The Citizen, 1998-10-07, Page 9Picturesque ride
Seeing the scenic Greenway Trail in Blyth by horsedrawn wagon was a highlight for visitors
who took part in the tour on Saturday afternoon. The event was hosted by the Greenway
committee to inform the public of the work completed to date.
Blyth council accepts tender
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Leave the car at
home and walk.
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By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
In a bid to get several mainte-
nance and reconstruction jobs com-
pleted before winter, Blyth council
let three tenders and prepared to
call another at the Oct. 5 meeting.
The major project will be the
reconstruction of King Street and
repair of the watermain under the
street.
Only one tender was received
and after some consideration, Lavis
Contracting was awarded the con-
tract.
The cost to repair the main,
which PUC Chair Tom Cronin said
had to be done, totaled $30,853.45.
Engineer Bruce Potter detailed
the two tenders for street paving,
one costing $51,303.29 without
curbs and $64,671.60 with curbs.
Though the cost was more than
the budgeted amount for road work,
council agreed that if the job was to
be done, it should be done right.
Continued from page 1
current system, he said, had done a
good job of that.
The question remained as to the
next move in restructuring. Brian
McBurney, reeve of Turnberry
Twp., said the issue should be
turned back to the local councils.
East Wawanosh, Morris, Wingham
and Turnberry had already indicat-
ed their common interest and a
desire to move forward, he said.
Since Turnberry and Morris had
been among the most unwilling to
consider amalgamation it indicated
restructuring would progress. The
figures included in the restructuring
study were an incentive to keep the
process moving, he said. "I think
you'll see a little rrfore action."
"We're all armed with the infor-
mation now," said Bob Szusz,
reeve of Hullett.'
"I also think it's time to turn it
back to the communities," agreed
Bill Carnochan, reeve of Tucker-
smith. If a facilitator was brought
in it might actually slow the pro-
cess down because municipalities
would wait for the end of that
study, he said.
Robin Dunbar of Grey Twp.,
Council has $36,000 in the road
works budget as well as $10,000 in
a reserve fund. With a $3,800 dis-
count from Lavis if awarded both
sections of the tender and $8,800
from the Avon Maitland District
School Board for the portion of
paving which will be on school
property, the cost over budget will
not be excessive, councillors said.
There will also be a four per cent
rebate for the GST.
It was agreed that the curbs were
preferred because it increased the
life of the paving and provided ben-
efits for drainage.
Reeve Mason Bailey had some
concerns about approving the
"Cadillac model" when other resi-
dents had been told they couldn't
keep their sidewalk but King Street
residents would get curbs they
didn't ask for.
Potter said the benefits of
installing curbs would be tremen-
dous for the village.
Acceptance of the tender was
subject to approval by the PUC and
who made the motion to only con-
sider a two-tier system, said the
goal of Dec. 31, 1999 for having a
plan ready for approval should be
maintained with the goal of having
the restructured municipalities in
place for the next municipal elec-
tion.
Blyth's Bailey warned against
pushing for restructuring without
careful study, recalling a statement
by a provincial government repre-
sentative at the Rural Ontario
Municipal Association convention
that there would be no way of
going back and undoing restructur-
ing even if municipalities thought
they had made a mistake. Any
Continued from page 1
that if you want to build a new
school, you will have to reduce the
space and eliminate the excess,
capacity space," she said. "The
minister has said in the house that
if you don't want to build a new
school you don't have to come
down in numbers."
school board.
Members of the PUC were on
hand to approve the expenditure of
the $30,853.45 for the water main.
Tenders from Steve Bearss were
the only ones received for the con-
struction of an alum tank enclosure
at the sewage treatment plant and
the replacement of the roof on the
village works shed.
For a cost of $4,993.24, Bearss
will replace the shed roof and use
the removed sheets of steel for the
inside of the alum tank enclosure.
The cost of the enclosure will be
$8,647.91. Both tenders were
accepted.
In another maintenance matter,
council will tender for the removal
or pruning of numerous trees in the
village.
A minimum of nine trees will be
removed with many others trimmed
to remove hazardous dying branch-
es.
The work will be done according
to a tree report submitted by Forest
Specialist Warren Moore.
restructuring should preserve the
democratic system and remain open
to the public, Bailey said.
However a motion by McBurney
to reintegrate the county's strategic
planning committee back into the
administration, finance and person-
nel (AFP) committee was defeated.
McBurney argued that the commit-
tee duplicated many of the respon-
sibilities of the AFP.
"I think the committee should be
left in place," said Jim Love, reeve
of Hay Twp. "If they have no meet-
ings, they have no meetings but
they should be left in place to give
advice (on the restructuring pro-
cess).
She added that doesn't mean
there aren't reasons why a school
might be closed.
"I sec a reason for (the board) to
look at schools in terms of health
and safety or quality of education
concerns. If a school is old and in
need of a lot of repair, then they
could look at that school," Johns
said.
Blyth council agreed at the Oct. 5
session to attend a formal amalga-
mation discussion group at the call
of other North Huron municipali-
ties.
The meeting, to be held Oct. 8 in
Bluevale, was organized by Wing-
ham, Turnberry, Morris aticl East
Wawanosh Twps. Blyth, Brussels,
Howick and Grey Twps. were
invited to attend.
Councillors said they should take
every opportunity to get people
working together.
Councillor Jeff Howson said
council has to take the initiative.
"We must go to our neighbours, not
wait for them to come to us."
Howson suggested a meeting be
set up with Hullett Twp. to deter-
mine their position.
***
In an effort to improve safety
along the Greenway Trail, council
authorized the installation of gates
at two points along the length.
The gate will be locked, but able
to be opened for access and emer-
gencies.
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1998. PAGE 9.
Blyth council briefs
Council discusses
trail safety issue
The decision was made after con-
cerns arose because of ATVs,
motorcycles and vehicles speeding
along the trail.
It is expected the gates will be
open throughout the wipter to allow
easy passage of snowmobiles
which use the pathway as part of
their trail system.
Also in relation to the Greenway
Trail, Councillor Murray Nesbitt
asked why a large sign along the
trail had the Radford Group name
on it.
Councillor Doug Scrimgeour said
the sign was for the fit trail, which
both had been bought and com-
pletely paid for by the Radford
Group.
Volunteers and village employ-
ees undertook the installation of the
fit trail.
He added that any group wishing
to contribute to the Greenway Trail
is welcome to participate.
Clerk-Treasurer John Stewart
said any group making donations is
invited to include an identifying
sign to indicate their contribution.
Issue now back with councils
MPP suggests looking at older schools