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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-10-10, Page 1 CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, October 10, 2019 Volume 35 No. 38 CAR CARE - Pg. 15 ‘The Citizen’ presents annual car care guide FAIR - Pg. 23 Residents celebrated at Elementary School Fair WALKERBURN - Pg. 14 Auburn-area Walkerburn Club marks 100 years Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0 INSIDE THIS WEEK: Rutabaga Festival revival celebrates Blyth Lions propose basketball court, hockey pad for park The Blyth Lions Club has proposed an outdoor basketball court and street hockey pad on the former Blyth Lawn Tennis Club property, adjacent to the Blyth Lions Park. The club, according to long-time member John Stewart, had been working under the assumption that the land would be returned to the Lions one day. On Monday evening, the future of the property, which was expropriated by North Huron in 2014 due to no direct owner being identifiable, had councillors debating its future. In his presentation to council, Stewart explained that, for over a decade, the club was under the impression the property would be transferred to the Lions. That understanding was thrown into confusion, however, when staff suggested council could sell the property for residential development earlier this year under a new slate of councillors. As part of the potential redevelopment of the property, staff noted that the Blyth Lions Club would need to be consulted on the use of the property. According to a history provided by Stewart, the property, which borders on Queen Street and Gypsy Lane, running the length of the block, includes parts of not only the entryway to the Blyth Lions Park but also the Lions clubhouse. It was originally under the ownership of the Blyth Lawn Bowling Club. A clubhouse and the bowling green were constructed with funds and volunteer support organized through the Lions Club and at no expense to the Town of Blyth. After the club folded, the Lions took over the clubhouse, renovated it and winterized it for use as the organization’s own clubhouse. Over the years the Lions Club paid the necessary expenses for the property, including financing for the sewers that were installed underneath Queen Street and Wellington Street. It was later discovered, in 2007, that some infrastructure owned by the Lions Club was on municipal property, which was bought by the Lions Club for a fee of $1. “From 2007 to 2014, the Blyth Lions Club was dealing in good faith with the municipality believing that the property would be eventually be [sic] transferred from the municipality to the Lions Club,” Stewart wrote. “Had the Lions Club been made aware that the municipality intended to maintain ownership, the Club would have given consideration to initiating a claim for ownership to the Bowling Green property prior to the commencement of the expropriation process in 2014.” Stewart says the Lions’ stewardship of the land for well over 10 years would entitle it to establish legal ownership through adverse possession, and, if council had been upfront about wanting to maintain ownership of the property for development purposes, the Lions would have been able to challenge the expropriation. His letter said that morally, council should consider the ramifications of that reality before proceeding with the property. Stewart said the Lions support growth in the community and understands the need for housing, however they believe that a “vibrant community requires a variety of activities both to attract and retain residents.. [including] recreation.” Stewart presented a proposal stating the Lions would convert the space into a recreational area with a North Huron could be adopting changes to its snow removal policy after a succesful test in Wingham last year, resulting in 16 blocks worth of sidewalk in Wingham being added to the municipality’s snow removal routes. Director of Public Works and Facilities Sean McGhee made a detailed presentation to council regarding snow removal, explaining that, in 2016, council had set out a mandate to provide the best snow removal possible while not impacting other services. Thanks to new equipment, McGhee explained, 16 more blocks were added in Wingham last year to the existing snow removal plan. Following the success of the addition, McGhee asked council to consider adopting the changes, which will be brought forward at a future council meeting. For a full review of McGhee’s report, watch next week’s issue of The Citizen. *** North Huron Township Council has given support and waived the fees associated with the two Santa Claus parades hosted in its community. On Nov. 30, County Road 4 (Josephine Street) will be closed in Wingham at 10 a.m. for the Wingham Lions Club Santa Claus parade. Likewise, on Dec. 7, County Annie Sparling of the Blyth Community Betterment Group says the group’s revival of the famed Blyth Rutabaga Festival was well received. “We couldn’t be happier with the success of the event,” she said in an e-mail to The Citizen. The event, which kicked off on Friday evening with a concert at Blyth Cowbell Brewing Company, got an early start on Saturday morning with a successful fundraising breakfast at Blyth Memorial Hall hosted by the Blyth Lions Club in the lower hall. Sparling said that the Blyth Lions Club had nearly double the anticipated number of diners, with members saying there were approximately 200 people through the breakfast line. Other events were well attended, Sparling said, with a full “Baga” yoga program of 20 attendees, 30 youth taking part in the ping-pong tournaments and 20 youth participating in a tie-dye t-shirt event through the Fashion Arts and Creative Textiles (FACTS) program. The Cowbell-sponsored Gravel Run cycling event brought in 75 cyclists from the Toronto Hustle group through the Goderich-to- Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail, Sparling said, 100 cyclists for the G2G Rutabaga Ride event and 40 for a fall colour tour, totalling 218 Farmers, right. While the Junior Farmers, behind driver Jolande Oudshoorn, may have had the edge in age, it would be the wiley veterans, guided by driver Janice Peters, who were handed the trophy when the dust settled. In addition to the bed races and soap box derby, the Rutabaga Festival proved to be an event for the ages, bringing many to Blyth to celebrate. (Denny Scott photo) Clash of the Titans While there may have only been two entries into the weekend’s Rutabaga Festival bed races in Blyth, the one race that made its way down Gypsy Lane proved to be a great one. The Baga Bunch, left, comprised of residents of the east end of King and Wellington Streets, came from behind to secure victory over the Huron-Perth Junior By Denny Scott The Citizen Continued on page 2 Snow removal trial successful By Denny Scott The Citizen Continued on page 8 By Denny Scott The Citizen Continued on page 12