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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-03-01, Page 28After years of investigation and two separate legal opinions, Huron East has decided to not pursue a bylaw regarding the health and safety surrounding windturbines. After a closed session on Feb. 21, Huron East Council issued a press release stating after seeking a second legal opinion, the municipalitymaintained its viewpoint that abylaw to maintain the health and safety of Huron East residents against potential adverse health effects related to wind turbines could not be enforced. Huron East first investigated the possibility of a bylaw with municipal solicitor Greg Stewart, who said the bylaw could be drafted and passed, but that it was unenforcable. However, after concerns over Stewart’s political affiliations (he is the president of the Huron-Bruce Provincial Liberal Association) members of Huron East Against Turbines (HEAT) requested that council seek a second legal opinion independent of Stewart’s. Huron East Council retained the services of Fred Tranquilli of Lerners LLP in London, whose opinion was made public at Huron East’s Feb. 21 meeting. “Mr. Tranquilli’s opinion has been reviewed by council with council noting that Mr. Tranquilli’s comments were very similar to those of Mr. Stewart,” the press release stated. “The role that municipalities may have had previously to control renewable energy projects has been taken away by the provincial government under the Green Energy Act.” In an interview with The Citizen after the meeting, Deputy-Mayor Joe Steffler said the press release essentially spoke for itself and that the municipality would no longer be entertaining such a bylaw. “They essentially said we could make a bylaw, but we couldn’t enforce it,” Steffler said. “There’s nosense in making a bylaw if it can’t beenforced.” Steffler, who spoke on behalf of the decision due to Mayor Bernie MacLellan’s conflict of interest with wind turbines, said that after the final closed session on Feb. 21, there was no more discussion for council to have. “Both lawyers were very clear,” he said. The press release noted the precedent of the Kent Breeze project. “The approval of the Kent Breeze Project had been appealed by the Chatham-Kent Wind Action Group on the grounds that the project constituted serious harm to human health as well as serious and irreversible harm to plant and animal life and the natural environment,” the release stated. “The information from Mr. Tranquilli stated that the hearing lasted for 17 days and heard evidence from 25 experts. The Environmental Review Tribunal found that based on the evidence filed, there was insufficient evidence to suggest that there will be serious harm to human health if the Ministry of the Environment noise guidelines are followed.” In the press release, Steffler acknowledged the challenges being faced by citizens who are opposed to local wind projects, but that council’s hands were essentially tied. In an interview after the meeting, HEAT co-founder Rob Tetu said that he was disappointed with the decision and felt other legal opinions seemed to see wiggle room for municipalities. He said he was confused as to why Huron East’slawyers didn’t see the issue in thesame way. “We had hoped the municipality would instruct a lawyer to create a bylaw that would protect the health and safety of residents,” Tetu said, but he felt Tranquilli simply gave his opinion on the matter, rather than doing what he was instructed to do. He said that other municipalities have found a way to draft a bylaw that they see as enforcable and didn’t see why Huron East couldn’t do the same. “They say their power has been taken away by the provincial government,” Tetu said, “but that view isn’t shared by a lot of other municipalities’ legal counsel.” Tetu cited the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie and the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh as some of the communities that have gone ahead with a bylaw protecting the health and safety of residents in the event of adverse health effects related to wind turbines. Tetu, however, says that there are other measures in the works and challenges to wind energy are springing up all over the world. Tetu said that while the press release addressed not being able to get involved with the health and safety of residents, he didn’t hear anything about property values in the statement, which had been a specific request of HEAT during the investigation. Tetu says he will be bringing his concerns to Huron East’s next meeting, which will be held on March 6 in Seaforth. Salad master Lexi Smith was one of several volunteers helping the Brussels Figure Skating Club prepare for a spaghetti dinner fundraiser at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre on Feb. 23. (Denny Scott photo) PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012. BETTY GIBSON Mrs. Mary Elizabeth “Betty” (Dunbar) Gibson of RR 1, Fordwich passed away at Listowel Memorial Hospital on Monday, Feb. 27, 2012. She was in her 92nd year. Betty was the beloved wife of the late Clarence Gibson, and dear mother of Brian Gibson and Mary Rosebrugh of Ottawa, Barry and Janice Gibson, and Dale and Jackie Gibson, all of Fordwich and Don and Barb Gibson of Gowanstown. Betty was the grandmother of Andrea Gibson and Loreen Gibson, both of Ottawa; Andrew Gibson, RR 2, Gorrie; Craig and Jess Gibson, Fordwich; Blair and Marilyn Gibson, Gorrie; Barb and Neil Driscoll, Drayton; Beth and Jim Hesselink, Moorefield, Bonnie and Brad McBeth, Palmerston; Quinton Hewitt, Liam Gibson and Cameron Gibson, all of Fordwich; Ryan and Jaron Ireland, RR 1, Fordwich; Lee Gibson, Gorrie; Katie Gibson, Tracy Gibson and Lisa Gibson, all of Gowanstown and 15 great- grandchildren. Betty was predeceased by her daughter Valerie Hotchkiss, her first great-grandchild Emma Driscoll, and her only sibling Ruth Skeoch. Visitation was held at the Eaton Funeral Home, Listowel on Tuesday. The funeral service was held Wednesday, Feb. 29. Interment is in Fordwich Cemetery. Memorial donations to Listowel Memorial Hospital Foundation or St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Molesworth would be appreciated. Online condolences may be left at www.eatonfuneralhome.ca BRENDA LOUISE HUFFMAN Brenda Huffman of Wingham passed away at Braemar Retirement Centre on Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012. She was 62. She was the beloved wife of Mirvin Huffman of Wingham. Brenda was the mother of Allan and Krisha Bailie of New Jersey and grandmother of William and Anna Bailie. She was the dear daughter of Phyllis Kane and her husband Gerry of Toronto. She was the sister of Raymond and Lucy VanCamp of Fort McMurray, Jonathon VanCamp and Joel and Julie VanCamp of Belgrave, Johanna VanCamp of Wingham and Jacqui VanCamp and Ben Euerby of Alberta and Dave and Kathy Kane of King City. Brenda is survived by Mirvin’s brother Ron and Phyllis Huffman of Wingham and his sisters Carol Wilson of London, Darlene and Jim Cummings of Mary Hill and Donna Huffman of Toronto. She is also survived by her aunts Norma Davidson, Kay Harris, Gladys VanCamp, her uncle Glen VanCamp and several nieces and nephews. She will be fondly remembered by Grace Schill of Wingham, John and Grace Schill of Teeswater and her friends at Braemar Retirement Centre. Brenda was predeceased by her father Jack VanCamp, her stepmother Jean VanCamp, her son Bill Bailie and her brother Richard. Visitation was held at McBurney Funeral Home, Wingham, on Wednesday. The funeral service will be held at the funeral home chapel on March 1 at 11 a.m. Arch Deacon Perry Chuipka will officiate. Interment will be in Brandon Cemetery, Belgrave. Memorial donations to the Canadian Cancer Society or Braemar Residents’ Council would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy. Online condolences may be left at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com GORDON McDOWELL Mr. Gordon McDowell, formerly of Blyth passed away peacefully at Huronview Home for the Aged, Clinton on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. He was in his 91st year. Gordon will be fondly remembered by his nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. He was predeceased by his parents John L. and Elizabeth Jane (Snell) McDowell and three sisters Evelyn (Charles) Smith, Edythe (Gordon) Smith and Jean (John) Gear and by special cousin Elsie (Lyman) Jardin. Friends were received at the Blyth Visitation Centre of the Falconer Funeral Homes until the time of service on Friday. Rev. Gary Clark of Blyth United Church officiated. Spring interment will be in Ball’s Cemetery, Hullett Twp. As expressions of sympathy memorial donations to Blyth United Church, Huron-Perth-Bruce Epilepsy or Huronview Residents Council would be greatly appreciated. ANNIE PAULINA GRACE McGEE Grace McGee of Wingham passed away at Wingham and District Hospital on Thursday, Feb. 23, 2012. She was 78. Grace was the beloved wife of the late Fred McGee who predeceased her in 2009. She was the loving mother of Robert and Brenda McGee of Goderich, Janet and Ken MacAdam of Cobourg and Ronald and Shelley McGee of RR 1, Oro Station. She was the dear grandmother of Heather and Steve, Jon and Erynn, David, Darryl and Michele, Kevin, Chris and Candice and the great-grandmother of Emily, Fiona, Emma and Keira. Grace is also survived by her brother Charles Campbell of Stratford and by Shelley’s family Amanda, Cory and Ashley. She was predeceased by her parents Robin and Minerva (Finlay) Campbell and by her sister-in-law Peggy Campbell. Visitation was held at McBurney Funeral Home, Wingham on Sunday. The funeral service was held on Monday. Mrs. Elly Dow officiated. Interment is in Wingham Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Scleroderma Society of Ontario, Wingham Hospital Foundation or the Kidney Foundation would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy. Online condolences may be made at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com GEORGIA ANNIE REYNOLDS Georgia Annie (Cardiff) Reynolds of RR 1, Dungannon passed away at Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, Goderich on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2012. Born in Brussels on Jan. 17, 1951, Annie was in her 62nd year. Annie will be sadly missed by her son Jeff Cardiff of St. Paul’s, her grandchildren Jakob and Joelene, her siblings Ken Cardiff of Stratford; Charles Cardiff of Waterloo; Audrey and Joe Dewys of RR 1, St. Paul’s; Murray Cardiff of Waterford and Agnes and Gordon Brindley of RR 3, Lucknow. Annie was also loved by her daughter-in-law Andrea and her nieces and nephews. Annie was predeceased by her daughter Angela, her parents George and Rhea (Johnston) Cardiff, her twin brother George, brothers Donald and Tom and her sister Mary. Friends were received by the family until the time of the funeral on Saturday, Feb. 25. Rev. Perry Chuipka of St. John’s Anglican Church officiated. Spring interment will be in Brussels Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to the Children’s Hospital of Western Ontario. Online condolences may be left at www.schimanskfamilyfuneral home.com Huron East drops potential turbine bylaw North St. West, Wingham Mac & Donna Anderson 519-357-1910 A cemetery is a history of people, a perpetual record of yesterday and a sanctuary of peace and quiet today. A cemetery exists because every life is worth loving and remembering - always Distinctive Memorials of Lasting Satisfaction BOX 158 WINGHAM ONT NOG 2W0 Obituaries By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen