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$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, February 28, 2019
Volume 35 No. 9
BRIDAL - Pg. 13
‘The Citizen’ presents its
annual wedding guide
PRODUCTION - Pg. 31
Teeswater-based company
produces ‘Shrek’ in Blyth
RECREATION - Pg. 2
Councillor suggests staff
restructuring in Huron East
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:
Huron East budget process begins with $1.5 mil. hole
Fire hall
moves to
north end
The Huron East budget process is
beginning with a shortfall of
approximately $1.49 million and a
suggested seven per cent increase to
the general municipal levy.
Treasurer Paula Michiels told
council at its Feb. 19 meeting that
she is assuming that Ontario
Municipal Partnership Fund
(OMPF) money will decrease again
by an estimated $224,940. However,
Ontario Minister of Finance Vic
Fedeli has said that OMPF levels
will be maintained, which could
result in unexpected revenue for
Huron East.
Michiels introduced councillors to
the first draft of the budget that
night, saying that there will have to
be significant cuts to the budget
before it can be balanced.
One topic that sparked
conversation among councillors was
the recreation centre budgets and
where they were anticipated to end
up at the end of 2019.
The Brussels, Morris and Grey
Community Centre was able to
significantly chip away at its
accumulated deficit last year,
bringing it down from $81,079 to
$37,688. With a proposed deficit
reduction levy of $28,839, the centre
is anticipated to end 2019 with a
deficit of over $126,000.
The centre’s budget for the year
also includes two capital projects.
The first is the recently-approved
feasibility study being conducted by
Campaign Coaches and the second
is the replacement of two
dehumidifiers.
Huron East is projecting a slight
reduction in the Seaforth and District
Community Centre accumulated
deficit by the end of the year.
It began the year with a deficit of
$126,062 and ended 2018 with a
deficit of $130,039. Huron East is
budgeting for a slight decrease in the
deficit by the end of the year, with
the centre ending the year $124,142
in the hole.
In addition to the debt reduction
levy, the centres will also be
receiving a 2.5 per cent increase to
their levies, which is in step with the
rest of the municipality.
Deputy-Mayor Bob Fisher,
however, was blunt in saying that he
felt it was time the community
centres pulled themselves up by the
boot straps.
“Why don’t we not give them any
increase and tell them to raise more
money?” Fisher asked, adding that
every year the municipality gives
more and more to the centres and the
revenue continues to decrease.
Brussels Councillor John Lowe,
however, stood up to Fisher, saying
At North Huron Council’s Feb. 19
meeting, council approved the
purchase of two parcels of land at
the north end of Queen Street for a
new fire hall and public works
building.
Reeve Bernie Bailey explained
that council heard the concerns of
both the fire department and the
public when deciding the North
Street location and Gypsy Lane
location, the Radford Memorial
Baseball Diamond, were unsuitable
for the new structure.
Thanks were offered to former
Councillor Brock Vodden who
presented a petition against the
Gypsy Lane location during last
night’s meeting, as well as all the
members of the public who helped
council come to the decision.
The township purchased the lands
from Philip George Hubbard, Susan
E. Hubbard and Catherine
McNichol for a grand total of
$130,000 split evenly between the
two properties.
The sites are identified as Con. 2
Pt. Lot 42 AS RP;22R4447 Part 3
and Part 4.
The purchase agreement
completes on April 1 of this year.
The decision comes after the
previous North Huron Township
Council penned a deal with Blyth
Cowbell Brewing Company Ltd. to
sell the current fire hall and
As the hockey season nears its
end, several local teams find
themselves with something to play
for in this season’s playoffs.
BLYTH BRUSSELS
For the Blyth Brussels Crusaders,
the Novice Rep Squad posted a 2-1
series win over the BCH Ice Dogs
and, next weekend, will be facing
off against the West Grey Warriors
on March 2 at 9 a.m. in Blyth and
then take on the Arthur Vipers at
6:30 p.m. on March 6 at the
Brussels, Morris and Grey
Community Centre.
The Atom Local League Black
squad is set to face off against the
Huron-Bruce Blizzard on home ice
in Brussels on March 2 at 10 a.m.,
then take on the Zurich Thunder on
the road on March 8.
Atom Local League Burgundy
recently played against the BCH Ice
Dogs 2 in Hensall, but a score was
unavailable at press time. The squad
will face off against the Mitchell
Meteors in Brussels on March 2 at
11 a.m., the BCH Ice Dogs 1 squad
in Hensall on March 4 and the
Mitchell Meteors on March 9.
The Atom Rep squad has had a
series of wins in its postseason,
besting the Mount Forest Rams and
taking two games from the Drayton
Defenders since the start of the
month. The squad next faces off
against the Central Perth Predators
with games in Blyth on March 1 at
7 p.m. and Milverton on March 4.
The PeeWee Local League team
Hockey, broomball playoffs now underway
Coming in hot
The sun was out and the snow was cool on Saturday as the
Blyth Lions Club held its annual snow volleyball
tournament, bringing out 16 teams. The Lions awarded
cash prizes to the winning teams, but all had a great time
at one of the best tournaments in the event’s history,
according to some members of the club. It was certainly an
improvement over last year’s tournament, which took place in a
mud pit thanks to unseasonably warm temperatures and a
massive rain event leading up to that weekend, making for some
messy games. (Hannah Dickie photo)
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Continued on page 11
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Continued on page 12
Continued on page 32
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen