HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-06-13, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2013. PAGE 11. Huron East closeto submitting
consultation form
Ticket to ride
It was a special occasion and the Cardiff family took to the skies to celebrate. It was Audrey’s
birthday, second from left, and she took her husband Jack, right, and son Allan, second from
right, on a helicopter ride from Brussels to Stratford where the gang would meet Audrey and
Jack’s son Stew, who purchased the ride for his parents, for lunch. The flight would also
include a tour of Brussels-area farms. Piloting this excursion was Kelvin Jones, left. (Vicky
Bremner photo)
Huron East Council is awaiting
some last minute changes to its
municipal consultation form for the
St. Columban wind energy project
before it can be submitted.
At the June 4 meeting, several
councillors thought the form needed
some “stronger language” in some
areas to show that council strongly
disagreed with some aspects of the
plan.
Chief Administrative Officer Brad
Knight said that while members of
Huron East Against Turbines
(HEAT) were critical of council for
waiting so long to submit its
consultation form, he was pleased
that council took this route. He said
waiting gave council the chance to
draft its road user agreement and
learn from recent turbine cases
before submitting its thoughts on the
St. Columban project.
The proposed consultation form
focuses on three main areas. The
first area is the emergency
management plans and safety
protocols. Knight explained that this
area is a continued criticism of the
project’s proposed location of the
turbine entitled T9, which council
sees as a potential sight hazard to
drivers at the intersection. Knight
added that the T9 turbine has been
much discussed by critics of the
project, as it is in such a precise
location that it cannot be moved,
even by just a few metres, or it
would violate setback regulations of
550 metres.
“T9 is just a poor location,”
Knight said, adding that it will be a
visual distraction for drivers. “We
can’t suggest an alternative site,
because there are setback issues.”
The second point council has
chosen to focus on is the lack of
consideration that has been given to
the historic hamlet of Cranbrook.
A transmission line associated
with the project is proposed to run
straight through the hamlet,
jeopardizing heritage structures
throughout the community.
It was with the transmission line
that Seaforth Councillor Nathan
Marshall took issue, saying that
council’s criticism needs to come
across with stronger language than
is suggested in Knight’s report.
Earlier in the process, council had
suggested running the transmission
line along McDonald Line, which
would not disrupt a settlement like
Cranbrook. There would only be an
issue with a provincially-protected
wetland near Hwy. 86 in the Grey
Ward.
The third area council is focusing
on relates to noise and monitoring
associated with the wind turbines,
which is handled through the
Ministry of the Environment.
Mayor Bernie MacLellan asked
about vacant lots near wind turbines.
He wondered aloud if someone
submitted a building permit on a
vacant lot within the 500-metre
setback area of a proposed turbine,
with the intention to build a home,
would stop production of that
specific turbine.
Knight, however, disagreed,
saying it was his understanding that
was not the case.
Addressing some of HEAT’s
concerns about the lack of
information in council’s
consultation form, Knight defended
council’s submission, saying that he
thought it would be better to be
specific about a handful of
legitimate concerns, rather than
throwing everything onto the form
to see what stuck.
He was also unsure as to what the
group was asking for when it came
to sound studies. He said a lot of
questions remain unanswered, for
instance, if a sound study was to
take place, would an individual
study have to be conducted for every
turbine? That would drive the cost
up substantially, he said.
MacLellan, however, disagreed,
saying that he didn’t see the harm in
asking for a baseline sound study in
the consultation form.
Several councillors agreed with
MacLellan saying that a sound study
comment should be included on the
form.
“I would like to have as many
background levels as we can,” said
Councillor Andy Flowers, saying
that it couldn’t hurt the municipality,
only help.
Knight also cautioned councillors
about overloading the proposed road
user agreement with issues. He said
the agreement should only deal with
issues related to transportation, and
adding in other issues like sound
would muddy the waters of the
agreement.
The agreement was up for
council’s approval at the meeting,
but with several issues still to be
Municipality of Central Huron
PUBLIC NOTICE
The Council of the Municipality of Central
Huronwillbeconsideringabylawtoimpose
fees or charges for MunicipalWater and
Sewer services at the regular meeting
being held on Tuesday, June 18, 2013
at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber at
REACH, 169 Beech St. Clinton.
The draft bylaw showing the proposed
newrateswhichwouldbecomeeffective
July 1,2013 can be found on the municipal
website www.centralhuron.com or is
available to view at the Municipal Office
located at 23 Albert Street, Clinton.
Brenda MacIsaac, Clerk
Municipality of Central Huron
Gift Baskets
398 Queen St.,
Blyth
519-523-4276
BUY? SELL?
TRY CLASSIFIED
Young at heart
Abi’s Awesome Angels Texas Horseshoe Tournament was
held on Saturday and it brought out competitors of all ages
including Doug Wilson, shown here. Doug is 90 years old
and has attended the tournament for three years straight.
Doug is shown here accompanied by his granddaughter
Nicole Duquette, who is the Wingham and District Hospital
Foundation Coordinator. The event is a fundraiser for
Wingham and District Hospital Foundation Cancer
Treatment Clinic. (Denny Scott photo)
Continued on page 13
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen