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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-12-06, Page 7THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1989. PAGE 7. Brussels residents feel village needs facelift Discovering and addressing the major strengths and weaknesses of Brussels is the first plan of action for the Brussels, Morris and Grey Industrial Committee in their de­ velopment strategy. This was de­ cided at a meeting of the group on November 28, with Wayne Cald­ well, Senior planner with Huron County Planning and Development who is advising the committee and steering them in the right direc­ tion. Keith Mulvey, chairman of the committee explained that a questionnaire will be distributed to the 12 members asking them to address what they feel are the primary strengths and weaknesses of Brussels. These will in turn be brought to a meeting on December 12 and the committee will select four or five to receive top priority. This past summer the village of Brussels distributed a survey to local businesses and householders in the hopes of compiling informa­ tion that will aid in economic development in the community. In order to prepare the back­ ground information meetings were held with the staff of Huron County Department of Planning and De­ velopment. The framework was established outlining various cate­ gories of information which needed to be collected and there was discussion of the information sour­ ces and contacts necessary to gather this information. An impressive 80 per cent re­ sponded to the survey which Mr. Mulvey said was excellent. “People faithfully went through those surveys and gave us useful information.” Mr. Mulvey believes that the good response may well have been due to the fact that the survey was distributed by volunteers. “It was an effective way to handle it,” he said. “When people knew someone would be picking it up personally, |( they made a conscious effort to fill y it out.” * In commenting on the survey’s M findings Mr. Mulvey says, “There A were a lot of really good points K brought up. The major concern addressed in the business survey fcs. sore”. Suggestions to improve the downtown include: sidewalk repair, tree and flower planning, garbage receptacle, the creation of a small park in the vacant lot site and the repair or demolition of derelict buildings like Export Packers and the old Garniss shop. Deputy-Clerk Donna White stat­ ed that while this is an important issue it is difficult for the village to solve. “A lot of these buildings are privately owned and all we can ask them (the owners) to do are wavs to ensure safety. We can’t make them put a business there,” she said. Mr. Mulvey agreed that, yes, it can be a difficult situation, but the committee will look at ways to seek improvements. I flI was a need for improvements to the store fronts.” The condition of the downtown core and the village sidewalks are a common concern for many in Brussels, according to the survey. Residents feel that presently the physical appearance of many of the downtown structures is “an Beating odds a fading hope Continued from page 4 you’re never likely to see lifetime of working for the pany. Count me as a small, backward, stubborn rebel but I don’t think it’s either good or acceptable that we lose the sense that the guy can start at the bottom and work his way up. I think making people feel they’re destined to work for the company for the rest of their lives is our modern equivalent of the serfdom of the old-world nations that drove our ancestors to come here in the first place. It seems to me that if the individual feels overwhelmed by the immense size of the system, then the system is wrong because the system should be shaped to serve the people, not the people for the system. So I cheer for the few examples left of the underdog winning. I cheer for the upstart Saskatchewan Roughriders who probably should­ n’t have been in that Grey Cup game in the first place. They represent the fading hope that you can really beat the odds. The football field may soon be the only place left it can happen. eye- a com- in S’ The residential survey showed that the major area of improvement that most felt was needed was in housing. “Ninety-five percent of the household surveys answered felt that there is a need for additional housing particularly in the form of apartments and rental units. Other impressions received as a result of the surveys were summar­ ized in a booklet available to the public. It was discovered that most residents and businesses in Brus­ sels feel that industry is needed to keep the labour force in town. This would also attract more people to the village and stimulate business activity. For the most part, people would like to see the village increase in population however, not so much that it would be comparable in size to Wingham or Listowel. There is a desire for Brussels to generate development on its own terms. Small, clean industry sup­ ports the desire of most residents to keep Brussels a “Quiet rural community” and also perceptions that larger developments will strain both local industrial and commun­ ity services. The survey showed some disa­ greement as to the approach of economic development efforts. While it was the feeling of some that industry is the way to achieve population growth, conversely oth­ ers feel that attracting more people will in time create economic growth. The latter stresses residen­ tial development. Both business and household survey findings suggest opportuni­ ties and needs for certain business­ es and services in Brussels. These include a financial institution, shoe store, department store and furni­ ture store. The Logan Mill near the dam was mentioned in the survey by many as a prime area for development. Suggstions for the conversion of the mill into restaurant, museum or Continued on page 17 ‘ f t.ES T 1/2% ‘ALL INVESTMENTS I GUARANTEED & INSURED I I ‘FUNDS TRANSFERABLE VIA CHARTER BANK Christmas Sunday Buffets biscovq XI C Starting Sunday, Nov. 25 andalso Dec. 3,10& 17 4:30 - 7:00 P.M.Al RESERVATIONS 11/0 RECOMMENDED Blytl) Ipp V, 523-9381 Optimist honour Brussels Optimist George Langlois, who is also Lieutenant- Governor of Zone 2, Mid-Western Ontario District, presents a life membership to Don Bray, a charter member and Past President of the Brussels Optimists. 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