HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-05-30, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019. PAGE 11.
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M-T directs windfall to website, recording equipment
Morris-Turnberry Council granted
some big wishes to its staff when
looking how to spend the $360,473
the municipality received through
the Ontario Invests program.
At its May 21 meeting, Council
approved either pursuing or
investigating all the requests except
relocating the municipal council
chambers.
In total, there were nine requests
from various staff members,
according to the report:
• Computer equipment ($10,000):
replacement of two computers for
greater efficiency.
• Telephone system ($10,000): the
municipality’s telephone system,
originally installed in 2001, is
outdated and an upgrade could
provide efficiency.
• Website ($30,000): the
municipality’s website needs an
upgrade to provide better service
delivery and efficiency, as well as
accessibility. It will allow the
processing of bills online as well.
• Computer software ($4,473): an
upgraded animal control module
will allow the municipality to more
effectively record dog tags and allow
for more efficient pay systems.
• Plan-sized printer/scanner:
($12,000): a plan-sized
printer/scanner will allow municipal
staff to print, scan and digitize larger
plans, especially older drainage
documents, in-house instead of
hiring out the projects.
• Records management ($8,000):
Morris-Turnberry staff started a new
records management plan last year,
and this money would allow that to
continue, moving the municipality
closer to an efficient record system.
• Transfer depot for the landfill site
($50,000): a transfer depot at the
landfill site would have a drop-off
location for ratepayers to leave
waste without entering the face of
the landfill site. The funds would go
towards crafting the depot and the
equipment needed.
• Building and drainage
department truck ($40,000): a truck
would allow the building and
drainage department to provide more
efficient system of transporting
equipment and personnel to site, as
well as provide greater transparency
than the personal vehicles currently
used by staff. It will replace a 2009
Chevy Cobalt that has reached the
end of its life cycle for the building
department.
• Improved accessibility council
chambers ($200,000): relocate
council chambers to provide more
space for council, staff and the
gallery, as well as conforming to
accessibility standards. Microphones
for council and presenters are also
suggested, allowing better
communication and recording of
meetings.
Staff presented each item,
providing background information
on how individual items would
increase the efficiency of council.
The phone system, for example,
would allow for automatic
answering machines and directory
services, saving staff time and
making contacts with the
municipality more efficient.
Administrative Clerk-Treasurer
Nancy Michie explained that the
plan-sized printer/scanner would
eventually pay for itself in time, as
the municipality currently pays $50
every time a plan-sized document
needs to be produced or scanned to
an outside vendor, and that occurs
several times a month.
The truck for the building and
drainage departments is an item that
has consistently been cut from
budgets, and Chief Building Official
Kirk Livingston said it would clear
up some issues that can come from
him using his own personal vehicle.
“It would be beneficial to leave my
equipment in that vehicle,” he said.
“I could keep soil testing materials,
the beaver-dam ripping tool and
code books in the truck.”
He explained that, currently, he
has to transfer that equipment in and
out of the vehicle, and if he has to
look up something in a code book, it
can require him to leave a site, come
back to the municipal office, then
return or e-mail the answer.
Michie also stated that having a
branded vehicle would clear up
some confusion.
“People get concerned when an
unmarked vehicle enters their
property,” Michie explained “This
would provide better identification
for municipal staff and contractors
on site.”
Council approved a motion that
would see all issues except the
landfill site and relocation of council
chambers pursued. The depot at the
landfill site will be the focus of a
study by staff to figure out how to
best handle it.
Council did decide, however, to
implement broadcasting and
recording equipment in council
chambers.
Aside from the landfill site report,
another report on the other issues
will be brought back to council in
the near future regarding
implementation of the projects.
Funds that will be left over
afterwards are set to go into general
reserves.
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Legalization Has Happened
How are we doing?
Wednesday, June 5 ~ 7:30 pm
Lucknow Arena
662 Campbell Street, Lucknow, Ont.
Guest Speaker
Constable Danielle Morrison
South Bruce OPP
No alcohol. No drugs. No victims.
In conjunction with the
madd Huron/Bruce AGM
Continued from page 1
reducing on-street traffic, as well as
lighting and power.
He did say that the kind of
intersections being proposed have
not been met with universal
understanding, saying that, in
Clinton for example, drivers aren’t
stopping for the crossings because
the lights are too far out of their field
of vision.
“They are legal crosswalks, but
still we find drivers tend to drive
through them,” he said. “The big
reason is that we didn’t install
bump-outs to put pedestrians closer
to the traffic, and the drivers’ fields
of view.”
He said that, with the addition of
bump-outs, not only would the
pedestrians be more noticeable to
drivers, but the crossing lights would
be closer to the road as well,
meaning drivers would have an
easier time seeing them.
The estimated cost is $140,000,
Hausser said, though that could
change with the new option of
installing the mid-block crossing.
The next step, Hausser said, is to
create preliminary layouts for the
mid-block crossing, as preliminary
designs for the Dinsley Street
crossing were already drafted. After
that, the county will host public
information meetings.
North Huron Council will then
receive revised recommendations
regarding the layout, location and
details of the crossing, at which
point Huron County and North
Huron public works will begin
working together to call for tenders
in August, with construction
targeted for October.
“Realistically, that’s the best
timeline we can find,” Hausser said.
“There is some complication of
concrete work and power and
lighting to think of.”
Councillor Kevin Falconer said he
had been contacted by ratepayers
regarding the project, and asked to
urge Huron County to use materials
that match the village’s existing
lighting infrastructure.
Hausser said that was good
feedback that he would take into
consideration.
Councillor Anita van Hittersum
was concerned that putting bump-
outs might adversely affect
industrial and agricultural vehicles
from being able to use the road.
Hausser said that, if the farm
vehicles can fit on the road now, the
bump-outs shouldn’t be a problem
as they are designed to come out the
width of the parking lanes.
Council received the report for
information.
Input on Blyth crossing sought
Ridin’ High
The Ridin’ High Band performed on Saturday night at the Barndance show held at the Blyth
and District Community Centre. The event was part of an annual weekend of music and fun
called the Barndance Campout and Jamboree, a Blyth tourism staple. (Quinn Talbot photo)
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