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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-06-23, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 2011.Councillors surprised bychange in complex planCentral Huron Council approved$50,000 of funding to go towards aninteractive children’s room a thenew Central Huron Community Complex in Clinton. The decision was made at the June 6 council meeting, but discussion surrounding the decision occurred at the May 26 Committee of the Whole meeting. A report from Treasurer Terri Taylor presented on May 26 listed a contribution to the Central Huron Community Complex in the amount of $200,000. Councillor Dan Colquhoun, however, said that once he saw how the funds broke down, he was surprised to see something was being included in the centre that he had been told wasn’t going to be. Colquhoun said he knew council was contributing $200,000 to the centre, but was under the impression that money was going towards outfitting the centre with everything from computers to fitness equip- ment. He didn’t know that $50,000 of that money was slated for an interactive children’s room, something he said he was told wasn’t going to be included in the centre. Of the $200,000, $100,000 will be coming from the general tax levy and $100,000 will be coming from a municipal debenture. The remaining $150,000 of the contribution will go towards equip- ment for the complex, but after Reeve Jim Ginn and Councillor Marg Anderson visited a YMCA in Sarnia and saw an interactive chil- dren’s room being used, they felt it would be something Central Huron could benefit from. “I was told [the interactive chil- dren’s room] wasn’t going in,” Colquhoun said. “I don’t remember putting $50,000 into the budget for it.” Several councillors agreed withColquhoun. Even if they supportedthe inclusion of the room, whichsome did, some said they didn’tremember formally deciding toinclude the room in the complex’sconstruction. Deputy-Reeve Dave Jewitt said that he agreed with Colquhoun, say- ing that the last he had heard was that the complex would not include this room. Councillor Alison Lobb agreed, saying she didn’t recall that decision either, despite the fact that she felt the room was a good idea and she eventually voted in favour of it. Anderson spoke in favour of the room, saying that when she and Ginn were in Sarnia, it appeared to be a beneficial addition to that YMCA and that it could help to pro- vide a real family atmosphere to Central Huron’s YMCA that may not have been there before. “When I saw the amount of fun those kids were having and with all of the concern around child obesity, I think kids can go and play while their parents work out and everyone can get fit,” she said. “It might even increase membership.” Colquhoun, however, was less concerned with the merits of the room one way or the other, he said. He was more concerned with the fact that less than a month ago he said he was told that the room was- n’t going to be a part of the Central Huron Complex and now it is. He said he was concerned how some- thing like that could happen. “Less than a month ago it wasn’t going in. It’s going in now,” Colquhoun said. “There needs to be some sort of mechanism for things to get done. If I ask the question and the answer is no and now it’s in here, what’s next?” Ginn, again, defended the room, saying that once he saw it, his mind was changed. Initially he said he didn’t think it was essential in Central Huron, but after seeing the room live in Sarnia, he felt it could be a real addition to the new struc- ture. “It completes the family atmos- phere,” Ginn said. Jewitt called the vote and the rec- ommendation was passed, but he said that in future circumstances, when some members of council have had information made avail- able to them that wasn’t made avail- able to all councillors, the rest of council should be allowed time to catch up and make an informed decision. He said that no councillor should be surprised with something like this. “For future meetings, we should ensure that we don’t put the cart before the horse with things like this,” Jewitt said. The decision made by the Committee of the Whole on May 26 was ratified by council at its June 6 meeting. Good food, good company The Londesborough Lions held their annual Father’s Day Olde Tyme breakfast on Sunday with plenty of diners out to enjoy the fantastic food. One of those diners was four-year- old Ben O’Reilly who was chowing down on some toast. (Vicky Bremner photo) By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen NEWS FROM LONDESBORO Atkinson leads worship in Londesborough Don Atkinson was the worship leader at Londesborough United Church on Sunday, June 19, Trinity Sunday. Don’s Gospel reading, Matthew 28: 16-20, contained some of Christ’s last words on Earth. The verses are referred to as “The Great Commission”, for in them Christ tells His disciples to go out into the world and make disciples in the name of the Trinity. In speaking to his church in Corinth, in 1 Corinthians 12: 11-14, 17, the disci- ple Paul reminds his friends that they are part of the body of Christ. Psalm 8 was the morning’s responsive psalm. The senior choir sang a rather upbeat song, “Onward Joyful Christians”. The Minutes for Missions, read by Laura Scott, was special for Father’s Day because it highlighted the work done by men for the United Church’s Mission and Service fund around the world. Specifically, the Men’s Ministry Network which raised funds for building a new school in Angola, a country torn apart by civil war. Other groups work to alleviate diffi- cult situations in countries around the world. Joan Goodall related the story of how Father’s Day came to be recog- nized in 1910. The daughter of a sin- gle parent, a mature Senora Smart realized how selflessly her own father had raised his family follow- ing the death of his wife. She lob- bied the American government until the fathers of North America were recognized as being integral to fam- ily life. The idea of the Holy Trinity is a difficult one for children to under- stand. However, Mr. Atkinson drew a parallel between God, the Father, God, the Son and God the Holy Spirit to children who have more than one name, a first name, a mid- dle name, a family or last name and sometimes a nickname. Celebrating Pentecost and Trinity Sunday are a marking of the anniversary of the Christian Church. A believe in the Trinity gives Christians a greater dimension for faith. God goes beyond the reality of a god to being a father figure, Jesus is the embodiment of God with us daily and the Spirit is God in our soul. Moreover belief in the Trinity gives life unity, diversity and bal- ance. This balance, Don remarked, keeps life current while maintaining our belief. Because we are part of God’s world we are also part of the Trinity. Christ is at the centre of our faith and helps us establish our place in the community. Jesus is our example of caring, helping and responsibility. All of us have inherited the spirit of God to enable us to be God’s dis- ciples. Terry Fletcher is on study leave from now until August 7. On Sunday, June 26, Nancy Buttar will conduct the morning service. She will speak about “Soup and More”, a community outreach pro- gram started in 2010. A lunch pro- vided by the official board will fol- low the service. You are invited to come to hear Nancy’s presentation and bring along a friend. The Londesborough community is invited to golf and/or dinner on Saturday, July 16. Golf at one o’clock that day at Bill Lobb’s with dinner to follow at the Horbanuiks’. Golf and dinner are $35 and just dinner is $10. Call Bev at 519-523- 4473 or Lynda at 519-482-7585 for details. Room2Grow baby bottles can still be returned to the church. The cam- paign was to run from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day. But if you forgot to get involved or to return your bottle it can still be dropped off at the church. You need to call Joan Goodall soon if you wish to be part of the excursion to Grand Bend on August 24 to see “Blue Suede Shoes”. Central Huron to work with slots, raceway on expansion Central Huron will become a part- ner on a new project being undertak- en by the Clinton Raceway and OLG Slots on a cost recovery basis. The project entails renovation and expansion of the raceway’s parking lot, including outdoor lighting, and the project is currently slated to cost approximately $3 million. Morag Watt, chair of the Clinton Raceway Board of Directors, spoke to council at its June 6 meeting, say- ing that in order to prepare a Federal Government grant application, the raceway would need a third partner (the municipality). Watt said that in exchange for the municipality putting up $1 million (one third of the total cost), the cost would either be paid back to the municipality by the raceway, or the raceway would take on a municipal project of the same cost. Those details have yet to be deter- mined. The exact details of the grant requirements weren’t available at the meeting, but Central Huron CAO Kevin McLlwain said it appears that the project would be eligible for the full one-third figure of $1 million from the government. Watt said that after the Raceway received word if it had been approved for the grant or not, its lease would also have to be renegoti- ated with the municipality. She said one would be essential to the other and that the lease would have to be extended if this commitment of a $3 million project was going to be approved. Council then approved a motion to approve the agreement in principle (with exact compensation details to be figured out at a later date) with a provision that the race- way’s lease be extended in the near future. A second motion was also approved reading that the municipal- ity would officially be listed as a partner on the raceway’s grant application and would be involved on a cost recovery basis. The deadline for the application is June 30. By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Hullett graduation to be held June 27 Bradley Lyon from Dawson Creek was in the area recently to renew acquaintances and catch up on the news. He spent time on Wednesday, June 15 with Bert and Joanne Lyon. No doubt he also visited with his great aunt, Edythe Beacom, who is now happily settled in at Huronview. Hullett Central Public school will hold its graduation ceremony on Monday, June 27. Supper is at the Londesborough Community Hall at 6 p.m. with other activities to commence at 7:30 p.m. back at the school. By BRENDA RADFORD Call 523-4296 PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO