HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-07-25, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2013.Huron East Chief Administrative
Officer Brad Knight cleared up a
misunderstanding about costs
associated with renovations at the
municipal town hall building in
Seaforth, explaining that the project
is actually under what council
allocated, while many councillors
thought it was at least $250,000 over
budget.
At council’s July 16 meeting,
Knight told councillors that two
different installments of funding
were set aside for the project;
$500,000 in 2012 and $440,000 in
2013.
With a total of $940,000 set aside
for the project by council, the total
cost of $789,673 was is actually just
over $150,000 under budget.
Knight, who was absent for
council’s previous meeting on July
2, when town hall costs were first
discussed and criticized by several
councillors who were questioning
how much municipal staff knew
about the project’s escalating costs,
provided council with a report
detailing the timeline of the project,
as well as the money set aside by the
municipality.
Money being allocated for the
project, according to Knight’s
report, dates back to 2011. In 2011
$200,000 had been budgetted for
renovations, but in a reportpresented to council on July 26,2011, Knight noted that the projectneeded further development before
it could be implemented.
In another of Knight’s reports,
dated March 1, 2012, he
recommended an allocation of
$500,000 be established in the 2012
budget for renovations.
Knight noted two indicators that
would prove to be significant down
the road, saying in his report that
“[architect Thor] Dingman
suggested that it is difficult to
provide budget amounts without
knowing the type and the extent of
work that council may wish to
consider” and “it is however
anticipated that significant
repointing of brickwork underneath
the roof line is needed due to years
of water seeping down the sides of
the building.”
The 2012 budget, adopted by
council in April, included an
allowance for the project of
$500,000. Later that year Empire
Restoration’s bid came in at
$477,662, just under $25,000 under
the estimated $500,000.
Then in January, 2013, Knight
presented council with another
report stating that cost overruns
would need to be accounted for in
2013. The report stated that total
costs were likely to be close to
$600,000, but that there should also
be an allowance for repairs to theflat roof once contracters werefinished with the town hall’s mainbuilding.
By the end of 2012, Knight says,
actual costs incurred were $376,269.
Council then focused its attention to
the 2013 budget where another
allocation of $500,000 was
suggested. Council eventually
settled on $440,000.
This, several councillors noted,
may have been where the confusion
occurred, with some councillors
saying that they didn’t know the
proposed $500,000 was a
completely new allocation proposal.
Once Empire Restoration left the
building, Knight said, Building and
Property Maintenance Co-ordinator
John Hill assessed the building’s flat
roof alongside Morgan Roofing and
agreed that it was worth trying to
repair the roof, as opposed to
replacing it. Knight added that if the
repair didn’t work, council didn’t
have much to lose.
Knight then told council, in
conclusion, that while the project
did go over budget of the initial
estimate of $500,000, the
municipality did not have any
unanticipated budget impacts.
He told council that the reason
behind the project being under
budget was because the municipality
didn’t have to proceed with a full
JIM WALSH
It is with sadness, but wonderful
memories, that we announce the
passing of Jim Walsh of Blyth on
Friday, July 19, 2013. He was in his
92nd year.
Jim is survived by his beloved
wife Elsie Walsh (Cook) of Blyth,
originally of Belgrave, for almost 65
years. Jim was loved by his son Don
and wife Brenda and daughter-in-
law Donna. He was the proud
grandpa to Brad, Sandra and
husband Hank and Michael. Jim had
a special place in his heart for three
great-grandchildren, Brookelynn,
Bailey and Abigail.
Jim was a caring brother to Lloyd,
Blyth; sister Eileen and husband
Clare Niergarth, Wingham; sister-in-
law Marie, Sarnia and uncle to
several nieces and nephews.
Jim was predeceased by his
parents Albert and Annie Walsh, a
son Murray, two sisters, two
brothers and a sister-in-law.
In 1941 Jim joined the army and
spent four years in Prince Rupert,
B.C. as a wireless operator and was
there until the war ended in 1945.
Jim then returned to help his father
on the farm. He married in 1948 and
spent 23 years on the farm, during
which time he served on the school
board and township council. In 1971
Jim and Elsie moved to Blyth. In the
spring of 1973 Jim went to work for
the Maitland Valley Conservation
Area where he enjoyed the work and
those he worked with. He was there
until his retirement.
