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Molesworth Farm Supply expansion approved
After significant planning, Huron
East Council approved site plan
control for the expansion of
Molesworth Farm Supply.
Derek Mendez, the company’s
operations and information
technology manager, was on hand at
council’s July 16 meeting to further
discuss the expansion.
Before looking forward, Mendez
looked back through the company’s
past, explaining that Ron and Susan
Coghlin first purchased the business
in the late 1970s. In those early days,
Mendez said Molesworth Farm
Supply would transport 20 metric
tons of feed every day, using one
truck to move it throughout the
community.
Today, Mendez said, Molesworth
Farm Supply produces 1,000 metric
tons per day with 20 trucks now on
the road.
Mendez told councillors that while
the business employs over 100
people at its Huron County location
as a living wage employer, its reach
expands much further into the
province with over 120 farms
contracted to Molesworth Farm
Supply, nearly half of which are in
Huron County.
He said that while the business is
well thought of as an employer in the
county for its high wages and low
turnover, Molesworth Farm Supply
also strives to be extremely safe.
Mendez said that the company has
scored 100 per cent in its hazard
analysis and critical control points
(HACCP) in both 2018 and 2019.
The expansion, he said, will help
make Molesworth Farm Supply the
first organic mill in Huron County.
As for the expansion, which will
involve the construction of a
completely new building on the site,
Mendez said it will cost the
company $25 million to grow, but
that Molesworth Farm Supply is
happy to continue its expansion in
Huron County, which it has called
home since its inception.
Mayor Bernie MacLellan and
several councillors lauded Mendez
and the company and Chief
Administrative Officer Brad Knight
said that in all of his time working
with Molesworth Farm Supply,
dating back to his days with Grey
Township, his exchanges had always
been positive. Knight said he had
always been particularly impressed
with what great corporate citizens
the company has always strived to
be.
Council passed the site plan
control bylaw, authorizing the
expansion to go forward.
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
North Huron Director of
Recreation and Community Services
Vicky Luttenberger wants North
Huron Council prepared for a future
discussion and decision about the
future of the Wingham Trailer Park.
Luttenberger reported that, over
the years, discussions about North
Huron owning and operating a trailer
park have been questioned from a
financial standpoint.
The trailer park has, since 2013,
been run by the Wingham Branch of
the Royal Canadian Legion, and,
after several renewals of that
agreement, council will have to
decide its future by this December,
when the current contract expires.
Luttenberger said the park was
identified for review as part of
looking for cost-saving measures in
the municipality. She said that, of the
41 trailer parks in Huron County,
less than five are operated by
municipalities, indicating that it isn’t
a typical practice.
Prior to the Wingham Legion
taking over the operation of the park,
the site saw an annual deficit
between $500 and $4,000,
depending on camping seasons,
Luttenberger reported.
Four options were presented with
Luttenberger’s report as to the future
of the site:
• Sell the property to a developer.
• Have the site developed as high-
density housing units.
• Sell the property as a trailer park
to a private individual/company.
• Renew the licensing agreement
with the Legion for three more
years.
Luttenberger’s report said that,
based on the “housing crisis” in the
municipality, and the fact that the
municipality is not mandated to
maintain such a site, staff
recommend looking to develop the
property for option two: developing
the site as high-density residential
facilities.
If council were to proceed with
that action, Luttenberger said, the
township would initially have to pay
for development and infrastructure
costs which could be recouped
through sale of the lots.
If the status quo was maintained,
she said, the repairs to the facility
could eventually exceed budgeted
amounts.
Council received Luttenberger’s
report but saved discussion on the
issue for a future date.
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Council considers
sale, development of
Wingham trailer park
A good time
The Brussels Lions Club’s annual Fiddle Jamboree was held over the weekend at the
Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. Below, visitors to the event cut a rug during the
event. Above, entertainers took to the stage providing music throughout the Sunday afternoon
event. The event featured a seven-time Canadian Fiddle Champion Bill Irving, a Flesherton
native, who has played in many high-profile performance spaces over the years, including
Massey Hall and Roy Thomson Hall. The event also featured local superstars, like Frank
Hallahan, above, on the fiddle. (Hannah Dickie photos)