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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2013-04-25, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2013. Continued from page 13 monthly reports. Ultimately, council approved the project with Barnim opposed. *** Central Huron is asking the Erie Thames utility to pay the entire $16,000 relating to a billing error from two years ago that saw about half of the community of Clinton’s consumers billed for 30 days when bills should have been for 44 days. Mayor Jim Ginn addressed the issue at a recent Central Huron session, and suggested asking the utility to pay half of the outstanding amount and cover the balance from reserves. At that time, Councillors Alison Lobb and Barnim noted it was the utility’s billing error and it should be on the hook for it. *** The Wainfleet Working Group, which is designed to draw attention to concerns relating to Green Energy Act projects, will include Councillor Brian Barnim in its ranks thanks to a motion passed Tuesday night. *** VanDriel Excavating has earned the municipality’s grass-cutting contract for the coming year at a cost of about $76,000. *** Central Huron administrators are being asked to go back into negotiations with three short-listed contractors for the solar panel project at the Central Huron Community Complex and the Regional Equine Agricultural Centre of Huron (REACH) in order to attempt to get a better deal. While Central Huron councillors were looking at approving one of the bids at a recent session, Barnim noted he has been watching the market, and suggested a better price was possible. Council chose to support that idea with Deputy-Mayor Dave Jewitt and Councillor Marg Anderson opposed to going back to the short-listed companies. *** Council is donating $2,000 to help cover the cost of Kelly Gruber Slugger Baseball Camp registration. The donation is designed to ensure every child that wants to attend has the opportunity to do so regardless of the family’s financial situation. The Camp will be held on July 8- 9 in Clinton. For more information or to register, visit www.gruberbaseball.com *** Central Huron Council is endorsing the Township of Wainfleet’s resolution to declare itself “not a willing host” for wind turbine development in response to Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s pledge that only willing host communities will be home to industrial wind turbine projects. CH asks for cost recovery Continued from page 1 Taylor noted there are a number of variables beyond Central Huron’s control, including increasing utility costs. She also outlined how 79 per cent of Central Huron’s taxation pie is picked up by residential property owners, 11 per cent through farms and managed forests, eight per cent by commercial, one per cent through industrial, and one per cent by pipelines. Another pie chart, depicting Central Huron’s expenses, shows that the roads department consumes most of the municipality’s expenses at slightly more than $3 million, while protective and inspection services are $2 million, and about $175,000 to council and administrative costs relating to general government. During an exchange with other councillors, Councillor Brian Barnim said it seems unfair that 56 per cent of taxes are collected from Goderich Township while less than $30,000 went into it. Barnim said the last major expense in Goderich Township was the Orchard Line project and that was “two-thirds grant funded.” Barnim also expressed concern that the future will bring the need for replacing aging infrastructure, much of which is located within Clinton’s borders. “We are going to be funding more and more and more,” said Barnim. “It’s a comment for now.” While there were no questions from the public, most of whom were on hand for a presentation on Central Huron’s appeal to the Huron County Official Plan, Barnim requested a recorded vote on the budget. In that vote, Councillors Barnim and Dan Colquhoun opposed the budget. It passed with the support of Mayor Jim Ginn, Deputy-Mayor Dave Jewitt, and Councillors Alison Lobb, Burkhard Metzger, Alex Westerhout and Marg Anderson. Continued from page 20 sufficient grounds for appeal. County planner Susanna Reid, who was on hand for the session, could confirm an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearing is set for June 3, but could not answer legal questions. Councillor Alison Lobb said the main concern is the cost attached to an OMB appeal. “That is one of my major concerns – the unlimited costs that are going to happen.” Council chose to move forward with its appeal to the Official Plan, and to ask the county’s eight other municipalities to financially support the endeavour. Central Huron is circulating a letter with a funding request, asking neighbouring municipalities to reply by May 20, 2013. During a short exchange, Councillor Lobb noted she has heard an OMB appeal costs $5,000 a day, Barnim disagreed, stating it is “half of that.” Central Huron Council originally chose to appeal the Official Plan in January 2012, after Dave Hemingway, an outspoken opponent of industrial wind turbines, urged it to appeal the plan. At that time, Hemingway said renewable projects would take 1,500 acres of farmland out of production in Goderich Township alone. New owners The Park family took over Belgrave Variety earlier this month. The family, which consists of, from left, Michael, and his parents Bu Yong and Kim Park, previously ran a similar store in Oshawa and moved here after living in Scarborough to enjoy the quieter lifestyle. (Denny Scott photo) Belgrave Variety Store now under new ownershipThe Belgrave Variety Store hasnew owners in the persons of thePark family from Oshawa.Michael Park, son of the newowners Bu Yong Park and Kim Parkexplained that, aside from exchanging some of the old metalshelving in the store for some home-crafted models his father made, there aren’t a lot of changes to bemade.“We’re going to have some moreconvenience-type of food,” heexplained. “People can do theirmajor grocery shopping in Wingham and Blyth. We’re going to offer stuffyou need on the go or stuff you needmore often.”The family has experience runninga store as, before they lived inOshawa, they ran a similarconvenience-style store inScarborough.“We sold the one in Scarborough and moved to Oshawa, then I guessmy parents wanted to get back in thegame,” Michael said. “But theywanted to come some place quieterand they really like this area.”The family took over the store onApril 2 and, according to Michael,are very anxious to get to know the community and become a part of it.For his own plans, he said that herecently finished medical schooland, in the future will be applyingfor residency positions.The Belgrave Variety Store islocated at the corner of London andBelgrave Roads in Belgrave.By Denny ScottThe CitizenBarnim concerned Goderich Township pays a lot for less Check out these books and many more at... The Citizen Blyth ~ 519-523-4792 Brussels ~ 519-887-9114 CANOECRAFT Ever dream about building your own woodstrip canoe? 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