HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1990-10-17, Page 1Bly th Council, Festival reach library agreement
Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel,
Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships.
VOL. 6 NO. 42 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1990.50 CENTS
Family award
Mary Beth Mann (centre) with her daughters Tracy and Kendra,
accepts the Huron County Federation of Agriculture Award for
Outstanding Contribution to Agriculture at the Federation’s
annual meeting in Brussels Friday night. Mrs. Mann, formerly of
the Moncrieff area, wasjoint winner with her husband whodied in
1986aftera long illness. Both Manns had beenactiveinwork of the
Federation along with community affairs in Grey township.
Former Grey farm family wins Federation award
The 1990 Federation of Agricul
ture Award for contribution to
i,-^agriculture in Huron County has
Seen awarded posthumously to a
former Moncrieff-area farmer and
to his wife who survives him.
Bill and Mary Beth Mann were
named winners of the award which
was accepted by Mary Beth and her
daughters Tracy and Kendra at the
annual meeting and banquet of the
Federation Friday night in Brus
sels. The couple had farmed in
Grey township until Mr. Mann’s
death in 1986. Mrs. Mann has since
moved to Waterloo where she
studied to become a social worker.
The couple was praised for their
involvement in the community. Mr.
Mann was president of the Grey
Township Federation of Agricul
ture in 1977 and was a member of
the OFA’s members and services
committee. He was also a member
of the board of the Moncrieff Hall
and was active in many other ways
in the community.
In accepting the award Mrs.
Mann said her husband really
enjoyed farming. “Bill would want
you to know how often we thought
of you,’’ she said of her husband’s
long illness. “We were fortunate to
live in a community that cared.’’
A tentative agreement has been
reached between the Village of
Blyth and the Blyth Centre for the
Arts which will allow the entire first
floor of the north wing of Memorial
Hall for use as the Blyth branch of
the Huron County Library.
The agreement, which must still
be ratified by the Centre for the
Arts Board of Directors, was reach
ed in a special meeting Oct. 9
between council and Joel Harris,
general manager and Don’ McCaf
frey, building committee chairman
of the Centre.
The agreement will see the
Centre trade its space, valued at
upwards of $90,000 for an agree
ment with the village in which the
village will forego the summer
rental charge for use of Memorial
Hall. Loss of the $3900 rental fee
won’t be total however because the
village will pick up an additional
$2,000 rent a year from the Huron
County Library as a result of having
three times as much floor space in
the new library as in the present
location in the municipal building.
XCouncillors had earlier in the day
attended a meeting of the Huron
County Library Board to discuss
the situation at Memorial Hall.
They were told that not only did the
board feel the full 900 square feet
of the main floor was necessary for
a viable library, but the board felt
Blyth should actually have 1200
square feet. The board said that
counting rural residents using the
Blyth library, the total population
using the library was 1350. While
the current library has 2,200 books,
it was recommended there should
be 4,050. The library should also
have a study area seating five
people (there is none at present)
and children’s for six as compared
to two at present.
The board said that because of
lack of space Blyth area residents
were doing without services such
as audio and video cassettes,
book/tape packages and programs
such as book clubs and Outreach
programs like puppet shows, musi
cians, etc.
Under the agreement with the
Centre for the Arts, the village’s
offer will be renegotiated if capital
expansion of the north wing to
allow more space is undertaken in
the future.
Council at its Oct. 10 meeting set
up a building committee to oversee
renovation of the space once the
Centre for the Arts Board has
approved the agreement.
Neighbours protest plan for garage, apartment
A delegation of Brussels resi
dents attended the public meeting
on October 15 at the municipal
office to voice their opposition to a
proposed zoning by-law amend
ment that would allow for double
family occupancy in a residential
area.
The request for a re-zoning is
from Frank Backhaus, of 52
William St.. Lot 305 who hopes to
build a double car garage, work
shop, with an apartment above for
his mother. The size would be
approximately 42 feet by 30 feet.
Mr. Backhaus said in his presenta
tion to Council that it is his intent to
keep the brick and the rest of the
exterior as close to the existing
facade as possible.
However, neighbours are still
concerned with what this will do to
the overall look. Clerk Donna
White read letters from neighbours
in attendance that stated their
objections to the proposal. Inez
McDonald said that she felt it was a
“shame to destroy the appear
ance." Doris McDonald stated that
it would “block her view, ruin the
look of the lot" and she felt that a
historic building should remain the
same. Pat Alexander said that
Council should remember "Better
must not always mean bigger".
Several other neighbours had
signed a letter of opposition as
well.
It was felt that should Council
pass the by-law, they will be
setting a precedent that could
"invite disaster", according to
Mrs. McDonald.
Wayne Caldwell of the Huron
County Planning Department sug
gested that Council could consider
a revised by-law that would leave
the zoning as it is with a provision
for a separate dwelling unit. Those
present did not feel this was an
adequate solution however as it
would allow Mr. Backhaus to
proceed though it would prevent
anyone else from making changes
without first having a public meet
ing. "1 can’t see it will change
anything,’’ said Mrs. McDonald.
Mr. Caldwell agreed his proposal
would only provide them with
insurance against further changes
in the by-law without having
another opportunity to speak
against it.
"What about property value?’’
asked Mrs. McDonald. “It’s going
to devaluate.’’
Mrs. Alexander supported this
comment, saying, "We can't be
short-sighted about this.’’
Councillor Bruce Hahn, who was
acting Chairman of the meeting,
said that those present seemed to
be less concerned with the zoning
change than with the appearance of
the house. “Certainly, we would all
like to keep the heritage look of the
place, but if I was in Frank’s spot I
couldn’t help thinking that it was
my money that bought this place. If
any one has any say on how my
house looks it should be me.’’
Mr. Backhaus said that from the
front the structure should just look
like a bigger garage. “This is going
to be a new building. I’d much
rather look at this than my garage
now. 1 can’t see how it will lower
the property value.’’
Continued on page 27