him from being active and
contributing to the community of
Brussels.
The Blyth Brussels Minor Hockey
Association arranged a sledge
hockey game and fun night at the
Brussels, Morris and Grey
Community Centre on Saturday
night. The Kitchener-Waterloo
Sidewinders, featured local players
Steve McCutcheon and Doug
McArter, as well as Corbin Smith
from Monkton and Jason
Ryan, formerly of Seaforth. But
two local men had an idea to do
more!
Ron Stevenson and Brian Ten Pas
initiated the plans to help make
George’s goal a reality. They
contacted many of the old players
George had played with, as well as
his family, to plan a surprise event.
The Optimist Club of Brussels is
celebrating 40 years in the
community and with George being a
charter member of the club, his
involvement was critical. Maybe he
could drop the puck or maybe he
could try skating, for one more
game. His wife Pat convinced him to
give it a try and up to the arena they
went with skates in hand. If at first
you don’t succeed, ask that helpful
Matt Snyder for his suggestion, and
before you know it, George was
skating.
Saturday night arrived and George
was ready to drop the puck for the
sledge hockey game. He walked the
red carpet to centre ice and
proceeded to welcome the captains
and dropped the puck. Pat had dug
out George’s old equipment so it
was time to suit up ready to
participate in the Oldtimers game to
follow.
George was surprised when his
son-in-law Bill and two grandsons,
Curtis and Brent, niece Nicky Muir,
dressed to play, joined him to go on
the ice to play. Players from over the
years that George had played with
and had coached joined together for
the Brussels team. Players for team
Brussels included Jeff Roy, a goalie
George coached 30 years ago,
Jerry Zwep, another goalie, Keith
Mulvey, Dave Stephenson, Ken
Higgins, Mike Watson, Brian Ten
Pas, Rob Cardiff, Verne Bridge,
Ron Stevenson and Mike Thomas,
who they handed over to the
opposition.
Don Carter from Windsor attended
and played the role of coach. In a
planned move, George was
positioned near the goal and scored a
hat trick, to complete his dream
come true of one more hockey
game.
Family, friends and neighbours
were all on hand to enjoy the
very special night for George.
Even a cake arrived for him
decorated with “Hockey Night in
Brussels”.
Following the game George said a
very emotional thank you to all who
had helped to make his goal a reality.
He thanked everyone and
shook hands with all the players of
both teams. Congratulations
George!
Continued from page 14
Turnberry that Vodden’s beliefs
were not necessarily those of North
Huron, but his own.
“I’m right set for 50-50
ownership,” Bailey said. “I say we
have a partnership and a committee
that goes before council.”
While councillor Archie
MacGowan didn’t vocalize a
preference for either a 50-50 split or
another number, he said that he
believed the past may have
something to do with the discussion
going the way it is.
“I think part of this comes from
there being two different
perspectives of what the fire service
should look like and that’s a
historical issue,” he said. “North
Huron had a vision of what this fire
department needs to look like from a
safety and governance perspective
and that’s where this issue is.”
Vodden said one of his major
concerns was who is going to be
responsible for the fire chief.
Several questions from the
previous meeting were also
answered, including facts about
incorporation of the fire department
and why that’s not helpful for the
situation and how current debt
would be handled.
While the next meeting was
originally scheduled for Feb. 21, it
was cancelled and another date is yet
to be set.
North Huron Chief Administrative
Officer Gary Long said, in an e-mail
to The Citizen late last week, that the
two councils felt it was too soon for
a meeting.
“We felt that Feb. 21 was too soon
to meet again, and there wasn’t any
significant movement in the
respective positions,” he said. “Both
Councils need time to reflect on
their positions, review the
discussions points from
Wednesday's meeting, and strategize
some other fire service
arrangements. In the interim, the
two administrators are keeping the
lines of communication open and
consulting with Wayne Caldwell.”
A return to form
Brussels man George Langlois, centre, took to the ice after a hiatus of over five years. He
spent decades playing hockey in various forms in Brussels, however, he was forced to hang
up his skates five years ago when he suffered a stroke. As a charter member of the Brussels
Optimist Club, Langlois was honoured by his fellow club members and former teammates
when the club organized an oldtimers game on Saturday night at the Brussels, Morris and
Grey Community Centre where Langlois was able to play and even scored a hat trick. (Shawn
Loughlin photo)
Third fire meeting
delayed by councils
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Continued on page 19