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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-03-26, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2009. PAGE 11. Huron East’s grass-cuttingservices were called into question bya group of residents at council’s March 17 meeting, initiated by a letter calling it “disgraceful.” Ken Glanville, of the Seaforth area, appeared with several other members of the community to discuss the issue with council. This was a timely concern, as tenders for this year’s grass-cutting had been called and opened and were ready to be reviewed and approved later in the meeting. Some councillors’ displeasure with the quality of grass-cutting over the the past two years was echoed in Glanville’s letter. Councillor Bill Siemon acknowledged that it wasn’t the first time municipal grass-cutting had been discussed by council. Last summer, Siemon raised concerns about the job being done. The municipality, and in turn, the taxpayers, he said, were not getting their money’s worth. In one circumstance, he measured a roadside cut to be approximately four feet and definitely not to the crop line. However, that contractor and the company Huron East contracted to do its grass-cutting in 2007, were among three that bid for this year’s mowing contract yet again, placing council in a bind. “Because of the tendering process, which I am not a big fan of, we have to accept the low bid,” said mayor Joe Seili. “But if we decide to accept a higher bid, we’re raked over the coals for it, so our hands are tied here.” Tenders were called for with two options this year. The first option would include two rounds of cutting in June, while the second option would be cut to the fenceline in June. Both options were the same when it came to a cut to the fenceline in September and additional cuts as directed, paid on an hourly basis. Council approved a motion to accept the low bidder, the contractor employed by the municipality in 2007, at a cost of $44,105.25 for option two. Siemon, after consulting with public works director Barry Mills, said that it would cost the municipality just over $6,000 in addition to the proposed tender to cut the grass to the cropline, which would go a long way to addressing Glanville’s concerns. Glanville suggested a potential municipal roadside-mowing crew similar to the daily snow-removal crews working throughout the municipality in the winter. Glanville’s main concern was the weed seeds the lack of cutting left in the air, resulting in increased pesticide costs for area farmers and crop concerns further down the road. Glanville noted that cutting the grass, and therefore, the weeds, after they’ve gone to seed is “useless.” He added that once the seeds are released into the air, they end up on farmland anyway, so cuts need to be made earlier, suggesting late April for the first cuts. Siemon said it would be nearly impossible for this to happen. Contractors who apply through the tendering process end up working in several municipalities, spreading their time quite thin. Councillor Les Falconer suggested contracting out grass- cutting like the municipality does throughout the winter, contracting one company for the north end of the municipality and another for the south end.Councillor David Blaney thoughta municipal grass-cutting planwasn’t a bad idea. Blaney broughtup the overtime the municipality hadto pay out over the winter for snowremoval and suggested the municipality hire a full-time employee who could be brought on to the public works department to assist over the winter and stay on throughout the summer to take on grass-cutting. However, the municipality then would have to build its own fleet of mowing machinery, something that can get very expensive, when it comes to maintenance, said Mills, especially when discussing roadside mowing. Siemon said that financially, the municipality won’t be able to affordit.“It just won’t work for us to do itourselves. If we do it with our ownemployees and with the purchase ofequipment and maintenance, we justcan’t do it,” he said. “A cut is a cut. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see if the job is done right or if it’s done wrong,” Siemon said. “It’s been a mess for the past two years and I can’t believe that it’s taken us this long.” While the quality of last year’s grass-cutting had been questioned by members of council late last year, Mills reported that he had only received a relatively small number of complaints across the entire municipality. Mowing called into question M-T to expand office Morris-Turnberry councillors will await news on possible new sources of funding before approving proceeding with the expansion of the municipal office. At their March 17 meeting councillors rejected the idea of using a $289,000 Investing in Ontario grant received last year to pay for the estimated $267,500 cost of the addition to the office. A memo from Nancy Michie, administrator, clerk- treasurer, had pointed out this was an unconditional grant to be used for any infrastructure program. But deputy-mayor Jim Nelemans said he understood that money had been put in reserve for future road work. He complained that he couldn’t see spending nearly $300,000 to effectively create one office for the chief building official (although upgrades are also needed to meet provincially legislated accessibility requirements). But councillor Edna McLellan defended the need for the expansion. “We’ve chopped and chopped at (the building),” she said. “It’s like a rats nest. It’s deplorable for these people to work under these conditions.” “I don’t have a problem if we can get a grant,” Nelemans replied. Michie explained that information on criteria for possible federal grants will not be available until details are worked out following the passing of the budget. Meanwhile councillor Paul Gowing said he had heard from ratepayers who were concerned over renovations needed at Bluevale Hall to meet accessibility standards. “I’ve had comments on that too,” said councillor Lynn Hoy. “We just keep spending more money on this old ship.” People had suggested the hall should be replaced with a new building, he said. But Nelemans observed that replacing the building would likely cost at least $200,000 - $300,000. Looking for local heroes There are so many people out there who do so much to improve their community. Now you have a chance to say thanks. Nominate that special person for the 24th Annual Citizen Citizenship Awards. Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area and Brussels and area communities to receive an award for contribution to the community. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the ballot and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and he or she didn't win, please feel free to try again. I nominate as Citizen of the year for I feel she/he deserves this award because Nomination Deadline April 30, 2009. Name and phone number of nominator ❑❑Blyth & area ❑❑Brussels & area Future Jordan? Matthew Terpstra, a student at Grey Central Public School, has done himself and his school proud taking first place in his group at the regional Knights of Columbus free throw contest recently in London. Terpstra was one of eight 11- year-old boys in the competition. Three of them tied in the first round with 18 baskets out of 25. After a throw off, two advanced netting four out of five baskets. Matthew will now advance to the provincial contest. (Courtesy photo) By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen