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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1991-07-24, Page 1More area scholars Local students tops at Madill, GDCI See page 7 The root of the issue Grant request sets Blyth councillors thinking See page 20 Theatre review ‘Stone Angel’ good but too long See page 23 Development committees get volunteers Committees to look into such concerns as economic develop­ ment, agriculture and health and social services were set up at the second meeting of the North Huron Community Development Area at Brussels Thursday night. The meeting, open to Lhe general public, was the second in a senes of meetings to form the community development area for the townships of Grey, Howick, Morris, Tumber- ry, East and West Wawanosh and the Town of Wmgham and Village of Brussels. The inaugural meeting was held in Wingham in June. The meeting dealt with the dreams and challenges pointed out at lhe Wingham meeting and grouped them into similar cate­ gories then ranked them in order of importance. Those present were asked to select which of the six resulting study areas they would like to be involved in. Brian Treble of lhe Huron Coun­ ty Planning and Development Office said he hoped new people would still be brought out to future meetings (lhe next meeting is July 31, 7:30 p.m. at Belgrave Women's Institute Hall) lo join lhe commit­ tees. He was particularly anxious lo attract more young people lo give their perspective to the issues. Also speaking at the meeting were representatives of other simi­ lar committees. Brussels native Paul Nichol spoke on the work of the Saugecn development area in the central Bruce-Grey area. In lhe mid-1980s lhe twin supports of the economy in lhe area, agriculture and the furniture industry, were both in difficult times. The 10 municipalities in lhe area saw the devastation in their communities and realized something had to be done. As they discovered how much it would cost to carry out their own economic development efforts, the communities realized the importance of sharing and "co­ operative regionalism" was bom in lhe area. The area look advantage of the federal government’s "Community Futures" program, a program avail­ able to rural areas with severe and chronic unemployment. The pro­ gram is based on economic strate­ gics designed by a local committee. The program offers help for small business development, self­ employment incentives to help peo­ ple who are unemployed set up their own businesses, supports training initiatives, provides reloca­ tion assistance to help people move to areas where there are jobs, and provides financial support for "spe­ cial" projects, generally large busi­ nesses. The Saugeen program started in 1986 and has now developed into three groups, Mr. Nichol said. There is an economic development committee made up of representa­ tives of the 10 municipalities who oversee the work of paid economic development officers, sharing the cost on a per capita basis. There is a Business Development Corpora­ tion that provides loans and busi­ ness advice. The corporation works like a bank except that it is geared to job creation. Banks are very "up front" in saying they'd prefer not to loan to small towns and rural com­ munities, Mr. Nichol said, and pre­ ferred to loan their money in cities. The development corporation loans Continued on page 9 Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel, Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships. VOL. 7 NO. 29 WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 1991.60 CENTS Acting coy This little miss looks on nonchalantly, while her playmate gets ready to drop the letter to his love, during this preschool activity at Kids' Corner, held at the Mennonite Fellowship Hall in Brussels last week. Blyth man threatens fight on zoning Blyth Village council passed it's zoning bylaw Wednesday, after 14 years of development and despite llireats of an appeal by one unhap­ py ratepayer. The comprehensive zoning bylaw is Lhe final step in the planning pro­ cess for the village which began in the 1960's with the county official plan and moved through lhe official plan for Blyth some years later. Reeve Albert Wasson said he had been involved in lhe process since coming on council in 1977. Blyth is lhe second last municipality in Huron to adopt a zoning bylaw. But council passed the bylaw despite warnings from George Szarek and his lawyer that he would appeal lhe zoning bylaw to the Ontario Municipal Board. Mr. Szarek had appeared before council and warned that "If you're going Lo pass lhe bylaw tonight I will be tak­ ing legal action." A letter from his lawyer, Phil Cornish of Clinton was read to council, laying out Mr. Szarek's complaints. They deal with devel­ opment restrictions placed on Mr. Szarek's property at the east end of Dinsley St. One of the complaints involves designation of part of his property as being in lhe flood plain of Blyth Creek, a designation Mr. Cornish called "largely arbitrary". The des­ ignation has been the subject of several meetings between village council, officials of lhe Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, lhe county planning department and Mr. Szarek. Al one meeting, according to Clerk-treasurer Helen Grubb, officials visited lhe site and thought that if anything, the flood­ plain line should extend even fur­ ther onto Mr. Szarek's land. "We look the professional opin­ ions of recognized authorities" said Councillor Steven Sparling in rejecting the arguments in Mr. Cor­ nish's letter. Mr. Cornish also protested a holding restriction placed on lots that aren't served by water, electric­ ity and sewage. Mrs. Grubb said she had tele­ phoned Mr. Cornish and suggested he look at the properties involved himself before proceeding further.