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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-02-14, Page 3THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2019. PAGE 3. Brussels Legion Branch 218 Valentine’s Karaoke with Stubby D Bring your voice, bring your sweetheart, bring your friends. Wings available from 7-10 pm. Valentine’s special draw. Fun starts at 8:00 p.m. Friday, February 15 401 Albert Street, Box 340, Brussels, ON N0G 1H0 Phone: 519-887-6336 ~ Fax: 519-887-6438 email: riversidefuneralhome@hotmail.com www.riversidefuneralhome.ca Nominate someone you know who doesn’t have a subscription to The Citizen but should! Promoting our Community CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, December 13, 2018 Volume 34 No. 49 RESPONSE- Pg. 3 Morris-Turnberry Mayor calls for autonomy CONCERT- Pg. 6 Brussels Ministerial comes together for show FUNDING - Pg. 2 Education Minister in Blyth to hand out grants Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0 INSIDE THIS WEEK: Seaforth’s Fisher elected Huron East Deputy-Mayor 4-H Clubs awarded Seaforth Councillor Bob Fisher is Huron East’s new deputy-mayor,besting two others who put theirnames forward at the inaugural meeting of Huron East Council onDec. 4.Fisher, Tuckersmith Councillor Ray Chartrand and Grey Councillor Alvin McLellan all let their namesstand for the municipality’s second-in-command position. This came after Huron East eliminated the at-large deputy-mayor position, reducing the size of council from 12 members to 11 just ahead ofOctober’s election.It was Fisher who nominated Chartrand for the position. Chartrand then paid the favour backby nominating Fisher. FormerDeputy-Mayor Joe Steffler nominated McLellan for the position.Fisher told his fellow councillorsthat he has lived in the community for over 40 years. In addition, he hasbeen a councillor for 12 years and spent nearly 40 years in business, all experience he felt would aid in beingthe deputy-mayor.Fisher also listed a number of projects he’d like to see undertaken or continued both in Huron East andin Huron County.In Huron East, Fisher said he wanted to see the municipality’s community centres better utilizedand to promote a harmoniousrelationship between residents of all of Huron East’s five wards.At the county level, Fisher said he wanted to see a greater focus on tourism, saying that Huron Countycould easily be the Prince EdwardCounty of southwestern Ontario. He also said that while the county’s accessibility advisory committee hasdone a lot of great work, there is stillmore to be done. Fisher also said that, as someone who is legally blind, he also hopedthat being named deputy-mayorwould inspire others with disabilities saying that if they “get [their] ass offthe couch and do something” like he has they can accomplish anything. McLellan said that his decades ofexperience as a councillor and onnumerous boards and committees would make him an ideal choice for the deputy-mayor position.He said that being self-employedwould ensure that he wouldn’t miss any meetings, adding that he hates to miss any council meetings.He said he had been asked if he The Huron County 4-H Leaders’ Association Awards Program wasrecently held at the SeaforthAgriplex, recognizing 4-H members for their efforts throughout the year. COUNTY AWARDSLoretta Higgins won the MurrayCardiff Award for Top All-Round Member. The Don Pullen Award for highestoverall score in the county went toEvy Verschaeve. She also won the Dedication Award for dedication to the club. The Warden’s NoviceAward for first year competitivemember with the highest score went to Emily Datema. The Ben Lobb Award for thejunior member with the top essaywent to Kayla Drennan. Emily Franken won the Ontario Plowmen’s Association Award foroutstanding agricultural 4-H member as well as the Longstanding Graduating Member Award. Shealso received her graduation seal.The Citizen-Rural Voice Awards for press reporter book competition awards went to Dugald McIntosh(first) and Mercedes Prout (second).The Huron County 4-H Leaders’ Association Award for club secretary book competition wereawarded to Emily Bieman (first) andKayla Drennan (second). The winning team for the county Go for the Gold Competition wasthe South Huron Sheep Club Teamwhich consisted of Amanda Bos, Rachel Gras, Grace Hallahan and Evy Verschaeve.The Top Gate Sign Award for the White Christmas The snow was falling on Friday night as Clinton held the final Santa Claus parade of the Huron County season, bringing residents and visitors out to the town to help celebrate the holiday season. One of the main attractions of the parade every year is the Clinton Pipe Band, seen here appealing to the ears of all in attendance. (Nick Vinnicombe photo)Continued on page 12 REALIZE YOUR DREAM IN IT TO WIN IT: brought to you by the Libro Prosperity Fund, Wingham BIA, North Huron Economic Development Committee, Huron County Economic Development and Community Futures Huron. Enter the In It to Win It contest to Win! $10,000 Prize Package. Receive invaluable (mandatory) business training to give you a good foundation in yourdream to expand an existing business or establish a new business on Main Street in Wingham. Full details at www.northhuron.ca Contest opens December 12 Applications will be accepted until January 25th, 2019 at 4:30 pm Forms are available online or at theTownship of North Huron office at 275 Josephine Street in WinghamEmail: inittowinit@northhuron.ca or call the Project Co-ordinator at 519-441-7629. Continued on page 15 By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Recipient will be announced in the last paper of the month. Riverside Funeral Home will sponsor one new subscription per month. Call, email or fax your submission to Riverside Funeral Home - include person’s name, complete mailing address and your name and number. 