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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2019-07-25, Page 3THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2019. PAGE 3. MVCA to pursue decommission of Gorrie dam The members of Maitland Conservation have decided to move forward with the process of decommissioning the dam and site cleanup at Gorrie Conservation Area. The berm on the south side of the dam was damaged in a flood in June, 2017. Since that time, Maitland Conservation has been working with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and engineering consultants to assess options for the structure. Greck and Associates presented a report to the membership in November, 2018. This report outlined the studies required to undertake the repair, rebuilding or decommissioning of the dam. The report also provided rough estimates of the costs associated with these options. Maitland Conservation has posted this report on its website at mvca.on.ca. The Members recently passed a motion to proceed with the next steps in decommissioning the Gorrie Dam and repairing the damage to the conservation area grounds caused by the 2017 flood. David Turton, Chair of Maitland Conservation, reports that there are several reasons for this decision, with cost being a critical factor. “The cost to try and repair or replace the dam is prohibitive,” he said. “Back in the 1970s an engineering assessment recommended that the dam not be repaired due to unstable soils beneath the structure. The dam is now 40 years older and the concrete is deteriorating. “It’s unlikely that there will be any provincial funding available to assist the Conservation Authority with the repair or replacement of the dam. We don’t even have any assurances that funding will be available to assist with decommissioning the structure. In addition, it’s a recreational dam with no flood control role,” he said. “From an environmental perspective decommissioning will improve the health of the river and provide better fish and wildlife habitat.” Megan Gibson, Howick councillor and Maitland Conservation member, understands the community’s attachment to the mill pond, but believes the reality of funding constraints must guide decisions about the site. “Neither Maitland Conservation or the Township of Howick have the funding and staff resources to rebuild or properly fix the dam,” she said. “In my opinion the only solution is to decommission the dam. I would have loved to see it rebuilt but that’s just not feasible. I believe that with decommissioning and landscaping at the site it will still be a beautiful spot for the community to enjoy.” The process of decommissioning the dam is expected to be lengthy. The MNRF requires Maitland Conservation to undertake studies to determine if the removal of the dam will affect river flows, development or structures downstream. The MNRF may request additional studies as the process moves forward. Once the studies are completed, members will then make a decision on whether a full decommissioning or a partial decommissioning of the dam (portions of the dam structure remain in place) will be undertaken. Decommissioning of the dam may not proceed without approval from the MNRF. In the short term, Maitland Conservation staff are working on site maintenance at the Conservation Area. The removal of dead trees has been completed, grass cutting is being done on the north side of the river and phragmites control will also be undertaken this fall. Prayer (John Bunyan) And the tax collector, standing afar of, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner!” (Luke 18:13) Prayer is a sincere, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God has promised in His Word. Prayer opens the heart to God, and it is the means by which the soul, though empty, is filled with God’s grace. The truths that I know best, I have learned on my knees. I never know a thing well, until it is burned into my heart by prayer. Sincere prayer is... a shield to the soul, a scourge to Satan, and a fragrant and pleasing sacrifice to God. Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer. When you pray, rather let your heart be without words--than your words be without heart. A Grace Gem Submitted by: Immanuel United Reformed Church, Listowel, ON 519-291-1956 Initial work on Blind Line Bridge will be done alongside work on a nearby bridge because, as the only access for some landowners, the bridge will need to be kept open during construction according to Morris-Turnberry Public Works Director Mike Alcock. Morris-Turnberry Council recently decided to pursue interim repairs to the bridge while considering a more long-term solution to degradation of the structure. During Council’s July 16 meeting, Alcock explained that landowners that use the bridge as the only access to their property couldn’t be completely cut off from the property. In his report, Alcock said that landowners and staff met to determine an acceptable amount of disruption and decided that the bridge could be worked on from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on a daily basis, except during harvest. He said those kind of constraints on work could cause significant cost increases with most contractors. To alleviate that problem, Alcock explained that staff had talked to the contractor working on the Jamestown Bridge to ask if both projects could be worked on simultaneously. This wouldn’t just fix the problem of only being able to work half-days, but also make the project more financially feasible, Alcock said, as bridge builders are very busy this year and it wouldn’t be an attractive project on which to bid. The project is expected to cost $30,000, and will include an environmental assessment so if the municipality does receive government funding, the bridge could be replaced at a later date. Some council members, however, didn’t want to set a precedent with the decision to schedule work around the road users, saying that when the bridge needs to be replaced, it won’t be an option. “They’re going to need to deal with that when the bridge is being repaired or replaced,” Deputy-Mayor Sharen Zinn said. Council gave Alcock the go-ahead to pursue the repairs on the bridge as he suggested. 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 info@northhuron.on.ca Fax: 519-523-9140 Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 or Box 152 Brussels, ON N0G 1H0 ❑Blyth & area ❑Brussels & area 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. 34th Annual Citizen of the Year Award Nominations Open Looking for local heroes By Denny Scott The Citizen MT splits bridge work schedule Toe-tappin’ tunes Cappy Onn, left, and Richard Marier provided some of the tunes during the annual Brussels Fiddle Jamboree held over the weekend. (Hannah Dickie photo)