The Citizen, 2019-01-03, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 3, 2019. PAGE 7.
Early ice cost more than anticipated: Luttenberger
After a less-than-optimal
experience in 2018, the Hayter
Hockey School might not be able to
count on using the ice pad at the
North Huron Wescast Community
Complex earlier than anyone else
this year.
Last year, the school had requested
the ice be put in the arena a week
earlier than usual so the camp could
be run the last week of August.
Council approved the request last
year, provided $7,300 in ice time
rentals were scheduled by June 1.
During the council meeting before
2019, however, Director of
Recreation and Community Services
Vicky Luttenberger said the
experience with the hockey school
was less than ideal.
Luttenberger explained that the ice
plant has to run two weeks before ice
can be put in, and that the electricity
for opening a week early cost an
additional $5,500.
She also explained that there was
an equipment failure, which cost the
municipality $5,000. Luttenberger
tied the equipment failure to the high
temperatures experienced at the time
of the late summer rentals.
Beyond that, Luttenberger
explained that a lack of activities
planned between ice time
necessitated municipal staff
organizing activities for the students
of the school, which was also not
originally planned.
As a result, the $7,300 generated
did not cover costs.
Complaints from other users of the
facility were also fielded regarding
the conduct of the hockey school
pupils in the community centre.
Councillor Kevin Falconer said it
was not appropriate to malign the
hockey school by suggesting it was
to blame for the equipment failure.
He said it may have been working in
higher temperatures than it was
designed for, but the failure wasn’t a
direct result of the users. While he
said he was sure it wasn’t cost
effective, he didn’t want the
equipment failure included in
council’s decision.
Reeve Bernie Bailey suggested
that the school could utilize one of
the other two arenas in the
municipality, however Councillor
Paul Heffer said that the schools
need to take place before the hockey
season, and ice isn’t in at either the
Belgrave or Blyth arenas early.
Council received Luttenberger’s
report and directed staff to discuss
the issue further with the hockey
school.
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
NEWS
FROM BLYTH
A big year for Blyth
Welcome the year 2019. Happy
newyear everyone.
Happy birthday to Connie Nesbitt
and Dave Webster, who celebrated
Jan. 1; Deb Hakkers, Mike Haggitt
and Jenna deCorte, Zurich who all
celebrate Jan. 4; Brodie Nesbitt, Jan.
5; Josie MacDonald, Jan. 7; Jason
Bromley, Jan. 8 and Henny Meier,
Jan. 9.
As we look back on 2018, we have
all become a year older whether we
admit it or not. We
have met many new faces along the
way.
We have attended many events
through the year: the Barn Dance,
Blyth Festival, the annual reunion of
the Huron Pioneeer Thresher and
Hobby Association and our first
Hometown Holiday Weekend. All
were very successful events for a
small town. Congratulations to the
organizers.
It All Comes Out In The Wash
Blyth Laundromat
191 Westmoreland St., Blyth
519-523-9687
By Marilyn
Craig
Call
523-9318
From Marilyn’s DeskCounty approves new Blyth lot
Huron County Council recently
approved the creation of a new lot in
Blyth at the west end of Dinsley
Street.
Blyth residents Alicia Burton and
Lianne Hoogenboom requested the
severance of a parcel of their land,
which would create an L-shaped lot
that would then allow for the
construction of a new house.
While the lot would face onto
Dinsley street, it would then run
back to the land adjacent to the back
of the Blyth and District Community
Centre, dog-legging to the west to
create a new L-shaped lot.
Huron County Planner Laura
Simpson told Huron County
Council that the department had no
objections to the severance
application, but that neighbour
Jannetje Passchier objected to the
application, concerned that she
would realize a loss of privacy as a
result.
Mary Passchier, speaking on
behalf of Jannetje at a council
meeting late last month, said that the
family’s concerns did include a loss
of privacy and reduced property
values if the application was
approved.
Hoogenboom, however, spoke to
her neighbour’s concerns, saying
that there is a drastic need for lots in
Blyth, which her application would
go a small way towards assisting.
She said that with her new career
pivot into the world of real estate,
she could assure her neighbour that
property values would not drop as a
result. If anything, she said, a new
lot that could result in a new house
would likely stand to increase
property values.
She also said that in recent years,
with significant interest in
development in Blyth, property
values have increased.
Councillors agreed with Simpson
and Hoogenboom, saying that any
concerns about a loss of privacy or
the construction of structures like a
shed on the property already exist in
the lot’s current state, as
Hoogenboom and Burton could
build a shed on the property if they
so pleased.
Council approved Burton’s and
Hoogenboom’s application, saying
that while councillors listened to the
concerns of the applicant’s
neighbour, they did not influence
council’s decision to approve the
application.
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Big win
The Blyth PeeWee Bullets posted a convincing 3-1 win
over Seafoth in some of the last broomball action before
the end of the year in Blyth. (Mark Nonkes photo)
MVP-type stuff
The Blyth Brussels PeeWee Rep Crusaders posted a big win over the Mount Forest Rams in
one of the final games of 2018 at the Blyth and District Community Centre, closing out the year
with an 8-3 victory. Brett McCutcheon, above, was the star of the show that night, getting his
team off to a 5-0 start, scoring all five early goals. While Mount Forest would storm back, the
Crusaders would maintain that five-goal gap with the 8-3 final score. (Shawn Loughlin photo)