HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1985-12-18, Page 1Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel,
Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1985. VOL. 1 NO. 9
40 CENTS
Leona Armstrong of Grey township became the first female warden in the history of Huron County Dec. 10
in a ceremony at the Huron County Court House in Goderich. Here outgoing Warden Paul Steckle of
Stanley township presents her with a ceremonial key . Warden Armstrong was unopposed for the office.
Leona Armstrong first lady
Warden of Huron County
County
Committees
appointed
Blyth Reeve Albert Wasson took
the oath of office for the first time at
Huron County Council's inaugural
meeting in Goderich Dec. 10.
Leona Armstrong, Grey town-
ship reeve made history Dec. 10
when she became the first woman
warden in Huron County's 145-
year history.
The Brussels-area resident was
unopposed in her quest for the top
job in the county. She made history
as well because her father, Harvey
Johnston had been warden in 1952
as reeve of Morris Township.
She was nominated for Warden
by Reeve Marie Hicknell from
neighbouring McKillop township.
In her speech to council in
accepting the nomination Mrs.
Armstrong said 1986 will be an
exciting and challenging time with
the beginning of the new Huron
County Museum and renovations
of Huronview. She said that the
museum should have an architect
named early in the new year and
ground should be broken on the
phase one sometime in late
summer. "When all phases of the
museum are completed we will be
proud that we had a part in making
it a reality." she said.
The Huronview renovation is of
personal interest to her because of
the amount of time she spent in the
building when her father was
administrator of Huronview, she
said. She said the 1953 addition
called "Summerhill" met the
needs in 1953 but today "Few of us
know anyone who has to walk over
100 steps to the washroom."
She also expressed concern over
the plight of agriculture in the
county and said the council must
work to try to minimize the impact
of a proposed Ontario Hydro line
through the county.
After the nomination process
made it official and she had been
sworn in, the new warden said she
was proud and honoured to be
Huron's first lady warden. She said
she was persuaded to think about
becoming warden when she had
had lunch with a lady warden from
another county at a convention
some time ago. The warden had
asked her when she was going to
run for the wardenship of Huron
but Mrs. Armstrong had express.
ed concern about her ability. The
warden told her "In Huron county
you have an administration that is
second to none and no matter how
incompetent you are, they'll make
you look good."
Judge F. G. Carter conducted
the swearing in ceremony for
Warden Armstrong and all the
councillors. In his remarks he told
the new warden that as a woman
she had special qualities to bring to
the job. "Be yourself. Be a woman.
Don't try to be a man. You have
your own special qualities to
bring."
Outgoing warden, Paul Steckle,
from Stanley township said he
envied Warden Amstrong for
having an easier route to the
Warden's chair this year than last
when there were several candi-
dates for the position. He said he
had worked with Mrs. Armstrong
before and enjoyed the spirit of
co-operation she brought to the
job.
He said that 1985 had been a
great year with approval of the new
museum and improvements to
Huronview. "I trust you'll con-
tinue on with this mandate," he
said to the councillors, "and find
the matching funds necessary to
make this project (Huronview)
work."
Members of the new warden's
family from as far away as Nova
Scotia were present for the cere-
mony.
Lucky shoppers in Blyth and
Brussels will be getting big
bonuses for shopping at home in
the next week when merchants in
the two towns hold their Christmas
draws.
Blyth shoppers will get their just
reward first when the Bellringer
Draw_prizes are handed out on
Saturday. The prizes, currently
displayed in The Citizen's window,
B.M. Et G.
recreation
now official
The recreation agreement for
Brussels, Morris and Grey finally
became official Monday night
when representatives from the
three municipalities signed the
agreement.
Even at the last minute there
were doubts the agreement would
be signed. A lengthy letter was
received by the three councils from
the Ministry of Tourism and
Recreation stating what were felt
were deficiencies in the agree-
ment. When the three councils met
at the Brussels, Morris and Grey
Community Centre they went over
the letter, all 21 points of it, and
decided that none of them prevent
signing.
The new agreement will see each
municipality have one representa-
tive from their council. In addition,
Brussels and Grey township will
each appoint three representatives
and Morris will appoint two.
Beginning in January, Brussels
will contribute $8000 to the new
joint recreation committee, Grey
.township $7000 and Morris town-
ship $4,000.
In a related decision at the
Brussels council meeting held
before and after the joint session,
council decided to advertise for
persons interested in sitting on the
recreation committee and all the
other committees before appoint.
ing the new committees at the
January meeting. Councillor Gor-
don Workman, who has been
involved in recreation at the
Brussels, Morris and Grey Com-
munity Centre said he wanted
people on the committee who were
there because of what they can give
to the recreation program, not
because of what they can get out of
it.
Brussels
changes tax
collection dates
Brussels will join the majority of
municipalities in Huron County
and switch to a quarterly collection
of taxes. The decision was made
at the Dec. 16 meeting of council.
The subject of quarterly install-
Continued on Page 2
will be drawn at each of the stores
on Saturday, Dec. 21 starting at 1
p.m.
The Christmas Wishes prizes
from Brussels, and there are alot of
them, will be given out in a draw at
each of the stores on Tuesday, Dec.
24 starting at 11 a.m.
There is still plenty of time for
you to collect tickets and enter
them in the box of the merchant
whose prize you most covet.
BY BOB MURPHY
The appointment of committees
and boards was the main item of
business for the 1985-88 edition of
Huron County council at its first
session in the court house at
Goderich on Wednesday.
The new council was actually
sworn in Tuesday afternoon, and
I following the inaugural ceremon-
ies, named Grey Township Reeve
Leona Armstrong as the county's
— first woman warden.
With 15 new faces on council this
term, the striking committee had
its work cut out in allotting the 30
councillors' seats on the council's
eight committees and boards.
A ninth, the executive commit-
tee, consists of the chairmen of the
other eight. The warden is ex
officio member of all committees as
well as chairman of the executive
committee.
Three members of council from
our coverage area were named as
chairman of committees.
Hay Township Reeve Lionel
Wilder is to be chairman of the
planning and development com-
mittee while Zurich Reeve Bob
Fisher is the new chairman of the
social services committee.
Bayfield Reeve Dave Johnston is
the chairman of the Huron County
Pioneer Museum committee._
Appointedto the Huron County
library board is Hensall Reeve Jim
Robinson while Hay Township
Deputy-Reeve Clair Deichert is
named to the agriculture and
property committee.
Faced with the task of determin-
ing the appointments was the
striking committee which included
the warden, McKillop Township
Reeve Marie Hicknell, Hullett
Township Reeve Tom Cunning-
ham, Tuckersmith Township
Reeve Bob Bell, Turnberry Town-
ship Reeve Brian McBurney and
Johnston.
Following is a complete slate of
committees and boards, with the
first named to be chairman:
• Roads committee - Bob Bell,
Tuckersmith reeve; Russel Kerni-
ghan, Colborne Township reeve;
William Bennett, Seaforth reeve;
Marie Hicknell, McKillop reeve;
and Bruce Machan, Wingham
reeve.
• Huronview management com-
mittee - James Aitchison, West
Wawanosh Township reeve; Clar-
ence Rau, Stanley Township reeve;
Hank TenPas Brussels reeve and
Continued on Page 6
Draws coming for
Christmas prizes