Jim was a member of Blyth United
Church where he served on many
boards including being an elder.
Jim was also a member of the
Blyth Masonic Lodge and the Blyth
Swinging Seniors. He enjoyed the
outdoors. In summer he enjoyed
lawn bowling and his garden. In the
fall he enjoyed his hunt camp in
Timmins and in the winter he liked
curling. He will be remembered as a
caring family man, held dear by his
family.
To honour his memory, donations
to Blyth United Church or Clinton
Public Hospital would be
appreciated. A memorial service was
held at the Blyth United Church on
Monday, July 22. Interment was in
Blyth Union Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements were
entrusted to Falconer Funeral
Homes, Blyth.
Messages of condolence for the
Walsh family may be forwarded to
www.falconerfuneralhomes.com
HAZEL McKENZIE
Mrs. Hazel Mary (Ward)
McKenzie of Listowel, passed away
at Caressant Care, Listowel on
Thursday, July 18, 2013. She was in
her 89th year.
Hazel was the wife of the late
Frank McKenzie, whom she married
63 years ago and mother of Wayne
and Ruth Ward, St. Thomas;
Cameron and Sharon McKenzie,
Cardiff; and Jim and Carol
McKenzie, Mitchell. She was the
mother-in-law of Jane McKenzie,
Mitchell and mother of Allan and
Ann McKenzie, Monkton. Hazel
was loved also by 13 grandchildren
and 21 great-grandchildren.
Hazel was predeceased by her son
Ian McKenzie, granddaughter
Desere, sister Gladys Neable and her
brothers Clarence (Pete) and Gordon
Ward.
Frank and Hazel farmed on
Concession 16 of Elma Township
where they raised their family. They
retired from farming and moved to
Listowel in 1972. Hazel was a
member of the Women’s Institute in
Monkton and was a tireless
volunteer with 4-H for many years.
She was a member of the Rebekah
Lodge and a member of Knox
Presbyterian Church in Monkton
and later Calvary United Church in
Listowel. Although she enjoyed
knitting and playing cards in her
spare time, her family was always
her true joy.
Visitation was held at the Eaton
Funeral Home, Listowel on Sunday.
The funeral service was held at
Calvary United Church, Listowel on
Monday, July 22. Interment was in
Elma Centre Cemetery, Atwood.
Memorial donations to Calvary
United Church, Listowel would be
appreciated. Online condolences
may be left at www.eatonfuneral
home.ca
JAN “JOHN” BAKKER
Mr. Jan Bakker of Wingham
passed away at Wingham and
District Hospital on Thursday, July
18, 2013. He was 93.
Jan was the beloved husband of
the late Tryntje Terpstra (2011) and
loving father of Spike and Jennie
Bakker, Langside; Douwe and
Corrie Bakker, Sarnia; Rein and
Annemaria Bakker, Mississauga;
Harke and June Bakker, Blyth and
Linda and Peter Brink, Whitechurch.
He was the brother of Wybrig de
Haan, Stratford; Rein and Grietje
Bakker, Guelph; Dieuwke Martens,
Brampton and Bakke and Jacobes
Cupido, Edmonton. He was the
brother-in-law of Klaas Jorritsma,
Brussels. Jan is also survived by 14
grandchildren and seven great-
grandchildren. He was predeceased
by his sisters Janna Reitsma, Jantje
Jorritsma and his brothers-in-law
Sybren Reitsma, Cornelius de Haan
and John Martens.
Visitation was held at McBurney
Funeral Home Ltd., Wingham on
Sunday. The funeral service was
held at Lucknow Community
Christian Reformed Church on
Monday. Pastor Rita Klein-Geltink
officiated. Interment was in
Wingham Cemetery.
Memorial donations to Wingham
and District Hospital Foundation
would be appreciated as expressions
of sympathy. Online condolences
may be left at
www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com
Knight explains town hall costs
Bandit ’stache
Walking around the Blyth Community Churches’ summer
Vacation Bible School last week at the Blyth Christian
Reformed Church you could see people like Cassidy
Shannon showing off their outlaw side, fitting in with the
camp’s cowboy theme, with their bad-guy moustaches.
(Denny Scott photo)
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The Citizen
By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen
Continued on page 24
Answers to Crossword
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