413 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792 541 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-887-9114 The Citizen offices will be closed on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18 for The deadline for the February 21 paper will be Friday, February 15 2 pm in Brussels and 4 pm in Blyth Huron East approves Campaign Coaches for BMGCC Huron East Council has authorized the use of $25,000 of the Brussels, Morris and Grey Recreation Committee’s budget for a Campaign Coaches feasibility study ahead of the expansion and renovation of the community centre. In addition, in a gesture of good faith, council has set aside $365,000 to go towards the project. Council discussed the issue at its Feb. 5 meeting, with Chief Administrative Officer Brad Knight recommending the approval of both financial moves. He told council that the timeline for the proposed Campaign Coaches study would be 12 weeks with the cost of $25,000 being spread over three equal payments. The first payment would be due when the contract is signed, while the second would be due six weeks later and the third would be due upon the study’s completion. He added that costs such as mileage, telephone, postage and document productions costs will be billed once the study is completed. With the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre’s accumulated deficit dropping by $46,000, Knight said that gave the centre some flexibility within its budget for the coming year. He also stated that Treasurer Paula Michiels has proposed a 2.5 per cent levy increase for all three of the municipality’s community centres. In addition, the Brussels centre has two capital projects proposed for 2019: $50,000 for dehumidifiers and $40,000 for heaters in the seating areas. Knight, however, said that if the feasibility study goes ahead, that would add a third capital project to the centre’s budget and the committee would have to understand that it’s possible the three capital projects might not all go ahead in 2019 and that one or two of them might be deferred. By including the Campaign Coaches costs in the centre’s budget, as opposed to the general levy, Knight said it would mean that under the historic funding model, Morris- Turnberry would be responsible for 20 per cent of the cost, leaving Huron East responsible for the remaining 80 per cent. In regards to the municipality’s support for the renovation and expansion of the centre, Knight looked to the municipality’s historical participation for guidance, saying that Huron East contributed $365,000 to the Seaforth and District Community Centre renovations in 2010, so it would be reasonable to contribute at least that much to the project, which cost a total of $1.5 million, but received $700,000 of provincial and federal funding and $35,000 from West Perth. Knight said that the optics of the commitment would be good for council, but that council could vote to re-allocate the money at any time during the budget process. Council voted to approve the study in the Brussels, Morris and Grey recreation budget and the transfer of $365,000 from the working capital reserves to a newly- created Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre renovation reserve. By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Staff rally at Thompson’s office District 8 Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation Educational Support Staff (ESS) from the Avon-Maitland District School Board, alongside other educational professionals, held a demonstration outside of Huron- Bruce MPP and Minister of Education Lisa Thompson’s office in Blyth last week. On Thursday, Feb. 7, the ESS and their volunteers held up signs and flags in protest of potential cuts to the education system under Premier Doug Ford. “We’re fearful Ford will cut education,” said ESS President Dayna Lambier, though she admitted the funding isn’t perfect. “We lack staff to keep students and other staff safe. We’re fearful budgets will be cut, staff lost and people hurt.” Lambier said that violence in schools is increasing daily, and the cuts are having an impact on all levels of education from elementary through to college and universities. “We’re informing the Minister of Education that we don’t want her to make cuts,” she said. “Students are the future of Ontario.” The Citizen reached out to the Minister’s office, but Thompson was unable to comment on the rally before press time. By Denny Scott The Citizen Concerned over cuts Avon Maitland District School Board staff, alongside those supporting them, made their voices heard with a protest in front of Huron-Bruce MPP and Minister of Education Lisa Thompson’s office in Blyth. The group was protesting in fear of potential cuts to the school system and the effects they could have across the province. (Denny Scott photo) Draw The Blyth Brussels Novice Rep Crusaders fought to a 6-6 tie against the Minto Mad Dogs over the weekend as they did battle at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre on Saturday morning. (Nick Vinnicombe photo)