Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-01-04, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 2007. PAGE 17. High stepping Kasey King put the Scottish in the New Year’s Levee with several Highland dances. (Vicky Bremner photo) About a dozen Wingham residents were present at a planning advisory meeting of North Huron council, Dec. 18 to discuss an amendment to the official plan and zoning bylaw amendment. The land in question is at the east side of Wingham, formerly part of Morris-Turnberry. They became part of North Huron through a boundary adjustment between the two municipalities. They are currently designated urban and natural environment in the Turnberry secondary plan. The plan is to rezone them them for potential future residential development. Planner Sandra Weber said the county’s recommendation was that the official plan amendment be adopted by bylaw and the zoning bylaw be deferred until the amendment is given final approval. Clerk-administrator Kriss Snell brought to council’s attention a letter from Morris-Turnberry saying that they would object to the designation until such time as a servicing study was done to prove that North Huron could provide adequate sewer and water capacity to the land retained in Morris-Turnberry for highway commercial development. A resolution that North Huron would reserve this capacity was required. “This is something that should have been done earlier,” he told council, adding, however, that he had received written confirmation from the engineers that the capacity is there. The residents in attendance had concerns of their own, which they had also expressed prior to the agreement being made. Pat Newson said that neighbouring homeowners had purchased their properties believing that they had farmland behind them. “The lots are not particularly deep and I realize that development is likely to occur so I’m asking for a stipulation. I want it on record that there should be a buffer zone between the existing homes and any new ones.” Newson also asked that any homes be one-level, single dwellings and that the lots be a miminum of 150 feet in depth. Jim Currie wondered why they were providing service to Morris- Turnberry if this is Wingham’s development property. Snell explained that the agreement had stated North Huron would provide water and sewer to the highway property that will be zoned commercial. Councillor Archie MacGowan said the land at the highway was non-negotiable. “Does this make any sense,” said Currie. “It seems impractical to not negotiate them together.” He also wondered why the land behind the high school hadn’t been incorporated into the agreement. Snell explained that this is something that should perhaps be looked at, but noted that having school property in two municipalities has no impact on the property owner as the school doesn’t pay tax. “We would have to negotiate this with Morris- Turnberry, but also make sure the school wants it as well.” Tall and short of it Trista Deitner, Katee Richmond and Alix Sholdice performed a rather unique dance routine at the New Year’s Day Levee in Brussels. (Vicky Bremner photo) Residents repeat concerns about future development The use of heaters in the local arenas was discussed at Dec. 19’s Huron East council meeting. Some ratepayers had voiced complaints about the temperature in the arenas. There are heaters in all of the local arenas, but they are not being turned on very often. McKillop councillor Larry McGrath speculated that they only get used between three and five times a year. Questions were raised over what the temperature should be in order for the heaters in the arenas to be activated. Councillor Joe Steffler agreed that it should not affect the ice pad, but also said that it is council’s duty to make sure the fans are comfortable. McGrath suggested that if the heaters were going to sit unused in the arenas that they should be given back to those who donated them. “If the people who donated them heard this conversation, they would be angry.” Council decided to get their recreation board to look at it again, now that they know how some of the fans were feeling about the temperature in the arenas. Huron East discusses heated issue By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Challenge: No time to prepare a healthy meal Solution:Planning and shopping ahead may seem like a time-consuming effort initially but over the long run can help save time and money, reduce stress, and improve nutrition intakes. • Get organized – stock your cupboards, fridge and freezer with basics that will help you pull together nutritious meals in a hurry. These include: – Grain Products: whole grain bread, cereal, pitas and flour tortillas; pasta and rice. – Vegetables and Fruit: fresh vegetables and fruit in season as well as a variety of canned and frozen vegetables and juices. – Milk Products: milk, yogurt and cheese. – Meat & Alternatives: meat, fish, poultry; eggs; canned fish; canned beans and lentils; nuts and seeds; tofu and soy products, and peanut butter. – Other foods: butter, soft margarine, vegetable oil (canola, safflower, sunflower, corn, olive); sugar, honey, syrup; mustard, ketchup, salsa, vinegar, soya sauce, and spices. • Plan ahead – Choose three or four main dinner meals to have during the week and make a list of items needed. Be sure to include something from each of the four food groups in Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating. Buy all the ingredients you need ahead of time to avoid unnecessary trips to the store. Post the menu plan on the fridge so everyone knows what’s for dinner. Leave out simple instructions or the recipe so that whoever gets home first can start the preparation or cooking. • Make only one meal – No one has time to be a short order cook for different family members at different times. Avoid cooking one meal for each person – no matter what time they get home. Store leftovers safely in the refrigerator for latecomers to heat up when they get home. • Share the tasks – Younger children can set the table, older kids can help with food preparation and everyone can help with the cleanup. Assign jobs to share the load and so everyone knows what is expected of them. • Make life interesting – Try a new recipe or new food every once in a while – ask family members to find and suggest recipes that they would like to try. Remember variety is the spice of life! BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED