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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2019-07-11, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2019. A proposed transfer of land from Morris-Turnberry to North Huron alongside the Richard W. LeVan airport is actually something far more insidious than it seems according to North Huron Reeve Bernie Bailey. The lot in question, a land-locked parcel adjacent to the airport, was offered to North Huron for just under $1,600, the cost of surveying the land. Morris-Turnberry offered to pay legal fees associated with the switch, which North Huron staff estimated at $800. Bailey, however, was not initially interested in the transfer, then later said it wasn’t an offer of land at all, but Morris- Turnberry’s way of gauging North Huron Council’s mettle. Bailey first said he was adamantly against paying Morris-Turnberry any money for “the privilege of getting taxed” by the municipality, referring to the fact that while North Huron owns the airport, it’s actually in Morris-Turnberry, requiring North Huron to pay taxes on it to the municipality. “I have a difficult time paying anyone for the privilege of taxing me from the point I say thank you,” Bailey went on to say. “I suggest sending this back to Morris- Turnberry.” Bailey said he wanted this issue deferred until a future meeting when all of Morris-Turnberry and North Huron’s agreements were to be presented so Bailey could figure out where the two municipalities stand. Councillors Anita van Hittersum and Chris Palmer both said that the issue may be worth considering at face value: Morris-Turnberry is trying to clean up ownership of land around the airport. Van Hittersum went on to say she didn’t see any reason to spurn their neighbours by sending the offer back. Councillor Kevin Falconer, however, was firmly behind Bailey on the issue, saying it would be wise to defer this until North Huron had all the agreements in front of them. Palmer, however, said it wasn’t worth making such a big deal over. “Yes, they threw out a small cost for dealing with a problem piece, but, for my part, why not concede the [$1,600] and deal with it to show good faith,” he said. “We don’t want to have this wall between us.” Palmer went on to say this could be the olive branch that makes relations more peaceful between the neighbouring municipalities. Bailey felt the issue is one of principle, not of the amount charged. “I will not pay, from your Reeve’s point of view, any money to buy land from Morris-Turnberry that does our tax rates no good,” he said. Bailey went on to encourage any councillor to go ahead and vote to pay the money, but said that they would forfeit the ability to say they are doing everything in their power to keep costs low. “History has proven any time we work with our neighbours, we take the brunt of it,” Bailey said. “This council needs to take a different stand… I will stand hard on this one.” Palmer once again said this was a small issue, calling it a burr under the saddle. “If we can clear this, we can move ahead a little more peacefully,” he said. Bailey said that, since this issue had been originally discovered eight years ago, it could wait, and encouraged his council to follow his lead. From there, however, Bailey said the offer wasn’t as simple as it seems. “As a negotiator who has negotiated with the biggest and the best [I’m saying] what this is, is they’re shooting a bullet across here and seeing if these people will duck,” he said referring to his council. “They’re challenging your fire at this point in time.” Bailey said that whatever action council takes will show to Morris- Turnberry how they will react in future negotiations, and advised against “backing down” and paying for the land. “I’m to the point of being appalled at this,” he said, explaining that if council pays anything, it’s on top of the $100,000 that the airport costs the municipality annually, even though the facility is not in North Huron. He also said the airport was set to be the subject of meetings between Morris-Turnberry, North Huron and Huron County and he would advise waiting until then. Van Hittersum moved to defer the issue until a future meeting, which council passed. Brussels native and Brussels Livestock auctioneer Kevin McArter continues to prove his mettle as one of the best auctioneers in the country. McArter, who was named reserve- champion in 2015 and, over a decade ago, was named rookie of the year at the Canadian Livestock Auctioneering Championship, made the top 10 again this year. The event, held by the Livestock Markets Association of Canada, was held earlier this summer in Alberta. McArter, who lives in Exeter, broke the top 10 when competing against 45 other auctioneers at the Thorsby Stockyards. His challenge was to sell a $500 voucher for a truck company that went for $675. In previous interviews with The Citizen, McArter said that sales in Ontario can be tougher than those in other areas, which forces him to perpetually be on his game. “We have to sell 200 to 300 cattle [in Brussels] that are bought out east to be traded here,” he said. “People aren’t lining up in the front rows to buy like they do out west. It builds character being here.” He also said that fluctuating markets force auctioneers to be on top of their game. Bailey ‘appalled’ by M-T land transfer fee McArter in top 10 There are so many people out there who do so much to improve their community. This is your opportunity to show your appreciation for all they do. Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area and Brussels and area communities to receive an award for contribution to the community. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the form and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and they didn't win, we encourage you to submit again. Emailed submissions can be sent to Shawn Loughlin at editor@northhuron.on.ca I nominate ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ as Citizen of the year for I feel she/he deserves this award because______________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Nomination Deadline July 31, 2019. Name and phone number of nominator Fax: 519-523-9140 Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 or Box 152 Brussels, ON N0G 1H0 ❑Blyth & area ❑Brussels & area 34th Annual Citizen of the Year Award Nominations Open Looking for local heroes By Denny Scott The Citizen One good turn... One good turn deserves another and the MS Society of Canada was the recipient of such generosity after the June 8 MS ride held in Blyth. Organizers Jeff Peters, Shawn Loughlin and Lorie Falconer donated $500 to the Blyth Lions Club for their help with the event and the Lions donated that money right back to the event, with all of its proceeds going towards the MS Society. In total, the event raised $3,642.47 for the MS Society, while the Lions Club also reported a tidy profit from the event as well. From left: Lions Club President Barney Stewart, Loughlin, Falconer and Peters. (Photo submitted) By Denny Scott The Citizen