HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-05-21, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN,THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2009.
At its May 4 meeting, Huron East
council carried a bylaw that would
have the fire dispatch agreement
signed with the City of Stratford.
The decision had been made
months ago, but the final bylaw was
passed recently as the rest of Huron
County’s municipalities had to be
brought on board with the new serv-
ice as well.
Clerk-administrator Jack
McLachlan says he expects the serv-
ice will be up and running by the
middle of May.
***
The bylaw to officially establish
the 2009 tax rates, with a six per cent
increase was carried. The budget,
however, with several issues left to
be ironed out, can still be amended,
despite the finalization of this year’s
tax rates.
***
Huron East council took its last
steps towards finalizing changes to
the municipality’s official plan.
Huron County planner Carol
Leeming was in attendance explain-
ing several changes in policy and
some in wording in the document,
which will be considered for final
adoption at council’s May 19 meet-
ing, which will be a public meeting.
Council has been working on the
document for several months,
attempting to clarify and accommo-
date wind turbine technology in
the municipality among other
things.
The public meeting is on May 19.
***
Council finalized the sale of a lot
in Seaforth to Habitat For Humanity
of Huron County.
Initially there had been discussion
of a straight donation of the lot.
However, the sale was finalized by
Huron East for $25,000.
Councillor Joe Steffler said, how-
ever, that Huron East would be
donating any costs incurred with
water, sewer or building
permits.
The official bylaw will come
through council at its May
19 meeting for council’s considera-
tion.
Currently, the plan is for the house
to be built in 2010.
***
Council named June Seniors’
Month at the request of the Minister
responsible for seniors.
***
Council approved $548,216.17 in
accounts payable.
Huron East is on-board with
Huron County’s new emergency
notification system, Prism 911.
Council received a presentation
from Huron County manager of
emergency medical services, David
Lew at its May 5 meeting, and said
they would participate in the pro-
gram and reach out to its citizens for
assistance.
Clerk-administrator Jack
McLachlan says that forms for resi-
dents to fill out with their contact
information should be mailed out to
Huron East residents with their final
tax bills at the end of July. While
Huron County has nearly 60 per cent
of the county’s phone numbers
through Bell Canada, for the other
40 per cent, those involved will be
relying on municipalities and resi-
dents to submit their information.
The system, which has been pur-
chased at a capital expenditure of
$85,000 by Huron County, is an
internet-based system that notifies
the public in the event of an emer-
gency, such as a missing child, a
boil-water advisory or a chemical
spill to name a few.
The system was officially
launched in Goderich earlier this
year.
Huron County is the first jurisdic-
tion to buy into the system, besides
the system’s developer, Quinte West,
which is part of the great deal the
county got, Lew says.
Questions were raised by council-
lor Larry McGrath about the tech-
nology and how long it would serve
the county’s needs. Lew responded
by saying the system should serve
the county well into the future.
While Lew thinks the system is
already set up to provide for the
county for several years to come, in
the annual fee, which would come in
between $25,000 and $30,000
depending on how often the system
is used, upgrades are included for
approximately $2,000 to $3,000 of
the cost.
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Hot off the grill
Grade 8 students from East Wawanosh Public School held a fundraising barbecue over the
weekend in Belgrave. From left: Evan Wesselink, Laura Higgins, Sarah Cook, Katelyn
Casemore, Heidi Raynard, Rene Splettstoesser and Caitlin Daw. (Vicky Bremner photo)
HE finalizes tax rates;
dispatch agreement
Councillors meethousing manager
Huron East council briefs
Huron East supports
Prism 911 system
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
At the May 6 meeting of countycouncil social services administrator
Dave Overboe introduced the new
housing manager, Barbara Hall.
***
Participation in the Good Food
Box was up 33 per cent for the
month of April.
***
The county approved the recom-
mendation for acceptance of a tender
submitted by Joe Kerr Ltd. for plow-
ing and sanding operations
during the winter season at $111
per working hour/per truck for
three trucks in the Wingham
patrol.
***
The quote submitted by Nortrax
Canada Inc. for the purchase of a2005 John Deere 744J, at a total cost
of $140,394.60, excluding GST was
accepted.
This is within the budgetted
amount of $160,000.
***
The tender submitted by
Weathertech Restoration Services
Inc. for the Belgrave bridge rehabil-
itation project at the price of
$168,691, excluding GST was
approved.
***
Jarlian Construction Inc. has been
approved for the Benmiller Mill
Race bridge rehabilitation. The ten-
dered price, excluding GST is
$312,570.
Huron County council briefs