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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-11-13, Page 23Huron County councillors voted at the Nov. 5 meeting to terminate a contract with Rail America. Background information outlined that in May 1968, the county entered into an agreement with CN Railway to install a culvert under the tracks west of Brucefield. In the agreement it states that “as an acknowledgement of the property rights of the railway in the lands of the railway occupied by the works the applicant will pay to the railway annually in advance effected from June 15, 1968 the sum of $15 for the first year and $5 per annum thereafter.” Since then the $5 payment has increased to $30 and finally to $60 in 1992. Rail America is the current owner of the Goderich Exeter Railway. A letter has been received indicating that the annual fee will increase to $966 with a five per cent increase every year. County engineering technologist Mike Alcock said jusification for the increase was requested along with the legal authority that would allow it. The response was that Rail America’s legal department had reviewed the legislation and the increase is justified. The letter also said that should Huron County not pay then the pipe would have to be decommissioned at the county’s expense. The public works department contacted an engineer about putting a municipal drain in the location. Alcock explained that under the drainage act a railway is considered a public utility. Therefore Huron’s public works would be responsible for any costs in constructing a municipal drain. As well, the railway would be assessed for any future maintenance. Alcock said that the culvert is approaching the end of its life expectancy and would need to be repaired or replaced within 10 years. Should Rail America terminate the agreement the cost of removal or decommissioning is less than either of the options. “Furthermore,” Alcock commented in his report, “the cost associated with crossing the railway would be assessed to Rail America” under the Drainage Act. Huron East councillor Bernie MacLellan asked what terminating the annual fee would mean for the railway. Acting director of public works Dave Laurie said Rail America would order the county to decommission the culvert. “We will petition for a municipal drain. This is something we should have looked at years ago.” THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2008. PAGE 23. An attempt to find a new use forBelgrave’s Women’s Institute Hallhas been stalled by restrictions underthe building code. Nancy Jardin and Dorothy Coultes from the WI attended the Nov. 4 meeting of Morris-Turnberry council to ask for advice and assistance in finding ways to deal with the problem. All those who have shown an interest in buying the hall want it for a residence. The building, which the WI can no longer operate because it’s losing money and the group’s membership is aging, is zoned institutional and requires a zoning change to be usedas a residence. A current offer on thetable requires that the WI obtain thezoning change before the deal willgo throughThe size of the lot doesn’t meetthe requirement for a septic tank for a private residence, but the WI met with the Belgrave United Church which agreed to provide it with a 16 foot by 148 foot parcel to add to the east side of the property to make the lot the required 50 feet wide. The problem, Jardin explained, is on the west side where the building is only one foot from the property line. Because of this, before the zoning change can be approved the building will require expensive alterations toimprove the fire rating.Steve Fortier, the municipality’schief building official explained thatif a building is less than two feetfrom the property line the building code requires a 45-minute fire rating. That would require residing that wall of the building and either closing in windows, or installing fire-proof blinds. The WI doesn’t really have the money to carry out the renovations plus pay the zoning change costs, Jardin said (Nancy Michie, adminsitator, clerk-treasurer told council the severance and zoning changes would cost around $5,000). Aside from the money issue, partof the reason the potential buyerwanted the building was because ofthe large windows, Coultes said. “Ican’t imagine she wants thewindows closed in.”“The frustrating part is it just seems so unnecessary,” she said. “It’s a building that’s been used for 120 years a lot harder than it will be used by a person living in it as a house.” Councillor Paul Gowing questioned why the fire code requirement would be higher for a residence than it was for a public hall. Fortier explained that the fire code didn’t apply as long as the building’s use remained unchanged but whenthe zoning needed to be changed, thebuilding had to be brought up tostandard.If they can’t sell the building,Coultes said, the WI is left with twooptions: to tear it down or just abandon it. Jim Nelemans, deputy mayor, explained that the council has no control over the requirements of the provincial building code. “I don’t think the council has any bright ideas (for getting around the problem),” added mayor Dorothy Kelly. “See what the costs (of the alterations) are and get back to us. We’ll certainly help if we can but it may be out of our hands.” County votes to terminate Rail America contract Road hockey Last week’s PD Day and the warm weather led to children being seen all over the area on Friday, playing hockey, playing in playgrounds and taking in the unseasonably warm weather before it turned cold. Hockey is always on the top of Huron County children’s lists of activities. This group took to the street just in front of Blyth Public School for some road hockey. (Shawn Loughlin photo) Building code blocks Belgrave Hall conversion Blyth Lions CHRISTMAS DINNER & DANCE Saturday, December 13th SOCIAL HOUR 6:30 - 7:30 DINNER 7:30 DANCE 9:00 - 1:00 Cost $20.00 a person Music by The Cowtown Cats FOR TICKETS CALL MARK NESBIT 519-523-4324 BEV BLAIR 519-523-4964 BRENDA McDONALD 519-523-9404 The Blyth Lions would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Proceeds to Community Betterment We are limiting our seating ~ please book early ONTARIO BALLET THEATRE “The Best Family Event this Holiday Season” Sunday, December 7 at 3 pm BLYTH MEMORIAL HALL Adult $27.30 ❅Children (12 and under) $15.75 Box Office:(519) 523-9300 or 1-877-862-5984 By Keith RoulstonThe Citizen By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen Morris-Turnberry is sending a letter to a group of Brussels-area residents saying council is not interested in having their properties annexed to Huron East. Ralph Watson, representing 15 property owners, and Huron East mayor Joe Seili appeared at the Oct. 20 meeting of council to request the transfer of properties on the edge of Brussels but in Morris ward. The group had argued they get their water service and in some case sewage, from Brussels as well as their fire protection and street lights and, for some, sidewalks and felt they were a community of interest with that part of Huron East. But in turning down the request, Morris-Turnberry noted the loss of households would adversely affect the rest of the residents of the municipality because the number of households determines grants for infrastructure funding, social programs and drive up the cost of policing on a per-household basis. “The council is of the opinion that the negative effects greatly prevail over the positive effects,” said the letter, approved by councillors at their Nov. 4 meeting. M-T says no to annexation