HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-11-12, Page 1M-T gets a shock
with NH fire bill
It seems that things are looking up.
Well, at least that’s the story
weather-wise.
Geoff Coulson, an Environment
Canada meteorologist said things
took a turn for the better in the first
part of November, both for the short-
term and the long-term.
On the heels of an October that
was just slightly cooler and wetter
than the average for this area (8.6°C
and 79.2 mm rather than 9.5°C and
75.6 mm),
November temperatures this past
weekend and into the first part of the
week practically soared. “The
normal should be about 8°C, but the
weekend saw a shift well above
that.”
“And forecasts point to a
November with lots of sunshine,
which is not typical. It’s a dark
month. We usually say ‘No sun,
November’.”
“If this is what Mother Nature
plans to give us then get out there
and enjoy it.”
Coulson also notes that
predictions for the winter had also
improved from a few weeks ago.
The El Nino phenomenon that’s
occurring it seems is going to have a
greater impact on western Canada
than here, he said.
“The new 90-day forecast for
November, December and January,
indicates on average temperatures at
the seasonal norms,” he said, adding,
that it’s the same story for
precipitation.
But just in case anyone gets their
hopes up too high, Coulson notes,
“Winter will be winter, we are going
to get our share of squall conditions
and this doesn’t preclude us from
seeing chilly stretches.”
However, being caught between
the El Nino effect and that of a North
American oscillation expected to
impact the south-east United States,
has weather experts expecting an
“around average” winter, Coulson
said.
“There wasn’t a high confidence
level in the forecast, but that has
changed. Confidence has increased
for southern Ontario.”
Remembering
The Blyth Legion and Auxiliary paraded to Blyth United Church Sunday for the annual
Remembrance Day service. Brussels Legion’s service follows the annual Remembrance Day
service. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Brussels Public School is one of
the few in the Avon Maitland
District School Board that is not
facing declining enrolment. But
Nov. 4 it was residents of the
community who filled the gym to
over-capacity as the Huron
East/North Perth Accommodation
Review Committee held its first
official meeting.
The overflow extended into the
hallway of the school as people from
Brussels and Grey came to support
their schools.
In this review are the two Huron
East schools, Brussels and Grey
Central Public Schools, as well as
Elma Twp., Wallace, Listowel
Central and Listowel Eastdale
Public Schools.
As a starting point, a week earlier,
the board presented a “preferred
option” which would see Brussels
and Grey close, moving Grade 7 and
8s from Brussels to F.E. Madill
Secondary School and
kindergartens’to Grade 6 attending a
new school in North Huron, while
Grey students would move to Elma.
The option also includes boundary
adjustments for Elma and Listowel
students.
However at the recent meeting,
Grey got some breathing space with
another option to open discussions.
Plan B would see Brussels close,
Grade 7 and 8s sent to Madill and
the kindergartens to Grade 6 divided
between North Huron and Grey.
Prior to the meeting ARC
members had been taken on a tour of
the Brussels school to see the
problems with the building’s
condition.
Charlie Hoy, Brussels ARC chair
asked that it be clarified the
additions on the ends of the school
aren’t portables. Ash explained that
the two-room addition on the east
end is pre-fabricated, portable-like
in construction.
Rev. Cathrine Campbell was the
first of three delegations at the
meeting. (Editor’s note: Her report is
printed in its entirety on page 6)
Next was realtor Keith Mulvey
who provided an overview of home
sales in Brussels. He noted that in
2007-2008, there were 20 homes
purchased in Brussels, 10 of these
families with children, eight of those
from out of the area.
He also argued the logic of busing
students 45 minutes when they could
walk, which provides them with
fresh air and exercise, while having a
positive environmental impact.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch
218 president John Lowe spoke of
the involvement of the students in
Legion events and competitions,
saying that the loss of Brussels and
Grey would be devastating to the
Legion.
He chastised the board
administration and trustees saying,
“How do you put a child first when
you are causing undue worry for
elementary school-aged children?”
He admonished them for being
“controlling” in this process, noting
that people had to submit intentions
to speak and can only sign a petition
if they have signed at the meetings.
“Does this speak of freedom to
you?” he asked, reminding too that a
high price was paid for this
country’s freedom.
“Here’s hoping your response is
based on more than the bottom line.”
Several other comments were
received through letters read by the
Brussels ARC representatives. The
Brussels Agricultural Society
president spoke of the school’s value
to the annual fall fair through
participation in its education
program and exhibits. Dorothy
Cummings also wrote that the
student participation ensures better
attendance as families attend
together, and asked the board to
consider the effect of closing the
schools on the community as a
whole.
Other letters argued against the
busing of young children who could
be facing a two-hour round trip in
some cases. Joan Beuermann wrote
of the effect this would have on
family time.
In response to these concerns Ash
said that the policy is to keep it to
Community fills auditorium
Fire costs for Morris-Turnberry
will more than double under quotes
received at the Nov. 3 council
meeting from fire departments
serving the municipality.
With the coming dissolution of the
Blyth District Fire Area Board and
the Wingham Area Fire Board at the
end of this year, Morris-Turnberry
council was left in the position of
having to request prices for fire
services to be supplied by the new
North Huron Fire Department, the
Brussels station of the Huron East
Fire Department and the Twp. of
Howick Fire Department.
The new Howick department,
formerly the Gorrie station of the
Wingham board, will provide
coverage for the eastern part of
Turnberry Ward for $14,000 a
year.
The Brussels station will cover a
large part of Morris Ward, a much
enlarged area because of the
expanded abilities of the station to
fight fires in rural areas.
Morris-Turnberry will pick up half
the costs of running the station,
estimated at $30,000 in a request for
proposals from Huron East received
in June, plus $400 an hour for
fighting fires.
The figure that had councillors
shaking their heads was the quote
from North Huron, which now
includes the former Blyth
department and the Wingham station
of the former Wingham department.
North Huron will provide coverage
of covering the rest of Morris and
the Turnberry.
The quoted figure is $211,676 per
year based on a five-year contract.
But according to North Huron fire
chief John Black, in a later
interview, the price does expand
medical first response service to the
entire area served by the department,
not just the area covered by the
Blyth station as in the past. Asked if
the service would be the same as had
been provided by Blyth department
for the southern part of Morris he
said it was pretty much the same.
Morris-Turnberry’s budget for fire
service in 2009 is $114,000. The
combined total of the quotes is
$255,676 plus the $400 hourly cost
for fires the Brussels station attends.
The quote was delivered following
a closed door meeting prior to the
regular council meeting between the
Morris-Turnberry councillors and
North Huron Murray Scott and Alma
Conn and Black.
“What can you do?” asked deputy
mayor Jim Nelemans in frustration.
Council decided to hold a special
meeting Nov. 10 to discuss the
situation.
Things looking up,
at least weather-wise
CitizenTh
e
$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009
Volume 25 No. 44SPORTS- Pg. 8Brussels Atoms wintournament silver NEWS - Pg. 19 Former resident’s bookgets nominationHEALTH- Pg. 7Municipalities step it up tocombat spread of H1N1Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 PAP Registration No. 09244 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0INSIDE THIS WEEK:
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
By Keith Roulston
The Citizen
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
Continued on page 6