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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2019-10-10, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019. Huron County Council has opted to waive reimbursement from the South West Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) project on the advice of Councillor Roger Watt. The reimbursement offer came as a result of a budget recalibration for the project, using each municipality’s net contribution, rather than its gross contribution. The project, which aims to lay fibre optic cable throughout southwestern Ontario to improve its high speed internet infrastructure, is now in its second phase after the first phase, business case development, was completed. While municipalities impacted by the budget recalibration would have the opportunity to claim or waive their refundable amount, Watt, council’s representative on the SWIFT board, suggested it would be foolish to claim it. In general, Watt told councillors at their Oct. 2 meeting, failing to waive reimbursement would result in a reduction of the project budget that is equal to four times the difference between the gross and net contribution. In Huron County’s case, Watt said that would mean the loss of nearly $1.4 million worth of investment in the project based on the refundable portion of $343,978, which is why he suggested waiving the reimbursement. He also said that the county’s budget could be impacted by accepting the refund, translating to $634,975 that would need to be paid under the new budget. Council accepted Watt’s advice and chose to waive potential reimbursement from SWIFT. Watt, who has worked in information technology his whole life, has proven to be a valuable advisor for the county when it comes to the SWIFT project. Watt also told councillors that while cell phone reception issues in Huron County were not specifically targeted by the SWIFT infras- tructure, their improvement could be a beneficial byproduct of the fibre optic cable. Council passed the motion on the floor to waive reimbursement from the SWIFT budget. Continued from page 1 Road 4 (Queen Street) will be closed from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for the Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) Santa Claus parade. The cost for the closure, which includes staff time, is estimated at $480 per parade, which will be charged to the Economic Development Department’s budget. *** North Huron Township Council approved a one-year extension on the Wingham Trailer Park Operating Agreement, allowing the Wingham Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion to continue to run the site. The agreement was a stop-gap measure as staff advised council that the Legion wanted to be able to deal with residents of the seasonal park in perpetuity, and notify them if ownership was to change next year. Council approved the extension with the caveat that, if staff needed to access the property for research purposes to determine the future of the property, they could do so. The property was recently listed as a possible development site by staff when council tasked them with finding solutions to the critical housing shortage in the community. *** North Huron Township Council will have a difficult decision to make in the near future after the catastrophic engine failure of the 2001 Bomag BC571RB unit used for compaction at the Wingham landfill site. The unit, which compacts garbage through weight, will extend the life of the landfill substantially Director of Public Works and Facilities Sean McGhee said. McGhee said that, after spending $75,000 on the unit in the past two years, he couldn’t advise spending any more on it. He said that, with the problems the unit has had, he couldn’t guarantee that any repair would last, saying there was no telling how long the unit might run if it were to be repaired. Replacing the unit with a low-hour used unit would cost nearly $400,000 McGhee said, once again impressing how important the unit is in maintaining the life expectancy of the landfill site. Currently, the municipality has $113,900 that could be used as a down payment on such a unit. A report on council’s options will be presented at the Oct. 21 regular meeting of council. County waives SWIFT refund New compaction unit needed Hi, my name is... F.E. Madill School in Wingham was the place to be on Tuesday morning to hear from Huron-Bruce candidates in the Oct. 21 election. The school hosted a meet-and-greet and debate with the candidates to better inform students before they went to the polls. Here, Conservative Ben Lobb greets a pair of students. (Denny Scott photo) NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING REGARDING THE NORTH HURON COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT PLAN TAKE NOTICE that the Council for the Corporation of the Township of North Huron will hold a public meeting on Monday, October 21, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the North Huron Council Chambers at 274 Josephine Street in Wingham to consider amending the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) for North Huron under Section 28 of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990 as amended. The PURPOSE of the public meeting is to consider the proposed amendment to the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) to add the Structural Grant Program, a new incentive program that would allow applicants proposing significant structural work and met criteria for improving accessibility, safety, energy efficiency, and increasing mixed use of commercial/residential to be eligible for available funding. The EFFECT of the CIP amendment is to add a second grant program for eligible applicants and provide financial incentives for investment in rehabilitation, development and redevelopment of the buildings within the commercial areas of downtown Wingham and Blyth. A section describing the Grant for Structural Work, its intent for a successful application, and eligibility criteria would be added to the CIP and the corresponding North Huron CIP Application would also be amended to reflect the second program. ANY PERSON may attend the public meeting and/or make written or verbal representation either in support of or in opposition to the proposed CIP amendment. If a person or public body does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the Clerk of the Corporation of the Township of North Huron at the address below before the proposed CIP amendment is adopted, the person or public body is not entitled to appeal the decision of the Council of the Corporation of the Township of North Huron to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal, and may not be added as a party to the hearing of an appeal before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal unless, in the opinion of the Tribunal, there are reasonable grounds to do so. IF YOU WISH TO BE NOTIFIED of the adoption of the CIP amendment, or the refusal to adopt the CIP amendment, you must make a written request to the Clerk of the Township of North Huron at the address below and such request must include the name and address to which such notice should be sent. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Text showing the proposed amendments to the Community Improvement Plan are available on the Township website (www.northhuron.ca) and at the municipal office (274 Josephine Street, Wingham). Carson Lamb, Clerk Township of North Huron 274 Josephine St, Wingham N0G 2W0 401 Albert Street, Box 340, Brussels, ON N0G 1H0 Phone: 519-887-6336 ~ Fax: 519-887-6438 email: riversidefuneralhome@hotmail.com www.riversidefuneralhome.ca Nominate someone you know who doesn’t have a subscription to The Citizen but should! Promoting our Community CitizenTh e $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, December 13, 2018 Volume 34 No. 49 RESPONSE- Pg. 3 Morris-Turnberry Mayor calls for autonomy CONCERT- Pg. 6 Brussels Ministerial comes together for show FUNDING - Pg. 2 Education Minister in Blyth to hand out grants 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: Seaforth’s Fisher elected Huron East Deputy-Mayor 4-H Clubs awarded Seaforth Councillor Bob Fisher isHuron East’s new deputy-mayor,besting two others who put their names forward at the inaugural meeting of Huron East Council onDec. 4.Fisher, Tuckersmith Councillor Ray Chartrand and Grey Councillor Alvin McLellan all let their namesstand for the municipality’s second- in-command position. This came after Huron East eliminated the at- large deputy-mayor position, reducing the size of council from 12members to 11 just ahead ofOctober’s election. It was Fisher who nominated Chartrand for the position.Chartrand then paid the favour backby nominating Fisher. Former Deputy-Mayor Joe Steffler nominated McLellan for theposition.Fisher told his fellow councillors that he has lived in the community for over 40 years. In addition, he has been a councillor for 12 years and spent nearly 40 years in business, allexperience he felt would aid in beingthe deputy-mayor. Fisher also listed a number of projects he’d like to see undertakenor continued both in Huron East andin Huron County. In Huron East, Fisher said he wanted to see the municipality’scommunity centres better utilizedand to promote a harmonious relationship between residents of all of Huron East’s five wards. At the county level, Fisher said he wanted to see a greater focus ontourism, saying that Huron Countycould easily be the Prince Edward County of southwestern Ontario. He also said that while the county’saccessibility advisory committee hasdone a lot of great work, there is still more to be done. Fisher also said that, as someonewho is legally blind, he also hopedthat being named deputy-mayor would inspire others with disabilities saying that if they “get [their] ass off the couch and do something” like he has they can accomplish anything.McLellan said that his decades ofexperience as a councillor and on numerous boards and committees would make him an ideal choice forthe deputy-mayor position.He said that being self-employed would ensure that he wouldn’t miss any meetings, adding that he hates tomiss any council meetings.He said he had been asked if he The Huron County 4-H Leaders’ Association Awards Program wasrecently held at the SeaforthAgriplex, recognizing 4-H members for their efforts throughout the year.COUNTY AWARDSLoretta Higgins won the Murray Cardiff Award for Top All-Round Member.The Don Pullen Award for highestoverall score in the county went to Evy Verschaeve. She also won the Dedication Award for dedication tothe club. The Warden’s NoviceAward for first year competitive member with the highest score went to Emily Datema. The Ben Lobb Award for thejunior member with the top essay went to Kayla Drennan. Emily Franken won the OntarioPlowmen’s Association Award foroutstanding agricultural 4-H member as well as the Longstanding Graduating Member Award. Shealso received her graduation seal.The Citizen-Rural Voice Awards for press reporter book competitionawards went to Dugald McIntosh(first) and Mercedes Prout (second). The Huron County 4-H Leaders’ Association Award for clubsecretary book competition wereawarded to Emily Bieman (first) and Kayla Drennan (second). The winning team for the countyGo for the Gold Competition wasthe South Huron Sheep Club Team which consisted of Amanda Bos, Rachel Gras, Grace Hallahan andEvy Verschaeve.The Top Gate Sign Award for the White Christmas The snow was falling on Friday night as Clinton held the final Santa Claus parade of the Huron County season, bringing residents and visitors out to the town to help celebrate the holiday season. One of the main attractions of the parade every year is the Clinton Pipe Band, seen here appealing to the ears of all in attendance. (Nick Vinnicombe photo)Continued on page 12 REALIZE YOUR DREAM IN IT TO WIN IT: brought to you by the Libro Prosperity Fund, Wingham BIA, North Huron Economic Development Committee, Huron County Economic Development and Community Futures Huron. Enter the In It to Win It contest to Win! $10,000 Prize Package. Receive invaluable (mandatory) business training to give you a good foundation in your dream to expand an existing business or establish a new business on Main Street in Wingham. Full details at www.northhuron.ca Contest opens December 12 Applications will be accepted until January 25th, 2019 at 4:30 pm Forms are available online or at theTownship of North Huron office at 275 Josephine Street in Wingham Email: inittowinit@northhuron.ca or call the Project Co-ordinator at 519-441-7629. Continued on page 15 By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Recipient will be announced in the last paper of the month. Riverside Funeral Home will sponsor one new subscription per month. Call, email or fax your submission to Riverside Funeral Home - include person’s name, complete mailing address and your name and number. 541 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-887-9114 405 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4792 The Citizen Check out all our books at... Rural Living & Local Authors Specializing in The Rural Reading Room $2495 FROM IRELAND TO THE QUEEN’S BUSH Author Arnold Mathers’ Irish roots run deep in these stories which weave a pattern about the romantic pioneers that were his ancestors. His great grandfathers came from Ireland and settled in Huron County. His mother’s family farm was called Queen’s Bush Valley Farm. By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Get information on Huron County attractions on the new Stops Along The Way website at www.stopsalongtheway.ca