HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2010-05-13, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2010.ACW residents attempt to sway councilResidents of Port Albert expressedconcern with a recent movementamong ACW councillors in regards
to the township budget at council’s
May 4 meeting.
The original ACW budget, which
was tabled during council’s April 16
meeting, included a $1.2 million
restructuring of Port Albert’s
London Road Corridor including
drainage and repaving.
The job, which would only cost
the township approximately
$300,000, came under scrutiny when
councillors suggested that funds may
be better used to fix existing bridges
outlined in a report as needing
service, since London Road, while
an important project, wasn’t a dire
one.
Victoria Street, which is what
London Road is called in Port
Albert, suffers from improper
drainage issues, which prevents
building permits from being issued
to affected properties.
John Talbot spoke on behalf of
several property owners in the area,
trying to convince council to leave
the London Road project on the
budget.
“People have [waited] to build on
these lots,” he said. “We’ve turned
down offers on this land, we’ve
worked with the township, we justwant to be able to build and we’reconcerned with the way thingspanned out during the [meetingwhen the budget was tabled].”Talbot stated that there was light at
the end of the three-year-tunnel for
everyone involved in the drainage
issue with the budget, and stated that
council should really consider this
expenditure.
Rob Ireland, another concerned
citizen, stated that drainage issues
not only prevent building in the area,
but also plague existing homes with
floods.
“When it rains, people have hoses
out of their windows,” he said. “And
the area smells of drainage.”
Ireland stated that both he and his
brother have spent in excess of
$30,000 to prepare lots for building,
paying for legal fees and surveys,
and are afraid the investment will be
for naught.
Ireland said that bridges are an
important part of the township, given
the amount of rivers that are
traversed in the area, but wonders if
there isn’t some way council can
repair the bridges to allow them to
remain in service.
“We’re not against bridges,” he
said. “We’re not against safety, but is
there not some way we can repair the
bridges to get them through the next
few years [to allow the London Road
project to happen]?”Councillor Barry Millianreiterated his statements from thedecision to table the budget.“We recognize the value ofLondon Road,” he said. “It’s a
worthwhile project... and this is not
an easy decision.
“I’m not prepared to take the
responsibility [of not having the
bridges repaired],” Millian said.
The delegation from Port Albert
said that while their individual
concerns are important, it is also
important to remember that the
village is planning a large
celebration in 2011 called Rev’n in
11 to celebrate the village’s 175th
birthday.
Reeve Ben Van Diepenbeek said
that even if the project is approved in
the budget, it is a longer process tothe groundbreaking.“The budget will have to be passedand that won’t happen until our firstmeeting in June at the earliest, thenthere will be a 30-day appeal period
for residents to air grievances with
the budget,” he said. “Then
we’ll have to make sure
that everyone affected by the
project agrees with it, and provided
there are no appeals regarding
the project or the budget, tenders
will still need to be made for the
work.
“Even if there are no challenges
and the project is passed in budget,
work won’t start until late August at
the earliest and might not be
completed until spring of 2011,” the
Reeve said.
A little certainly does go a long
way. This is expressed with many
thanks from the Olympians group to
those who supported them
throughout the last year. As many of
our readers are aware there is a great
youth and children's ministry that
happens at the Huron Chapel
Evangelical Missionary Church in
Auburn.
The Olympian team would like to
thank everyone who gave their
support this year. Thank you to those
who contributed to the MCC relief
kits. The Olympians are appreciative
to all who came out to their awards
night and are pleased with the great
year they had together.
As the year continues, with the
summer months soon approaching,
the church is looking for a garden-
care volunteer; an experienced
gardener is looking for someone who
would like to learn about gardening
or if you are an experienced gardener
and would like to volunteer to look
after gardens, please get in contact
with the church and ask to speak
with Jeannette McNeil, John Haak or
Marie Scott.
Moving forward with great causes
as well, once again, El Salvador
missions is selling Elmira Poultry
Products to raise money for their
next trip. There are brochures at the
church.
There is always a room for the
little ones as well, the Knox United
Church would like to extend their
support and great fullness for the
baptism of Payton Emily Marie
Curran the daughter of Rebecca and
Christopher Curran. This is a
wonderful celebration that was held
on Mother’s Day at the Knox United
Church.
The family fellowship continues at
the Clinton United Church with the
presentation of the Gospel Jubilee
2010 on Sunday, May 16 at 7:30
p.m. featuring violinist Ben Brown,
the Rose Andrews Quartet, Gary and
the Squeeze-G's and the Clinton
United Choir and Band.
Admission will be $10 at the door.
The Londesborough United
Church Family Movie Night will be
held on Friday, May 28 at 7 p.m. Toy
Story will be shown and everyone is
welcome.
There are a lot of activities
happening around for families, check
it out and get involved.
An auction sale for El Salvador
will be held on Saturday at 10 a.m. at
Cathy Wammes' Farm at 41102 B
Summerhill Rd., just west of
Kinburn.
Auburn 519-526-7262
Auburn Co-op
Beautiful
Hanging Baskets
starting at...
$899
By Kerri
Heroux
hopturn@
hotmail.com
PEOPLE AROUND
AUBURN
NEWS
FROM AUBURN
Bright minds
In celebration of Education Week, Blyth Public School held
a technology open house on Friday morning to showcase
student work. Mikayla Henry, left, and Ally Henry were
among the presenters. (Aislinn Bremner photo)
ON $6.00 THURSDAYS
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The Citizen
By Denny ScottThe Citizen