HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-06-07, Page 1The CitizenVolume 23 No. 23 Thursday, June 7, 2007 $1.25 ($1.18 + 7c GST)Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Inside this week
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Pg. 24
Time to start
thinking dress up
Local youth wins at
talent contest
Optimists give to
fire departments
‘Oklahoma!’ takes
Stratforrd stage
Province invests in
community
The saga of the Brussels Library
was brought to the public once
again last week.
The library has been in limbo ever
since provincial regulations were
handed down.
“You know those guys [provincial
government], they make the plans
and don’t send the money,” said
Huron East mayor Joe Seili.
The issues surrounding funding
are in regards to how big the library
is and its accessibility.
Seili chaired the meeting at the
Brussels, Morris and Grey
Community Centre on May 29.
The two options are to add to the
west side of the existing building, or
build a new library on the newly-
purchased land.
Citizens expressed interest in
designating the current Carnegie
building as a heritage site.
Ratepayers agreed that as the
Brussels 135th approaches,
preserving its heritage should be at
the forefront for this “gem of a
building” as one ratepayer called it.
Seili agreed, saying that he would
like to see the historical integrity of
the building preserved.
The first proposal, to make the
current library accessible, was one
that needed some discussion before
anyone would commit to it. Under
the current plans, the front entrance
would have to be torn up, remodeled
and brought down to ground level;
something that didn’t sit well with
many of the citizens.
The corner-entrance library is a
rarity in the province, one of just
two Seili said, but for that to be the
main entrance that is what would
have to happen.
The other possibility with this
option, Seili said, would be to have
a main entrance by the newly-
installed elevator in the addition and
keep the corner entrance as is, but
lock the doors, leaving the entrance
alone, but leaving it strictly for
show.
Seili says he’s trying everything to
stay away from an elevator,
something that would add $5-6,000
in annual maintenance costs to the
library.
Citizens were adamant that the
building fit in with the existing
architecture around town, whether it
be a new building or the proposed
addition.
Seili explained why one of the
original three options was cut down
before it was tabled at the meeting.
This option would create a split
level library that would have to be
staffed by two employees,
something the county doesn’t have
the funding for.
Closing the Carnegie building and
re-opening the library in one of
Brussels’ empty storefronts was an
idea that was also resurrected.
Library
still
in limbo
Idle hands ..
.. made extra work for busy Brussels works staff on Friday morning. The downtown planters
which volunteers had filled on Thursday were tipped over ruining the flowers and creating a
mess. Rick White, left, and Dave Beirnes cleaned up, but weren’t able to salvage many of the
plants (Bonnie Gropp photo)
With everyone pulling together to
beautify Brussels for this summer’s
Homecoming celebration, the sight
that greeted residents Friday
morning was a slap in the face.
Sometime during the early
morning hours four of the downtown
planters, which had been filled with
flowers by volunteers just the day
before had been tipped over. Also, a
planter owned by a downtown
resident was damaged.
Murray Lowe, who resides above
one of the businesses, said he had
been awake at 2:30 a.m. and the
planters were still in place. No one
in the area reported hearing any
noise.
The loss is estimated at $25-$30
per planter, plus the wages of
municipal workers to clean up the
mess. The volunteer hours
unfortunately can not have a dollar
value placed on them.
“It’s really frustrating,” said
resident Agnes TenPas. “People
spent time trying to make things
look good, they want to be proud of
the town, then someone comes along
who just doesn’t care.”
Wayne Lowe said there will be a
$500 reward for information that
leads to an arrest. He also said he
will be looking into the placement of
video cameras in the downtown
core.
Over the past couple of months
there has been a lot of activity in the
Brussels conservation park.
“The project that has brought
many community groups, businesses
and individuals together has been
moving steadily along,” said
Brussels Optimist Jeff Newell, who
heads the restoration project.
The park’s rejuvenation began as a
goal of improving accessibility and
safety for users, but also to create
new opportunities for increased
usaged by local residents and
visitors, Newell said.
Much of the work has been done.
New safety railings have been
installed on the two bridges. A
butterfly garden has been planted
with the help of the horticultural
society.
A concrete surface has been
poured to accommodate the display
of names, either as supporters or in
memory.
The concrete boat ramp was
poured on the west side of the river
and the access ramp to the dam has
been made accessible with a
concrete surface.
The new accessible washroom will
be open soon.
Still to come this summer are
paved walkways, a new foot bridge
and new bench seating and picnic
tables.
Concrete walls will be installed to
display the Friends of the Park name
plaques. These can be in memory of
someone or bear the name of a
supporter. The plaques can be
purchased for a cost of $100.
More than $100,000 has been
raised thus far with an additional
$20,000 remaining to cover the
costs.
“We are looking for contributions
through the Friends of the Park name
plaque portion of the project,” said
Newell.
They are currently looking at
methods for payment and will be
bringing more information forward
in the near future, he said.
The Brussels Citizen of the Year is
someone who is not only a
community leader, but an
inspirational role model as well.
Doug McArter was selected by
the committee for his involvement
in a number of organizations, for his
dedication to every task and for his
positive personality.
McArter is a member of the
Brussels Optimists, manager of the
Brussels Tigers fastball team, is on
the fastball tournament committee
for Homecoming 2007, has served
in a number of ways at his local
church and when the local Terry Fox
Run was in need of a leader several
years ago, took on yet one more
responsibility with the help of his
wife Rhonda.
The father of three has been in a
wheelchair since a hockey accident
as a young boy. But, as one
nominator said, “you don’t ever
think of Doug being disabled. He
does everything for himself and for
others, always with efficiency and a
pleasant smile.”
Another said, “Quite simply,
Doug is an inspiration to
everybody.”
Along with the nominators, the
committee was impressed by the
fact that McArter’s record of
involvement is nothing new. When
someone needed to step up and keep
the Brussels Bulls executive going
several years ago, McArter willingly
threw his name in. He served on the
last Homecoming committee as
well.
“And he will be doing the same
thing years down the road,” said a
member of the selection committee.
“He has a positive outlook on life
and always there’s his wonderful
smile,” said a nominator. “He is
certainly worthy of this award.”
The award, presented annually for
each of the Brussels and Blyth
areas, is sponsored by The Citizen.
Brussels
gets its
‘Citizen’
Planters don’t last a night
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
Work ‘moving steadily along’
on Optimist park rejuvenation
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Continued on page 2