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The Citizen, 1997-12-24, Page 2PAGE 2. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24,1997. Agreement reached on fire boundaries By Jim Brown Advance-Times Staff The issue of fire response to the fringe area of the Village of Brussels may have finally be resolved. The Morris Twp. council chambers were overflowing last Wednesday at a special meeting held in an effort to resolve the problem. Representatives from the Wingham Area Fire Board, the Blyth and District Fire Board, the Brussels Fire Department, Brussels council, the Seaforth Hospital dispatch and Morris Twp. residents attended the meeting. After almost two hours of discussion it was determined that a defined are around the fringe of Brussels would become the response area of the Brussels Fire Department. The problem came down to one of perception, the perception the ratepayers had of first response. Many Morris Twp. residents living on the fringe area of the Village of Brussels did not think the Wingham Fire Department should be responding for a fire when the Brussels department is closer. Some residents were opposed to the idea of the Wingham Fire Department responding to a fire call at their place. Joyce Jacklin wondered why, as there was a fire hydrant across the road from her residence at the north end of the village, Wingham should come to a call when Brussels is closer. Presently, under the Wingham Area Fire Board Agreement, the call would go to Wingham and Wingham would then call the Seaforth Hospital dispatch which would call the Brussels department. Wingham would also respond with its trucks. Wingham Fire Chief Harley Gaunt said that under the terms of the agreement he would be legally liable for a fire at her residence. He said that as long as he is responsible for that area of Morris Twp. he would be responding to the call. Gaunt said the big thing here seems to be misunderstanding. He said under the agreement anything south of County Rd. 16 goes to Seaforth dispatch and anything north of County Rd. 16 goes to Wingham dispatch. "If we need Brussels, wet'll call Brussels," he said. Brussels Fire Chief Murray McArter said initially he wanted to go out to the village signs, then square up the village for the Brussels response area. He said that under their agreement with Grey Twp. they respond to anything they can reach from a hydrant. He said this included the sales bam. "If we need help, we’ll call Grey," said McArter. Gaunt said this issue has to be resolved by Feb. 1 or else Morris has no 9-1-1 service. He said when 9-1-1 is implemented next year, fire calls in Brussels and south of County Rd. 16 would go to the Seaforth dispatch and the dispatch would then send Brussels or Blyth while calls north of the county road would go to Wingham dispatch, and if the call was close to Brussels Wingham would contact the Seaforth dispatch to send Brussels for first response, but Wingham would still be going. Under the terms of the Wingham Area Fire Board agreement, if Morris Twp. wanted to extend the Brussels fire area, the agreement would have to be opened and all five-member municipalities would have to agree to open it. Gaunt said that Morris council would then have to rescind a motion that made Gaunt fire chief of this defined area around Brussels, and another motion would have to be passed making McArter the fire chief of the defined area. Deputy-Reeve Keith Johnston suggested extending Brussels first- response area, but Wingham would get the call, then call the Seaforth dispatch. Johnston said they will try to get the agreement opened in order to change the clause about the fire chiefs. He said due to the small number of houses involved, the assessment for Morris Twp. would remain the same. The request to open the WAFB agreement will go to the next fire board meeting on Jan. 14. Merry Christmas from Ron and Trish Clarkson and the staff at Brussels Variety Karen Bridge, Edith Pipe, Scott Clarkson, Krista Hunter, Ann Stephenson, John Lowe Brussels Variety Christmas Hours December 24-9 a.m. - 7 p.m. December 25 - Closed December 26-10 a.m. - 6 p.m. December 31-8 a.m. - 9 p.m. January 1-10 a.m. - 6 p.m. HAPPY NEW YEAR! FILM PROCESSING from December 23 to March 31 135mm FILM 12 exp.......................................$4.99 24 exp.......................................$7.99 36 exp.....................................$10.99 Second Set FREE Coupons available at the store RENOVATING your KITCHEN or BATHROOM this winter? Call us for Free Ideas and Estimating now! HANK TEN PAS CONSTRUCTION Brussels 887-6408 • Meat & Cheese Trays for New Year's • Hams, Beef Roasts & Turkey Rolls <£)on ^Jill <$’ the staff would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas <§’ a J lappy J\few year J r ~ -- ->J Murray's Barber Shop Brussels wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Safe and Happy New Year. OUR HOLIDAY HOURS ARE: Dec. 25 - 27, Jan. 1 - closed Dec. 29 - 31, Jan. 2-3 - Open Country Inn • 887-9035 Open Dec. 27 & 28, reg. hr*, starting Jan. 2/98 St % L’°-'i & i;:;ti1kJkJ Season's Greetings On behalf of the staff & management, warmest wishes for health, happiness and prosperity for you and yours in this Holiday Season. Many thanks for your valued business in 1997. We look > - o forward to serving you in 1998. Brussels Thanks! •i Over the past several months, it has been brought to our attention that some items lent to assist us with our research for "Our Story - from Ainleyville to Brussels" have gone missing. We need your help! As we cannot locate them in our office, it is possible that these items were inadvertently mixed in with other packages already picked up. Please check your materials for these items: 1. A complete newspaper from 1925. Jim Coultes had placed this paper with some post office information in a red folder. He has the red folder, but not the newspaper. 2. Two black scribbler pads that were the minute books for the Tri-County Baseball League. (Max Demaray) 3. Mr. Glen Bray had two copies of the Brussels Post from 1980-1981. These papers had his name and address sticker on them. If you have any information please drop it off at The Citizen or at Brussels Municipal Office.