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The Citizen, 2012-01-05, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2012. Thanks R.J. Burnside and Associates Limited donated $10,000 to the Goderich and Area Disaster Relief Fund last week. Representatives from the company said they have a number of customers in affected areas and felt compelled to help. Jeremy Taylor, left, and Jeff Dickson, right, both of R.J. Burnside made the donation to Ken Dunn, centre, co-chair of community fundraising for the Fund. (Photo submitted) M-T approves reportMorris-Turnberry Council accepted Community Safety Officer James Marshall’s plan to get more smoke alarms into area homes, at their Dec. 20 meeting. Marshall told council that in such a big municipality and with only himself to do the work, it’s hard to visit every home to see if there is a working smoke detector. He proposed to visit 358 urban homes in Belgrave, Bluevale, Brussels fringe, Walton and Lower Town, estimating the net cost of his time and mileage at $3,666, after the sale of smoke detectors. A post card reminding people that it’s the law to have a working smoke detector will also be mailed to 1,400 homes. Marshall said Morris-Turnberry was one of 25 municipalities accepted through the Fire Marshal’s Public Safety Council for a free giveaway program. Working with North Huron Fire Department, and in conjunction with CKNX radio, twice-daily safety messages will be broadcast, with $1,300 worth of smoke detectors given away as prizes. Marshall also proposed joining with at least six other municipalities to share the cost of a radio advertising campaign, at a cost of$400 to Morris-Turnberry.He also budgeted $200 topurchase pizza and chocolate milk for junior kindergarten to grade 3-4 students at Turnberry Central School as part of a fire education program. Students received information on smoke detectors to take home to their parents. Marshall said there was about an 85 per cent success rate with the program. The yearly cost of his public education program would be $4900, he estimated. Marshall said he had found an inexpensive source of smoke alarms and there is a good supply available at the office at a cost of $8. Mayor Paul Gowing encouraged Marshall to get the word out about the availability of these smoke detectors. “They do nobody any good sitting here in a box,” he said. As evidence, of the importance of smoke alarms, North Huron Fire Chief John Black, in his report to council, told of two November fires in Morris-Turnberry. In one, a working smoke detector woke someone and helped them escape. In the second case there were no working smoke detectors and Black said if the fire had occurred at night when the family was sleeping, there might have been tragic circumstances. By Keith RoulstonThe Citizen The lack of snow in November and December will mean a saving for taxpayers, Morris-Turnberry councillors learned at their Dec. 20 meeting. Nancy Michie, administrator clerk-treasurer, estimated that there would likely be $100,000 left in the road budget at the end of 2011. Meanwhile, Gary Pipe, director of public works, reported his road crews were able to take on other projects they didn’t have in the budget, such as stump grinding. As if to make winter go away faster, council discussed the purchase of calcium dust treatment for next summer. Pipe recommended that the price offered by Da Lee Dust Control from last year be accepted for 2012 as well. “We’re very happy with the service,” Pipe told council. “They do a good job and have enough trucks to do the job when we need it done. The drivers are fairly local so know the area.” Council also heard they will get a real bargain in the reconstruction of Lower Town’s North Street from Josephine to Pine in the summer of 2012. Total cost of construction is estimated at $222,286 but a two- thirds grant is available from the federal and provincial governments, bringing the cost of $74,095. Morris- Turnberry and North Huron will share this cost, meaning the cost of Morris-Turnberry is just $37,041. As part of the public works report, Mayor Paul Gowing reported on a Dec. 5 meeting he, Pipe and Michie sat in on with the Ministry of Environment (MOE) and R. J. Burnsides & Associates, Morris- Turnberry’s consulting engineer, regarding the extension of the Morris landfill site. “It was very worthwhile to let us in on the conversation that has to take place between MOE and Burnside,” said Gowing. The meeting made it obvious that “the engineers aren’t going ahead and doing things for the sake of doing things. They have to go according to the protocols.” By Keith Roulston The Citizen Warm weather saves M-T money on snow removal NEWS FROM BELGRAVE Morris-Turnberry gives advice on severance A Morris Ward property owner got some advice from Morris-Turnberry councillors when she sought their support for a surplus farm residence severance at the Dec. 20 meeting of council. Pat and Elizabeth Jamieson, owners of the property, appeared along with Glen Warwick, who proposes to buy the farm, to discuss the Huron County Planning Department’s concerns with the severance proposals. The size and shape of the parcel the Jamiesons want to sever was the county planner’s objection. Pat Jamieson explained that the county would like the land around the house to be squared off but her proposal follows a natural division along an open ditch. She said the parcel hasn’t been surveyed yet but it would be at most seven acres in size. This, however, would conflict with county policy that the retained farmland should be at least 94 acres in size. Mayor Paul Gowing said it was Morris-Turnberry council’s policy that severance should be squared off if possible, but in this case because of the ditch, he could understand the reason for altering that rule. He also pointed out that it was the county’s policy to remove as little farmland as possible when permitting a severance. Council made several suggestions regarding the problem of the size of the parcel the Jamiesons want to sever. Their proposal would make the division point in the middle of the ditch but if it was made on the Jamiesons’ side of the ditch that would reduce the acreage somewhat. Other suggestions were also made. In the long run, council passed a motion of support in principle for the severance application. The actual severance application will be discussed at a later date. By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188 PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE Family has surprise visitors Joanne and Steven Robinson received the best Christmas surprise of all, when their son Jeremy and his friend Vanessa McCarthy of Fort McMurray, Alberta, stepped out of their car at their home on Saturday, Dec. 24. They also surprised their grandparents Bill and Muriel Coultes, when they arrived to share Christmas morning with them. Jeremy and Vanessa joined with the rest of the Coultes family for the family Christmas on Boxing Day at the home of Janice and Mark Matheson, Molesworth. Everyone was glad to have them home to share Christmas with them. Need a Family Doctor? Wingham & Area Health Professionals Recruitment North Huron Family Health Team Wingham & District Hospital WELCOMES DR. STEPHEN VANDER KLIPPE Dr. Vander Klippe will be accepting patients at the Wingham & District Health Centre** To become a patient of Dr. Vander Klippe’s, please register with Healthcare Connect: 1.800.445.1822 www.ontario.ca/healthcareconnect Welcome/Information sessions will be planned in Jan./Feb. 2012 **Initial priority will be given to patients without a local family physician By Keith Roulston The Citizen