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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2019-02-14, Page 2PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019. Huron East Council has approved a controversial minor variance application made by Grey farmer Remo Schlumpf, despite its proximity to the Mount Pleasant Cemetery. The issue was finally put to rest at council’s Feb. 5 meeting after being first discussed two weeks earlier on Jan. 22. Huron County Planner Denise Van Amersfoort spoke to the issue, clearing up some facts before council made its decision. She said that while the initial dairy quota paperwork had been based on a herd of 65 cows, in fact the Schlumpfs had just 60 dairy cows. That difference brought the minor severance for the new barn from a proposed 10 metres to just two metres and the Schlumpfs were willing to move the structure by those two metres to bring it into compliance. The manure storage now demanded 548 metres of separation, as opposed to the 555 that was reported at the Jan. 22 meeting. With the separation supposed to be 430 metres, Van Amersfoort said that small difference put the manure storage into a variance that the department deemed minor in nature. In the two weeks since the Jan. 22 meeting, Van Amersfoort said she was part of two conversations regarding the application, as she was unable to make contact with many of those with interment rights at the cemetery who had written complaints. Many of the letters, she said, didn’t have contact information, so she wasn’t able to reach many of the complainants. While some concerns remained among those two complainants, Van Amersfoort said she felt that usage on the property should be allowed and that normal farm practices couldn’t be limited by Huron East Council, Huron County Council or the planning department. One interment right owner from Listowel suggested that the Schlumpfs could refrain from spreading manure on days when funerals were being held. However, Van Amersfoort said, spreading manure is a normal farm practice and can’t be limited. The other landowner suggested an odour impact study and Van Amersfoort said she didn’t feel there was a need for a study. She said that the county has taken great strides to preserve the right and ability to farm in Huron County and, with the cemetery already demanding double minimum distance separation, normally reserved for busy public areas, she felt the variance was minor in nature and should be approved by council. Council agreed and approved the Schlumpfs’ application. Continued from page 1 discussed would be a drastic overhaul to the grant structure altogether. Mayor Bernie MacLellan wondered aloud whether the municipality should be in the business of granting taxpayers’ dollars to charitable organizations. While there are some annual grants that are operational in nature for committees of council, he wondered if others weren’t “double-dipping” by charitable organizations that are, at the same time, asking residents for donations throughout Huron East. He compared the situation to that of Huron County Council in recent years, saying that for years the county didn’t grant any funds until one organization came forward and asked. Council granted the funds and then, steadily, he said, year after year the county was receiving more grant requests and often looking upon them favourably. As time went on, MacLellan said, grant requests grew larger and more numerous and the county began to get a reputation as a granting organization for worthy causes. MacLellan said this became a problem because “everyone has a good story” and it became tough for council to turn away those looking for grants for worthy causes. However, there were some grants approved by the county in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and it just wasn’t an effective use of taxpayers’ dollars. Several Huron East councillors, however, said that with Huron East having a $20,000 cap on grants, they didn’t envision that problem arising at the local level and MacLellan agreed, but felt that a staff review of the grant policy ahead of the 2020 intake would be a good move. Council agreed and asked for a staff report on the grant policy later this year ahead of the 2020 grant intake. Grants approved for 2019 are: Brussels Agricultural Society – Brussels Fall Fair, $1,000; Brussels Horticultural Society, $500; Brussels Santa Claus Parade, $1,000; Ethel Minor Ball, $500; Huron Centennial Public School – graduation awards; $40; Huron County Farm and Home Safety Association, $250; Huron Perth Agriculture and Water Festival, $250; Huron Plowmen’s Association, $250; Clinton Lions Club – Lions Park, $1,000; Seaforth Lions Club – Santa Claus parade, $1,000; Seaforth Lions Club – pool, $7,500; Maitland Bank Cemetery, $400; Royal Canadian Legion – Hensall, $55; Royal Canadian Legion – Remembrance Day Seaforth/Brussels, $100; Seaforth Agricultural Society – Fall Fair, $1,000; Seaforth Food Bank – hall rental, $375; Seaforth Horticultural Society $550; St. Columban Soccer, $500; St. John Ambulance, $250; Van Egmond Foundation, $1,000; Walton Area Sports Club, $500; Winthrop Ball Park, $500. HE Council to review grants Variance approved The book of secrets These Hullett Central Public School students were cold outside during recess earlier this month, but that didn’t stop them from keeping some secret notes. From left: Alexis Ansley, Gavriella Garrity, Elektra Kalos Venardatos and Natalie McClinchey. (Denny Scott photo) GET CONNECTED! The Citizen is now planning its 2018-2019 Telephone Book WANT TO ADD OR RENEW YOUR CELL PHONE LISTING? Each person can have one free listing (cell or landline). Additional phone numbers are just $5.00. Get in the book! Is your number correct in the recently delivered Bell Canada phone book? Do you have a new listing since that book was compiled? Let us know about corrections or additions Call 519-523-4792 or info@northhuron.on.ca STEVEN NIXON Broker WILFRED MCINTEE & CO. L IMITED Bus: 519-357-2222 Cell: 519-531-0252 Fax: 519-357-4482 Email: nixon@execulink.com Web: www.stevennixon.com 249 Josephine St., WINGHAM, ON N0G 2W0 Serving the area since 1999 107 MARY ST WINGHAM MLS#30708798 #5 $249,900.00 Great location to build your dream home on this 6 acre country property or development opportunity, close to town, hydro available, natural gas is in front of property to the south, private location, backs onto bush land. Call Steve Nixon 519.357.2222 84772 McDonald Line • Box 616 • Brussels devonjhenry@hotmail.com 519-505-2473 Devon Henry Leadership in energy and environmental design Council considers dam request North Huron Township Council may establish the Howson Dam and Pond committee as a committee of council in the coming months. The committee’s Andy McBride spoke to council during its Feb. 4 meeting, explaining that the committee was seeking a formal relationship with council. McBride explained that, since the committee was struck in 2012, it has gathered the support of 1,000 residents and eight community groups. He laid out the committee’s current objectives, which included becoming officially recognized by council and assisting council with repairs to the dam to drastically increase its function and appearance. He also said the committee wants to re-establish the historic water level of the pond. The committee is also seeking to have township staff involved with their meetings to better communicate with the municipality. McBride dismissed many of the concerns that have been brought up during council’s discussions about the demand, stating that there was not an environmental assessment required to repair the dam and that, despite reports to the contrary, hydro power generation could be considered. Throughout the presentation, McBride referred to the repair of the dam, not commenting on the reports that the previous council received that also suggested removal and replacement as options. Council received McBride’s presentation and directed staff to research making the organization a committee of council, including laying out terms of references for the committee. During the recent campaign for the municipal election, several candidates, including current Reeve Bernie Bailey and Councillor Paul Heffer, said that repairing the Howson Dam should not constitute a municipal expenditure. North Huron Township Council will be recognizing the efforts of the Wingham Police Service on Feb. 19, council’s next meeting. At noon on Feb. 21, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will be taking over for the Wingham Police Service, meaning that Wingham, for the next three years, will be under a transitional police coverage contract. Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip requested that the efforts of the police be recognized through a special event, suggesting the Feb. 19 meeting as it paired nicely with the timing of the official OPP transition. He said the Police Services Board suggested the event, which would allow the public, council and staff to come out to the meeting to mark the occasion. “I’m going to be making a motion to send requests to each associated member and their families to come and celebrate the years of service they have provided,” he said. “The police have been an advocate member of the municipality for 140 years. It’s time that we celebrate that, and them and their years of service to the municipality.” Police to be honoured By Denny Scott The Citizen