Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-07-29, Page 23THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1987. PAGE 23. Mayors, county smooth hurt feelings Although the historic first meet­ ing between the mayors and reeves of Huron county’s five towns and the executive committee of county council was called in haste to counter stories of what a London newspaper termed “an urban- rural" split in the conn*1’ *»- - ----mere are indications that such meetings could continue. The July 15 meeting called by Huron County warden Brian Mc- Burney was designed to address concerns expressed in the media by the five mayors, covering such topics as planning, unity, the development of Highway 8 and the creation of a county economic development office. Last February the five mayors - Jack Kopas of Wingham, Alt Ross of Seaforth, John Balfour of Clinton. Eileen Palmer of Goderich and Bruce Shaw of Exeter appear­ ed as a delegation to request an informal liason with county council through its executive committee, but it wasn't until the London Free Press quoted Mr. Shaw's threat to lead his municipality into seces­ sion from the county that the meeting was brought together. "This meeting was brought on by articles in the paper, and I hoped to have an open and frank discussion." Mr. McBurney said. “Idon'twantthistolinger. and hopefully we can put concerns to rest, because we are all responsi­ ble for the same people." Following the meeting, Mr. McBurney indicated that the dis­ cussion had been useful, and had accomplished “a lot of what I hoped for." And although he said that continuing this type of meet­ ing was not in his original plan, he did not entirely rule out any future dialogue between the two parties. "We’ll meet with anyone who wants to meet with us, but it’s not up to us,” he noted. “(This meeting) has shown that we are approachable.” Mr. Shaw’s threat to secede from the county proved to be just that, as he assured the county executive that Exeter does not wantto secede, but said his council would not sit idly by if they continued to feel their concerns were being ignored. "We get the impression that not a lot of attention is paid to recommendations from (town) council,” Mr. Shaw explained. "We have asked (the county) for a few things, and while we are not always looking for support, we’d liketoatleast see some interest (from the county). We are left with the impression that (our) ideas and concerns are being dismissed.” Although much of the three hour meeting was taken up with a problem chiefly of concern to Exeter, an ongoing dispute be­ tween Exeter and Hay Township Colleen Lichti Ontario Scholar Colleen Ann Lichti of RR 2, Brussels has been awarded an Ontario Scholarship for achieving a mark of 85.2 in her final year at Listowel District Secondary School, one of 25 students at LDSS to be so honoured. The Scholarships are presented to students who maintain an average of 80 per cent or higher in their final year of high school. The $100 awards will be presented at the commencement ceremonies in the fall. Miss Lichti has enrolled in the general arts program at the University of Waterloo this fall, although her long-term plans for the future are not yet definite, according to her mother. Miss Lichti is working this summer as co-program director at the Conestoga Bible Camp at Conestoga Lake near Moorefield. She isthe daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David Lichti. about the establishment of an agri-industrial park on their mutu­ al border, the meeting did find time to address several other issues, including Clinton Mayor Balfour’s urging that a separate economic dcvelonn,/»rxi — J- • r ice ue established in the county, which would benefit the entire county. He said that more economic development could be attracted to ADVERTISE IN Huron if there was a co-ordinated county program established, and noted that such an office would not only deal with industrial develop­ ment, but with tourism and retail and commor^-1 ......^«v.ai ueveiopment. "Wein this county are missing a big bet, and that’s tourism,” Mr. Balfour said. Both Mayor Shaw and Mayor Palmer agreed, although both PUI YOW BUSINESS IN THE SPOTLIGHTS! noted that their towns already had local industrial development com­ mittees. "We need that co-ordi­ nated effort with costs equally ----czmeu inrough county assess­ ment,” Mayor Palmer said. "We need the strong voice of the county going to Ottawa, to Toronto, to the doors of industry.” All representatives at the meet­ ing agreed that the development of Highway 8 and the establishment of a county economic development office should go hand in hand, and rf)A * - Hicvuug ended on a concilia­ tory note with Mayor Kopas pressing for continuing dialogue between the towns and the county. Let ’s stop sniping at each other in the media,” he said. We want every township, town and village to thrive in Huron County.”