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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2011-11-24, Page 29THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2011. PAGE 29.Huron East looks at partnership with Central HuronContinued from page 28however, but they did go on a tour ofthe complex, as well as the VanastraRecreation Centre after the meetingconcluded that afternoon. Whether or not there was going to be a community centre in Vanastra, Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan said, was not an issue. Whether council decided to renovate or build new, a centre would remain in Vanastra. The question became whether if a new centre was built, a pool would be part of it. “We used to be the only indoor pool in Huron County,” Berrard said of the Vanastra pool. “Now that’s not the case, but we can be the only place with an indoor playground and a rock climbing wall.” Berrard said some of the fundraising money the centre had been collecting over the years could be put towards an indoor playground and rock climbing wall, which she had costed out as being around $36,000 for the playground and around $41,000 for the climbing wall. Berrard presented several options if council were to decide to build anew centre. She said the new centrecould include a fitness room, a pool,a daycare room and a communitymeeting space. In addition, she said, the centre could partner with the local curling club, an idea several councillors were enthusiastic about. No final decision was made, but MacLellan said council would have to have a long conversation sometime in the near future. Economic Development Officer Jan Hawley was asked about implementing her mandate throughout Huron East and she listed numerous successes, including the recent passport initiative in Brussels. She did, however, point out that she has not always had the greatest working relationship with those in the Huron County Economic Development department. This revelation concerned several councillors and MacLellan asked Hawley to detail where the county’s department was coming up short so the issues could be brought to Huron County Council by Huron East councillors who sit on HuronCounty Council as well.Council also decided to proceedwith the eventual hiring of a buildingfacilities manager as part of an eventual succession plan on the advice of chief building official Paul Josling. Josling said he would be retiring in four to five years and hiring afacilities manager, a position that hasbeen discussed by council for wellover a year, would not only help withthe office workload, but the manager could be someone who Josling could take under his wing, eventually taking over Josling’s position when he eventually retires. Councillor Bill Siemon advisedstaff that they should investigate thehiring of a facilities manager to keepan eye on the municipality’sbuildings. Clerk-Administrator Brad Knight, however, said that a detailed job description would have to be prepared before any hiring could be done. Business Directory Affordable CAR AND TRUCK RENTALS Large & Small Trucks fridge carts - piano dollys- moving blankets Complete Selection of Cars Our rates qualify for insurance replacement Passenger Vans full size or mini STRICKLANDS 344 Huron Rd. 519-524-9381 GODERICH 1-800-338-1134 NEW CONSTRUCTION AGRICULTURAL RENOVATIONS RESIDENTIAL Call 519-527-1538 Tarion Home Warranty Builders ZAHND REAL ESTATE LTD. BROKERAGE P.O. Box 38 Listowel, Ontario N4W 3H2 Claude Robin Broker 519-887-6205 Kurt Keller Sales Representative 519-236-7874 www.zahnd.on.ca JAMES BROWN PHARMACY 198 Josephine St., Wingham, Ont. 519-357-1629 Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9 - 6 Sat. 9 - 4 Rear Parking Available Delivery available - COMPLETE MECHANICAL SERVICE - COMPUTERIZED TUNE-UPS - TIRES - BRAKES MUFFLERS - VEHICLE INSPECTION STATION DAN'S AUTO REPAIR Owned and Operated by Dan & Heather Snell RR 3, Blyth, Ont. N0M 1H0 (on the Westfield Rd.) DAN SNELL, Automotive Technician 519-523-4356 ELLIOTT NIXON INSURANCE BROKERS INC. BLYTH, ON N0M 1H0 519-523-4481 MEMBER OF HURON INSURANCE MANAGERS GROUP 5 Generations Since 1910 R. John Elliott Res. 519-523-4323 J. Richard Elliott Res. 519-523-9725 Randy Nixon Res. 519-523-4989 We have solutions for your storage needs. Great for home, office & business. Ask for Ken at LAKESIDE 519-524-1740 Storage Solutions In stock used Pallet Racking, used decking steel & 4'x8' T&G fir plywood. PAUL COOK ELECTRIC Home, Farm & Commercial Wiring BELGRAVE 519-357-1537 SEAFORTH ANIMAL HOSPITAL Dr. Kathleen Day Dunbar New Patients Always Welcome! 519-527-1760 Medicine & Surgery, House calls, Grooming, Pet Food and more INSTANT FAX AS FAST AS A PHONE Send your paperwork by FAX instantly! eg. statements, contracts, auction ads, favourite recipes, obituaries, messages... The Citizen has a FAX machine in our Blyth office that lets you contact any other FAX machine in the world ... instantly. Our FAX number is also your number so if you want to be reached instantly — we will receive your messages as well. The Citizen Call Us Today For Details 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 Fax: 519-523-9140 “Locally owned & operated” P.O. Box 69 470 Turnberry Street Brussels, ON N0G 1H0 (519) 887-6100 Fax: (519) 887-6109 e-mail:dsholdice@himginsurance.com Faced with a $10,000 increase in the cost of the management contract for the Belgrave water system, Morris-Turnberry councillors asked staff to look to alternatives to reduce the cost. Council was reacting to a proposal from Veolia Water Canada Inc. to increase the annual fee from the current $33,573 to $43,500 in 2012, and add a cost-of-living increase for 2013. Nancy Michie, administrator clerk-treasurer said the company felt it had not charged enough this year, given the work it had to undertake to meet Ministry of Environment standards. Michie said the 2012 fee included a flat fee of $5,000 for maintaining the drinking water quality management standard manual. This could be taken out of the agreement and paid for at an hourly rate of $55 an hour, but the company estimates the work would require 100 hours. The price was also reduced by $4,000 because the company will be monitoring the system online by computer on weekends and not having someone on site. It was this statement that piqued the interest of Councillor Jamie McCallum. Weekends may see the heaviest use of the water system, he said. If on-site visits can be replaced with online monitoring on weekends, why couldn’t there be a system where personnel only had to visit the site every-other day, he wondered. “People feel they’re paying too much now,” he said. Councillor Neil Warwick noted that the proposed increase is close to $100 for every household using the water system. Michie promised to ask Veolia questions such as the possibility of every-other-day on-site monitoring and report back to council at the next meeting. Water alternatives examined