The Citizen, 2012-09-06, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012.
Letter to the Editor
THE EDITOR,
With September here we all know
what is lurking around the corner.
We just won’t talk about it yet. Now
is the time to ensure that your home
heating system is functional and
ready to go when needed. With the
weather getting cooler we will
shortly be looking to our gas
fireplaces, furnaces and woodstoves
to heat our homes.
With all of these heating sources
there is a risk of increased levels of
Carbon Monoxide (CO) within your
homes. CO is an invisible, odourless
gas that causes nausea, headaches,
confusion and drowsiness. CO
alarms will warn you of these
increased levels giving you time to
exit your home and call 911. CO
alarms have a lifespan of five years
and should be replaced after that
time (mark the date on the new
alarm so you know when you
installed it). Their batteries, those in
like smoke alarms should be
checked monthly and replaced
yearly. Make sure that you also keep
your fuel burning appliances/stoves
inspected and chimneys cleaned on a
regular basis by professionals.
Should you have any questions
about your Carbon Monoxide or
smoke alarms contact your local fire
department they will be more than
happy to answer any questions you
may have.
James Marshall
Community Fire Safety Officer
Municipality of Morris-Turnberry.
CO a concern when
cold weather comes
CH council suggests new sites for Bell cell towerThe placement of a Bell Mobilitycommunication tower in Central
Huron caused tempers to flare at a
special meeting of Central Huron
Council on Aug. 29.
Earlier this year, Central Huron
Council had voiced its opposition to
the placement of a tower at RR2,
Clinton. In response to council’s
viewpoint, Bell sent a letter to
council asking for the reason council
refused to support the proposed
location and for some alternative
sites.
Councillor Brian Barnim’s quest
for transparency during the
discussion, however, caused an
argument among councillors as to
how specific they should get while
suggesting alternative sites.
Chief Administrative Officer
Peggy Van Mierlo-West said two
sites had been discussed with Mayor
Jim Ginn, one near the intersection
of Kitchigami Road and Whys Line
and the other was on Tower Line
Road.
Barnim said he didn’t agree with
putting forth such a recommendation
because it wasn’t transparent to the
municipality’s ratepayers, a
philosophy that had been preached
at length during the 2010 election,
he said.
Van Mierlo-West said that staff
members had not discussed the issue
with residents near the two sites
council was planning on
recommending as alternatives to
Bell’s original proposed site. Barnim
thought that was unacceptable,
saying that landowners should have
been consulted if their areas were
going to be offered up as
alternatives.
Ginn said that if another site was
to be officially considered by Bell,
the public consultation process
would begin again, leases would
have to be signed and the public
would have to be notified that the
area was being considered.
However, Ginn said, it was
important to point out that Bell
could continue to push for the
original site and go to Industry
Canada, who would have the right to
overrule Central Huron Council’s
displeasure with the site, according
to Van Mierlo-West.
“Industry Canada can trump our
decision-making on this,” Van
Mierlo-West said. “Industry Canada
will have final approval on the
location.”
Councillor Burk Metzger said that
while residents are against the tower,he thought it would be better for Belltechnicians to choose the alternativesites in order to find a site that wouldbe suited to the company’s needs,
optics (sightlines from the tower into
the community) being one of them.
Ginn, however, thought it was
imperative that council suggest
alternatives in order to deter
Bell from its original proposed
location.
“If you don’t propose alternative
sites, it’s going right where they first
proposed,” Ginn said.
Councillor Alex Westerhout
assured council that just because a
site is proposed by council, it
doesn’t mean that Bell will accept it.
“These are just possibilities,”
Westerhout said. “It’s still up to
[Bell] to do the legwork. They still
have to have leases signed.”
Barnim said that council should
refrain from suggesting alternative
sites, despite Bell’s request, as it was
out of council’s field of knowledge.
“We don’t want it. The people
don’t want it,” Barnim said.
Ginn, raising his voice, told
Barnim that if council doesn’t speak
up, the proposed site will go ahead
without opposition.
“If we don’t provide alternatives,
then it’ll go right where it’s
proposed,” he said.
Deputy-Mayor Dave Jewitt said
he felt it was important to voice
council’s opposition, but to
remember that the tower is an
investment in the municipality’s
future.
“This is an investment in our
infrastructure and I would hate to
lose that,” he said. “This will
improve communications here for
home-based businesses and that it
something that we need.
“I don’t want to see that walk
away,” Jewitt said.
Barnim said he wanted to see two
different motions made on the issue,
as he would support council’s
reasons to not support Bell’s
proposed site, but would not support
a motion naming specific alternate
properties.
Councillor Alison Lobb said she
would like to see the motion say that
Central Huron staff would discuss
potential alternative sites for the
tower and not list the sites.
Westerhout said that if there was
no possibility of the sites changing,
which Van Mierlo-West said there
wasn’t, that they should be included
in the motion.
Lobb, however, objected, thinking
that council was getting too specific
on the public record.“Why don’t you include the lotand concession too?” she said. “I seeit as pointless.“I think it’s really inappropriate to
get that specific.”
Barnim said he agreed with Lobb,
despite the fact that they were
seemingly disagreeing.
“That’s exactly my point,” Barnim
said. “You’re in open session.”
Councillor Dan Colquhoun said
council was retreading old ground
with the motion, saying that if
council wanted to voice its opinion,
it should have done so when the first
motion came to a meeting.
“You already voted and you saidno,” Colquhoun said. “We shouldn’tbe wasting our time.”Metzger said that if councillorsknew which sites staff was planning
to suggest, but didn’t put the sites in
the motion, it would be dishonest, so
including the sites would be the
most honest way to approach the
situation.
“You got exactly what you want
then,” Lobb said to Metzger. “Good
for you.”
Council then passed two motions
and one amendment in relation to
the Bell tower.
The first motion council passed
stated that council did not supportthe initial proposed tower locationdue to its proximity to a road andoverwhelming public opposition.The second motion suggested the
locations and was amended to
include the specific areas being
discussed.
The locations suggested were on
Kitchigami Road between Whys
Line and Tipperary Line and on
Tower Line between Tipperary Line
and Parr Line.
The second motion passed by a
recorded vote of 5-3 with Lobb,
Barnim and Colquhoun voting
against the motion.
By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen
September 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th
8:00 am - 2:00 pm
THIS IS ONE GARAGE SALE
YOU DON’T WANT TO MISS!
So big it’s being held at the former Chamney Sanitation
Building in beautiful downtown Auburn! Watch for the signs!
NEW ITEMS ADDED WEEKLY!!!!
Auburn Co-op
County Road #25, Auburn
519-526-7262
20"
Colour TV
reg. $205.
Now $75.
Christmas
Décor &
Patio Furniture
Greatly
Reduced!
Too Many
Items To
List!
Preparing for Blyth’s big weekend
On the Labour Day holiday Monday Gary Courtney helped prepare the Blyth Campground for
the 51st annual reunion of the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association. The show
takes place Sept. 7, 8 and 9 and the campgrounds started filling up over the weekend with
eager reunion-goers. (Vicky Bremner photo)