The Citizen, 2019-09-12, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2019.
North Huron stops sale of fuel at LeVan airport
The Richard W. LeVan Airport is
no longer selling fuel to its users due
to the existing fuel system being
deemed unsafe to operate.
The system includes a 4,000-litre
tank for 100LL gasoline and a
10,000-litre tank for Jet A fuel.
During a recent audit of the system,
it was revealed that, due to its age
and design, it could not be
appropriately inspected to modern
standards.
Director of Public Works and
Facilities Sean McGhee explained
the findings to North Huron Council
during its Sept. 3 meeting.
After receiving the audit, McGhee
said, staff felt it was prudent to stop
using the tanks and the sales of fuel
stopped within 24 hours.
“We wouldn’t have had a defence
if something happened,” he said.
McGhee said that council had
several options, but said that selling
fuel at the airport would be a costly
proposition going forward.
First, council could upgrade the
system to a cardlock system.
McGhee said the previous fueling
system was “relaxed” and operated
on an honour service. He estimated
to install two smaller tanks would
cost $126,000.
McGhee did say there are lease
options available, and the project
could be paid for over a term up to
10 years.
Alternatively, council could look
for a partner at the airport. However
McGhee said that could be
challenging.
Finally, council could discontinue
the sale of fuel. McGhee said that the
average annual net profit for the past
seven years at the airport has been
$2,700 after annual costs of $21,300.
Implementing a new system,
however, would be more costly than
just the $126,000 estimate, McGhee
said.
“If we are to continue with fuel
sales... one area we need to get
serious about is training,” he said.
“The standards associated with
training aren’t just a matter of a half-
day or one-day course. It requires a
significant two-day course to just get
to the point where we’d be well-
qualified to pump fuel, then there are
ongoing training costs associated
with it.”
If council wants to proceed with
fuel sales, McGhee suggested a
completely different approach from
the past. This new approach would
include updated training and
inspection requirements.
Reeve Bernie Bailey asked if, with
a cardlock system, the municipality
would be liable for someone injuring
themselves. McGhee said that
modern systems require users to
advance through several screens of
warnings before they can pump fuel
to confirm customers understand the
system they are using.
Councillor Anita van Hittersum
asked if this move would put users of
the facility out, and McGhee said it
would, as users would have to fly to
Hanover or Goderich to fuel up
before starting exercises or journeys.
Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip asked
what kind of impact closing the fuel
system has had, and McGhee said
that, aside from the local Cadet
Corp, there are few users to impact.
“If you factor out the cadets, I
believe our average was under 176
movements per year,” he said. “I
expect that will drop, and some
people will not stop for fuel.”
McGhee said the airport is not a
high-volume location.
Councillor Paul Heffer said that,
with the initial cost and training
expenses, the project wasn’t feasible
in his opinion, however Bailey
wanted the issue tabled until council
could discuss the issue with Morris-
Turnberry Council, as the North
Huron-owned site is located in the
neighbouring municipality.
“We don’t have air security around
the airport,” Bailey said, referring to
the fact that Morris-Turnberry has
not limited building options around
the airport to protect the air lanes at
the site. “I don’t think we can spend
$100,000 on a tank and then the
airport can’t be used because
someone builds a silo.”
McGhee said that there is a report
on the airport as a whole pending
and that file will be an in-depth
exploration of the site.
“There will be more background
and history and we will talk about
the feasibility studies that were
done,” he said. “I didn’t want to mix
that issue with the fuel issue. This is
a health and safety issue and that is a
broader discussion.”
Council decided to defer the fuel
system issue and have it be part of a
more holistic discussion about the
airport. In the meantime, fuel sales
will remain unavailable at the
airport.
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Continued from page 1
intensification can be sensitively
designed and integrated into existing
neighbourhoods. It would allow the
public to weigh on the standards
high-density developments must
meet.
That step would cost $40,000 for
site design and architectural
drawings, in addition to staff time.
A review of planning documents
and zoning changes would be
managed within the existing budget
with staff time. It would review all
of the county’s residential provisions
to ensure minimum standards are
achieving current and future housing
needs. There would also be a review
of any amendments made to allow
high-density developments.
Residential development pre-
zoning would focus on large,
undeveloped parcels of land, pre-
zoning them and setting minimum
requirements for density. It would
also be managed within the current
planning budget.
A community/business funded
housing consortium would involve
working with local businesses with
severe labour shortages to facilitate
partnerships with municipalities,
developers and builders to construct
attainable housing for their current
and future employees.
The concept would bring existing
businesses in to finance the
development of attainable housing.
A municipal rental build would
incorporate funding from the
Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative
program for a build in 2020 and
2021.
Units funded under the program
would be required to rent at 80 per
cent of the average market rent for
the area.
Development-ready lots for multi-
unit residential would involve
municipal governments purchasing,
servicing and sub-dividing land to
help ease industrial development.
The strategy would involve
significant resources in both capital
investment and professional
services, the report said.
The final step would be a public
education campaign in the hopes
that community leaders could
champion the benefits of having
housing of all types as a means of
strengthening a community.
The report also outlined
communicating the dire need for
housing in order to fill jobs in Huron
County. The report also said the
sessions would aim to connect entry-
level jobs to corresponding housing.
During the discussion on the
report, councillors said that
neighbours concerned about high-
density developments can often be
one of the toughest roadblocks to
offering different levels of housing.
Changing the public’s mind,
councillors said, would be an
important part of the process.
Warden Jim Ginn agreed, saying
that in Central Huron he has seen
“significant pushback” at the
municipal level any time high-
density developments are proposed.
He also cited a recent example in
Huron East of similar resistence as
well.
Bluewater Mayor Paul Klopp, in
fact, said there should be an
emphasis on the public education
component, saying that if the public
is on board, the rest will fall into
place. He added that the provincial
government has been assisting in
cutting red tape, which should help
streamline the process as well.
Klopp also said, however, that the
rest of the recommendations were
being carried out throughout Huron
County for the most part.
Council approved going ahead on
all of the proposed initiatives with
the exception of the National
Housing Strategy open houses.
Continued from page 6
Branch. Thursday night preparation
for both the funeral and fish fry was
done by Comrades Jo-Ann
McDonald, Judy Lee, Sandra
Brown, John Lowe and Judy
Emmrich. Saturday prep was by
Sandra Brown, Brenda Linton,
Dianne Huether, Jean Davidson and
Lois Lee. The afternoon bunch
included Brenda, Dianne, Mary
Bradshaw, Zoey Onn and Judy Lee.
Sometimes it takes an army to get
the jobs done.
Branch mourns loss
of Comrade Wilson
County approves housing tasks
A member in the making
Part of what makes the annual reunion of the Huron
Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association successful,
according to members of its executive, is that it has young
volunteers helping to keep it fresh. Case Ribey of Ethel may
be on his way to becoming a member if his apparent love of
John Deere tractors is any indication. (Mark Nonkes photo)
541 Turnberry St., Brussels
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519-526-7262
Belgrave Co-op
519-357-2711
Come on out on
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for Huron Bay Co-op’s yearly yard sale
at the Auburn and Belgrave locations.
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Sale is located just outside of Belgrave on your way to Wingham
Huron Bay Co-op (Auburn)
Sale is located right in Auburn just follow the signs.
• Patio sets
• Tools
• Pet supplies
• Clothing
The two locations are clearing out lots of different
inventory, great deals on everything.
• Riding and push mowers
• Tillers
• Garden tools
• Garden decor
And so much more!!
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