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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-09-06, Page 8PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2018. The Citizen now accepts Visa, MasterCard and Debit Convenient and easy to • advertise • subscribe • buy books Call or drop in to our Blyth office to make a payment today 413 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792 at our Blyth location Blyth subdivision development agreement close The proposed subdivision at the north end of the village of Blyth inched closer to reality recently with North Huron Council and developer Gary Rutledge being very close to reaching an agreement with regards to servicing it. Rutledge, in an interview with The Citizen last week, said that the project was moving forward thanks to council being receptive to his requests and working with him. The project should start taking shape in October, Rutledge said, saying that the shovel should be in the ground to begin laying roadwork and servicing the subdivision, which will include 16 properties for detached, single-home lots, five multi-unit properties separated into four four-plexes and one three-plex, and a retirement home. Rutledge purchased the property for the subdivision in June of 2017, meaning that from purchase to beginning the work should take just over a year, a reality he attributes to GM BluePlan Engineering, Ron Davidson Land Planning, the Huron County Planning and Development Department and North Huron Council and staff. He said that, especially with the Public Works Department, every issue was brought before council, keeping councillors up to date on the project and ensuring that all progress was public and transparent. He appreciated that aspect of the process. Rutledge plans to sell the 16 single-family lots, but will retain the multiplexes and retirement home. He said that building the subdivision was a means to that end, as he wanted to operate the multiplexes and retirement home. He said reservations for the 16 lots will be taken this fall. He anticipates the two multiplexes, with partner Aaron Harding of Harding Construction, will begin taking shape next spring. The work will be very visible, he said, as the first two units will border on County Road 4, on the northern and southern side of a newly-built road connecting to the major thoroughfare. Rutledge said council worked with him on issues like drainage to make the project feasible, and he looks forward to being a part of the village of Blyth. Coming from Ripley, Rutledge said he’s constantly impressed by the recent development in Blyth and is excited to be a part of that going forward. He said he will be happy to provide homes in the community both for seniors and for younger families. The retirement home itself is likely two to three years away, Rutledge said, but the multiplexes will be available for rent by fall, 2019. Register at: www.scouts.ca The Link: Myscouts.ca BEAVERS Wednesdays – 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Londesborough Community Hall (Lions) CUBS Tuesdays – 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Londesborough Community Hall (Lions) TROOP Thursdays – 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Anglican Church Hall, Blyth 1st Blyth Scouts Contact: Lavern Clark 519-523-9659 Commencing September 18, 2018 North-side development Developer Gary Rutledge is close to reaching an agreement with North Huron Township regarding servicing the above development. His proposal includes 16 properties for detached homes, five multi-unit properties By Denny Scott The Citizen with one three-plex and three four-plexes and a retirement home. Rutledge will operate the multi-unit dwellings and retirement home while selling the 16 properties once the agreement is struck and work begins on the subdivision. (Image submitted) Smith excited for R2R events Continued from page 1 Perth-Huron’s Social Research and Planning Council’s “How Much is Enough” report, which is underway. The report focuses on the causes and impacts of low incomes on families and communities. Smith said that, after the last R2R conference, it became apparent that people wanted a chance to talk to each other and connect in a non- regulated way. The Huron Sundowner sessions will offer people that chance. While they can take in Manzo’s show, conference- goers can also leave Blyth Memorial Community Hall to take in the village or the Greenway Trail or local businesses while chatting with fellow attendees. Wednesday’s dinner, set for 6-8 p.m., will feature keynote speaker Shanna Ratners from St. Albans, Vermont. Ratners will share her experiences managing complex research and capacity-building initiatives while analyzing rural economic development opportunities. Ratners is a researcher and trainer specializing in rural community economic development. Following dinner, there will be what Smith calls “A Newfoundland Kitchen Party” until midnight, featuring music, stories and dancing, all with an East-coast influence. THURSDAY Thursday will start off with breakfast and registration and, after some remarks from the conference organizers, a market-style seminar will be held called “Passport to Research.” Smith has invited PhD students from schools with significant rural programming to host interactive stations designed to engage conference participants. The event will run from 9:30-11 a.m. The idea behind the seminar is to create a connection between people researching rural communities and those communities. He said he hopes that the students leave the seminar with an idea of what the communities need in terms of academic focus. A plenary session focused on renewable rural communities is set for 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Smith explained that members of the Wiikwemkoong First Nation people as well as delegates from Oxford County will be present. Huron County community members will also be part of the discussion, which will focus on sustainability, rural resilience and environmental management. The delegation from Oxford County will include both staff and government officials who will speak on the county’s bold environmental efforts, which have been praised by Huron County Council members. Lunch will run from 12:30-2 p.m., and will feature Dr. Ryan Gibson, who will share reflections on the morning’s Passport to Research market-style seminar. The second set of concurrent sessions will run 2-4 p.m. and see conference-goers split into three groups. The first optional session for Wednesday is called “Millennial Machinery” and will focus on what a new rural community would look like if young adults between the ages of 20 and 30 were to create it. The second session will focus on the housing crisis facing many rural communities and is called “Where Are You Living?” The third session is called “Food Systems and Security” and will focus on challenges in food production from grassroots to large- scale production and water security. The second Huron Sundowner will be held from 4-5:30 p.m. with dinner following, being prepared by a local Jamaican chef who will prepare traditional Jamaican fare. FRIDAY Friday will start at 7:30 a.m. with breakfast and registration and after more comments from the conference organizers, the last plenary session will be held called ReSkilling for the 21st century. The discussion will be hosted by Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Vice- President John Stackhouse who will present the results of “Humans Wanted”, a year-long, national study that focused on the skills needed for evolving workplaces. Stackhouse will be joined by van der Loo who will present work he has been doing on science, technology, engineering and mathematic fields (STEM) in Europe. Stackhouse and van der Loo will moderate the discussion and will be joined by local entrepreneurs. The day will end with lunch from noon until 1 p.m. and will feature dignitaries from every level of government reflecting on the conference. For more information on any of the conference or the speakers, visit www.ruralcreativity.org.