Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-03-03, Page 28Morris-Turnberry councillors have received a three-phase plan to finally solve Bluevale’s surplus water problems, but it could be years before the plan is put in place, if at all. At the Feb. 15 meeting of council, Bruce Potter and Scott Allen, engineers from B. M. Ross and Associates Limited, gave a lengthy presentation on the environmental assessment required before any such project could be undertaken. Under the plan, the first stage, called option one, would be to construct storm sewers on streets west of Clyde Street and provide a new outlet to the Maitland River across the cemetery lands. There’s the potential to abandon the old Clyde Street drain outlet. The probable cost of this phase would be $1.1 million, with $955,000 for storm sewers, $80,500 for the drainage outlet to the river, and an option of spending an additional $64,000 to oversize the sewer. Allen and Potter suggested 50 per cent of the costs would likely be picked up by the municipality through a benefit charge to the roads. For the rest of their cost-recovery estimate, they gave different possible scenarios, ranging from a frontage charge to property owners, which would disadvantage those with wider lots compared to long, narrow lots; a flat, per-lot charge which would create inequalities between large and small propertyowners; and an area-based charge that would charge according to the amount of area serviced. The problem with that scenario is that some of the larger parcels could be looking at costs up to $75,000. They suggested council might look at a blended cost which would include a minimum charge per lot, but would increase by the area serviced by the new drains. The median per-lot cost would be $11,500. If the council decided to go ahead with the environmental assessment, the next step would be to call a public meeting, the men said. Completing the environmental assessment would mean council had a plan ready to go for the next 10 years, in case a federal or provincial program came along that would pick up part of the cost. Mayor Paul Gowing told council that the previous council had asked for this preliminary study so it would be eligible for a program such as the federal-provincial stimulus funding. Council had applied for funding for storm sewers for Bluevale in the last round of stimulus funding but was turned down because the plan couldn’t be completed before the deadline for the program. At their Feb. 15 meeting council made no decision on how to proceed with the B. M. Ross study. Meanwhile, a failed plan to alleviate Bluevale flooding was back before council when Terry Carter and Mark Vona complained to council about the size of the bill they had received for the engineer’s report on improvements to the Clyde Street Municipal Drain. The two men, their wives and Harris Campbell had petitioned for the report on the drain, but when a $40,000 estimate for improvements was received from the engineers, the petitioners withdrew their petition. Under the drainage act, the petitioners must pick up the costs to that point. The three families were given bills of about $3,500 each. Carter and Vona said they realized they had signed an application that they would be responsible for costs of the work to date if the drain didn’t go ahead, but they had no indication the bill might total $10,000. Vona said he thought the costs would perhaps total a few hundred dollars to have someone put a camera through the existing drain to see if it was still functioning. “This whole process has blind- sided us,” he said. “All I wanted was to fix the drain to take the water away,” said Carter. But Nancy Michie, administrator clerk-treasurer, pointed out that the drain is a private one, not owned by the municipality. The costs do not belong to the municipality. In the long run, councillors expressed sympathy for the men’s plight, but could offer nothing better than allowing them to spread the cost over three years. Successful businessman, community leader and prominent politician George Elgin McCutcheon of Brussels passed away on Monday, Feb. 28, 2011 at Seaforth Community Hospital. Born in Morris Township on Sept. 24, 1922, George was in his 89th year. George was the Reeve of the Village of Brussels from 1956 to 1962. In his final year he served asHuron County Warden.George was a life member of boththe St. John’s Masonic Lodge No.284 A.F. and A.M. and Brussels Lions Club, of which he was the president from 1961 to 1962. He was a 20-year member of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority Board of Directors and a past- president of the Huron-Bruce Progressive Conservative Riding Association. While McCutcheon Motors was first established by Harry McCutcheon in the 1930s as a repair service on his farm, George purchased the business, along with John L. Rice, from the McCutcheon estate. The pair named their business Riverside Motors and from May of 1946 to 1949, the pair had signed as an associated Chev-Olds dealership in conjunction with Seaforth Motors. Later in 1949, George bought out Rice and in 1950 a direct General Motors franchise was granted for the village of Brussels and the surrounding area.In 1952 the building whereMcCutcheon Motors continues tooperate today was constructed and in1958, Riverside Motors was officially incorporated as a private company under the presidency of George. After several expansions over the next decade, George took the role of vice-president in 1970, with John L. McCutcheon taking over as president. In 1976, the sales and service operation of the company was sold to a new company and was registered as J.L. McCutcheon Motors Limited. There was even further expansion in 1979 when the dealership expanded to the west side of Turnberry Street with the purchase of the previously-owned Bridge Motors building. George was the beloved husband of 47 years of the late Barbara Jean (Thynne) and will be sadly missed by his daughters Barbara Vonne Brister of Orillia and Pauline Anne Clarke and her husband Rick ofOrillia, his grandchildren JordanBrister, Alexandra Brister and JasonReid, Michael and Nicole Clarkeand Paula and Peter Gorgachuk. He will be missed by his brothers Jack and his wife Esther McCutcheon, Bob and his wife Jeanette McCutcheon and Mel and his wife Lois McCutcheon, his sisters Berva Rice and Marg and her husband Bernell Smith and his sister-in-law Betty McCutcheon. George was predeceased by brothers Casey, Fred, Lorne and Bill as well as his sister Anne Bryans. At the request of George, as well as his family, a celebration of George’s life will take place this spring with interment at St. John’s Anglican Church (McCutcheon) Cemetery, Morris Township. As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Brussels United Church. Condolences may be submitted at the funeral home’s website, found at www.schimanskifamilyfuneralhome .com Brussels loses great citizen in McCutcheonPAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 3, 2011. HARVEY BRADSHAW Mr. Harvey Bradshaw of Wroxeter passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at Listowel Memorial Hospital on Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011. He was 84. He was the beloved husband of the former Betty Newton and dear father of Vicki and Chris Sturgeon of Wroxeter and Karen and Patrick Kissoon of Kilworth. He was the loving grandfather of Brad and Laura Sturgeon and Selena Kissoon. He was the brother of Mary and Hugh Campbell of Wingham and Viola Adams and Allan Edgar of Brussels. Harvey is also survived by sisters- in-law Geraldine Bradshaw of Listowel, Helen Newton and Shirley Hart of Wroxeter and Nancy Hayton of Qualicum Beach, B.C. He was predeceased by his parents Russell and Mae (Grasby) Bradshaw and by his brother Gordon Bradshaw in 2010. Visitation was held at McBurney Funeral Home, Wingham on Monday from 2 - 4 p.m. and 7 - 9 p.m. The funeral service was held at the funeral home chapel on Tuesday at 2 p.m. Rev. Jeff Hawkins officiated. Final resting place will be in Wroxeter Cemetery. Memorial donations to South West Community Care Access Centre or Wroxeter United Church would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy. Online condolences may be left at www.mcburneyfuneralhome.com PETRUS SMIT Petrus Smit of Brussels passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011 at Huronlea Home for the Aged. Born in the Netherlands on Nov. 10, 1919, Peter was in his 92nd year. Pete was the beloved husband of the late Nies Smits who predeceased him on Oct. 21, 2001 and will be sadly missed by his friends Hank and Agnes TenPas. At Pete’s request, cremation has taken place and there will be no funeral home visitation or service. As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations may be made to the Huronlea Auxiliary. Online condolences may be made at www.schimanskifamilyfuneral home.com ROSS STEPHENSON Ross Stephenson of RR 1, Ethel, passed away peacefully at Listowel Memorial Hospital on Friday, Feb. 25, 2011. He was 92. Ross was a 35-year member of Grey Township Volunteer Fire Department and an elder of the former Ethel Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed playing cards, farm sales, pie and ice cream, coffee social times, but mostly loved spending time with his family. Ross was the beloved husband of Marie (Hammond) Stephenson whom he married in 1949. He was the loving father of Donna and Robert Mitchell of Dublin, Jim and Kathy of Ethel, Jean and Murray Whytock of Teeswater, Les and Susan of Ethel. He was a special grandpa of Stephen, Paul, Craig, Trevor, Ann, Michael, Adam, Dan, Ben, Darcy, Nyssa, Brad and Scott. He was the brother-in-law of Mary Pringle of Alliston and will be fondly remembered by seven nieces and nephews. Ross was predeceased by his parents Bill and Maude (Lamont) Stephenson, two sons in infancy, his sister Evelyn and her husband Colwell Speiran and his brother Norman. Ross’s family invited relatives and friends to share their memories at the Brenneman Funeral Home, Atwood on Monday, Feb. 28 from 7 - 9 p.m. where the funeral service to celebrate his life was held on Tuesday, March 1 at 11 a.m. Rev. George Russell officiated. Spring interment is in Elma Centre Cemetery, Atwood. As expressions of sympathy, memorial donations to a charity of one’s choice would be appreciated by the family. M-T Council hears three-phase Bluevale plan 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 George McCutcheon Huron County Warden 1962 George McCutcheon Obituaries By Keith Roulston The Citizen