HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-06-27, Page 24Central Huron’s list of
correspondence included five
Ontario municipalities that have
joined the growing ranks of places
declaring themselves “unwilling
hosts” to industrial wind turbines
as an official reaction to
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s
pledge commercial wind
projects will not be forced upon
Ontarians.
Among those joining the list
councillors heard at their June 18
meeting, which includes Central
Huron, Bluewater and North
Middlesex, are South Bruce, Huron
Kinloss, the Town of Petrolia, the
Township of Tiny and the Township
of West Lincoln.
***
During his monthly mayoral
address, Mayor Jim Ginn reported
trail development to the Hullett
Wildlife Area is ongoing, though
some landowner agreements have
yet to be signed.
He also noted the recent South
West Economic Alliance
Conference, held in Goderich and
Benmiller, reveals broadband
connectivity continues to be a key
concern for rural areas interested in
expanding.
Ginn said reports suggest the
County of Huron is actually
better connected than the City of
Stratford. He added part of the
conference included hearing
presentations from the region’s three
internet service providers that are
working towards improving
services.
“It bodes well for economic
development in Huron County in the
future,” said Ginn.
PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 2013.Trail developmentongoing in Hullett
Councillors concerned with building costs
A fun run
Local law enforcement officers were joined by some enthusiastic assistants for the annual Law
Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics earlier this week. The group ran down Blyth’s
main street shortly after 11 a.m. on Monday morning. The event started in Wingham and ended
in Goderich. (Denny Scott photo)
Hula-hooping
Maitland River Elementary School Wingham Campus
students like Emma Raynard, shown here, were able to get
some sun and some exercise as they got their aortas active
for the Jump Rope for Heart event held earlier this week at
the school. (Denny Scott photo)
At their June 18 meeting, Huron
East councillors found that the true
costs to renovate the municipality’s
town hall in Seaforth had increased
significantly along the way.
With an initial contract price of
$477,662, council was told that the
final price tag of the project sits at
$789,673, an increase of just under
65 per cent.
“This upsets me,” said Councillor
Larry McGrath, who had been an
outspoken critic of the project since
its inception. “We’ve gone 65 per
cent over our budget. We’ve spent
$300,000 more on the project.”
McGrath said that with his
business, if he was that far off on a
cost estimate, he would be fired the
next day.
He asked staff for a complete
breakdown of the costs for the next
meeting.
Chief Building Official Paul
Josling defended the cost slightly,
saying contractors found the roof’s
main plate was rotted out,
something no one could have known
until the bricks had been removed.
Josling named several other
instances of unpredicted costs
encountered by the crew.
Councillor Nathan Marshall said
that it was shocking to see how high
costs had risen, so perhaps regular
updates along the way would have
helped to soften the blow, while at
the same time keeping councillors
informed as to the progress of the
project.
McGrath said the high costs were
council’s own fault and they had no
one to blame but themselves.
“This is a lesson learned,” he said.
“We could call it the $300,000
lesson.”
He said that in the future, council
has to be more proactive with
projects like this, nipping problems
with municipal buildings in the bud
and not letting them get out of
control to the point where costs can
escalate like this.
As part of the same presentation,
Treasurer Paula Michiels reported
that both the 23 Goderich Street and
Brussels Library projects were
proceeding on time and on budget
and that she was expecting no
surprises.
Blyth 519-523-4792 • Brussels 519-887-9114
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