Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-06-09, Page 1CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, June 9, 2011 Volume 27 No. 23 LIBRARY - Pg. 10Reading program beginsin Blyth and Brussels FESTIVAL - Pg. 16 Huron County takes standagainst energy drinksSPORTS- Pg. 9Barons beat Tigers thanksto three-run seventh inningPublications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0INSIDE THIS WEEK: Blyth BIA proposed, needs North Huron approval County says ‘no’ to wind turbines Passing (then running) the torch Blyth’s main street made for a great stretch of road for the runners in the annual Ontario Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics held on June 1. Runners started in Wingham before arriving in Blyth to run and then continued on to Clinton and then Goderich to finish the run with a jaunt around The Square before a barbecue at McGee Motors in Goderich. (Denny Scott photo) Creating a Business Improvement Area (BIA) for Blyth could be a key tool in building a vital community, a panel of speakers told business leaders attending an information meeting, June 2. The panel at the meeting at Blyth and District Community Centre included Douglas Barril, business revitalization and expansion co- ordinator for the County of Huron; Mike Pullen, the county’s senior economic development officer; Cathy Elliott from the Seaforth BIA; and Rick Elliott and Deb Sholdice of the Blyth Business Association (BBA). Rick Elliott explained the BBA began to contemplate a BIA model when it looked at its limited resources to work at improve the village. About 13 businesses participate in the BBA but there are 125 businesses in the village, he said. “We started to look at how other communities were able to enrich their comunity through a BIA,” he said. As an example, he said the last BBA budget, financed by voluntary memberships and fundraising, was about $3,000. If 100 businesses each spent $100 it could provide $10,000 for community improvement. Cathy Elliott explained that under the Ontario Municipal Act a municipal council can approve a motion to set up a BIA. The BIA then becomes a committee of council. Rick Elliott said the proposal is for a BIA to include all commercial properties within the limits of the former village of Blyth. If the Township of North Huron adopts a motion setting up a BIA, notices will sent out to all commercial property owners in that area giving 60 days for those who want to file an objection to setting up the organization. If a BIA is instituted, a levy will be assessed on the tax bill of all businesses in the business improvement area. Landlords may choose to pass along the assessment to commercial tennants. A board of directors is set up to administer the BIA funds and activities. Barril made the case for what a BIA can accomplish, using his experience in the North Shore of Kamloops, B.C. an area with fewer businesses than Blyth that had an unsavory reputation as “the ghetto” because of problems with drug dealers, absentee landowners and rundown buildings. “Within two years every business had been painted and crime was almost eliminated,” he said. New businesses were locating in the area and commercial rents went up. “It was all done at the cost of a few gallons of paint,” he said, telling of volunteer efforts to spruce up the appearance of the area. He admitted that “everyone had a problem with the formation of the BIA” in Kamloops because it’s an extra charge on their taxes, but “all businesses will benefit by improving the community.” Blyth is already far ahead of the Blyth United Church’s Reverend Gary Clark recently was named the President of the London Conference of the United Church of Canada. Clark’s new role is to chair the executive of the London Conference and be the spiritual leader of the eight presbyteries within the London Conference: Algoma, Elgin, Essex, Huron-Perth, Kent, Lambton, Middlesex and Oxford. Clark explained that, while he has just been named to the presidency, the role is actually a three-stage position that spans three years. “Before this I was president-elect, and next year I’ll become the past- president, and all three roles are involved with the executive and the council,” he said. “As president- Elect you see what is going to be done and required, as president you get to set certain policies and decide things and as past president you Huron County Council has taken a definitive step in its stance on wind turbine developments, saying that it would support a moratorium being placed on further developments by the Provincial Government. The issue was raised once again at the June 1 meeting of Huron County Council due to a presentation by Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh resident Anita Frayne, who asked that council impose a moratorium. There was initially some support for the notion, but Treasurer David Carey (operating as CAO in the absence of CAO Larry Adams) said a motion reading that council would impose a moratorium would indicate that council has the authority to do so, which it does not. As a result, it was changed to reflect that council would support a moratorium until further studies have been conducted to study potential adverse health effects related to wind turbines. No specific number of studies, or what council hoped the studies would reveal were detailed in the motion. Councillor Deb Shewfelt was opposed to the motion, feeling that it oversteps council’s boundaries, infringing on the jurisdiction of the province. He, however, came under fire, with other councillors stating that Shewfelt wouldn’t be able to see both sides of the story, as no wind turbines are proposed to be in Goderich. He, however, felt he was one of the few who was seeing both sides of the story. “There are two sides to every story and we have no authority,” Shewfelt said. “Certain people seem to keep bringing this back and bringing this back.” Shewfelt then proposed a motion to table the issue, feeling that there wasn’t enough information for councillors to make an informed decision, despite his stated opposition to the motion. Shewfelt’s motion to table was defeated and discussion continued. Councillor Brian Barnim agreed with Shewfelt that council didn’t necessarily have the authority to impose a moratorium, but he said he felt it was important to have council’s opposition on record. “I don’t see the harm in going on record as a county,” Barnim said. “We don’t have the jurisdiction, we don’t have the power, but we can go on record as saying that we support further research.” Councillor Paul Klopp agreed, saying that further studies were needed so that the air could be cleared and the public would know about wind turbines once and for all. “Let’s get these studies done and find out one way or the other,” he said. “It’s the farmers who will be taking the hit if there’s going to be a hit to take.” Councillor Art Versteeg agreed with Shewfelt, saying the Green Energy Act has been put in place and there’s nothing municipal governments can do. “We’re well aware of our jurisdiction,” Versteeg said. “I think this motion goes too far.” Versteeg also added that he would be voting against the motion in part due to how vague it is. He said that By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Continued on page 20 By Keith Roulston The Citizen Clark named president Continued on page 20 By Denny Scott The Citizen Continued on page 10