HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-07-14, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011.
Despite reluctance from some
councillors, Morris-Turnberry
council voted at their July 5 meeting
to receive the environmental
assessment (EA) report for the
Bluevale stormwater drainage
system.
A motion to receive the report
from B. M. Ross and Associates had
been deferred at the June 21 meeting
and some councillors were still not
ready to deal with the issue because
of gaps they felt were in the report.
Deputy-Mayor Jason Brecken-
ridge, who had read through the
entire 50-page report since the last
meeting, led the complaints. He was
unhappy that the report didn’t look
at an option of the municipality
seeking smaller, incremental
improvements when road work is
being done to see if that would helpthose Bluevale residents who haveproblems. As well, the report didn’t
look at the economic feasibility of
proceeding with the storm sewer
project, he said.
“To me, it’s our job [as
councillors] to come up with how to
do the work at an amount that’s
acceptable to the ratepayers,” said
Mayor Paul Gowing.
Breckenridge also complained that
the report didn’t make any
suggestion of how to deal with the
problems of groundwater that has
people in Bluevale complaining
about wet basements.
Nancy Michie, administrator,
clerk-treasurer, explained that the
previous council, in hiring B.M.
Ross, had not asked them to find a
solution to groundwater issues, just
surface stormwater.
Gary Pipe, director of public
works, said getting rid of surfacewater through a drainage systemwould likely lower the groundwater
level, reducing the problem.
But Councillor John Smuck joined
Breckenridge’s criticism. “Do we
need a $1.1 million project to help
three people?”, he wondered.
He made a motion to defer
receiving the report, with
Breckenridge seconding the
motion.
But others questioned what would
be accomplished by deferring
receiving the report yet again. “It’s a
bigger problem than three people,”
argued Councillor David Baker
noting that people have been coming
to council about drainage problems
since the 1950s.
“Let’s get the EA done and put it
on the shelf until the money is
available,” he said.
“We need to get on with it,” agreed
Gowing. “What are we going to gainby deferring it?”The motion to defer receiving the
report was defeated.
Gowing then opened the floor to
Bluevale resident Terry Matz who
had asked to speak on the issue.
Matz renewed his position, stated
several times previously to council,
that it was unfair to ask the majority
of people in Bluevale, who do not
have water problems, to “subsidize”
the minority who do.
“I do not want, need, nor can I
afford this project,” he argued.
But Gowing said even those who
don’t have a problem may be adding
to the problems of others. “If you
own property there has to be an
outlet for rain water that falls on that
property,” he said, arguing that it
was fair for everyone to share in
providing a solution to the drainage
issue.
Councillor Neil Warwick, notingthe number of times the issue hascome before council, said: “We just
keep going around and around and
nothing gets fixed.”
Gowing argued that the EA was
done so council could have it in
place so the project was a “shovel
ready” if a future federal-provincial
infrastructure program occurs. “We
need to receive the EA and put it on
the shelf until there is funding,” he
said.
With Councillors Jamie
McCallum making a motion and
Jamie Heffer, seconding it, a motion
was approved to receive the report.
Meanwhile staff will explore
the possibility of using a new
provincial infrastructure plan
“Building Together” as a possible
funding source. Complete details
of the program are still not
available.
A Huron OPP officer was
conducting radar patrols on the
Howick-Turnberry Road on July 8
at approximately 7 a.m. when a high
speed vehicle came into view.
The vehicle was registered as
travelling doing over 160 kilometres
per hour (kph) in an 80 kph zone.
The vehicle and driver were
stopped. The driver was charged
under the Street Racing legislation
and the vehicle he was driving was
impounded for seven days.
Kyle Dane, 23, of Wroxeter will
answer to his charge in Provincial
Court in Goderich on September 6.
TV stolen in broad daylight
At approximately 4:40 p.m. on
July 9, an unknown male suspect
stole a 32 inch RCA television from
the Wal-Mart store on Huron Road
near Goderich.
The male left through the garden
centre and when he was asked to
produce a receipt for the item, he ran
to the parking lot.
Witnesses in the parking lot
observed the male get into a grey or
white van and flee in an unknown
direction.
The suspect is described as being
in his late 30s or early 40s. He is
also described as white,
approximately 5’2” tall with a thin
build. He had short, brown hair and
scruffy facial hair. He was wearing a
white tank top and black pants.
ATV stolen in Brussels
Sometime during the night of July
8 a farm implement shed was
entered at a residence on Brussels
Line in Huron East.
A door was pried open and once
inside the culprit(s) opened a bay
door and removed a 2007 Suzuki
ATV. The ATV is described as black
with Ontario marker #39NK4. The
value of the vehicle is
approximately $8,300.
Any person with information
regarding this incident should
immediately contact the Huron OPP
at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524-
8314.
Wroxeter man
busted for racing
M-T Council accepts Bluevale assessment
Milking recess
Students at the Summer Vacation Bible School at Zion Mennonite Church near Cranbrook ran
their hearts out during recess on July 11, playing a game of tag. (Denny Scott photo)
FREE PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT
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By Keith RoulstonThe Citizen