HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-02-14, Page 1encouraging the replanting of
woodlands in areas which adjoin
currently forested areas, to provide a
connecting link between woodlots or
to establish a windbreak. The trees
must also be maintained for 15 years.
In a related conversation, Public
Works Co-ordinator John Forrest
asked Lawson what could be done
about logging contractors who leave
logs piled along roadways,
sometimes within two or three feet
of the road edge.
Lawson said the best tactic would
be to determine the owner of the
logs, whether the land owner or
contractor, and give them a time
limit to remove the logs.
If the wood was not removed, the
municipality could consider hiring
someone to do the job then charge
the owner for recovery.
Forrest's main concern was for the
safety of drivers, particularly along
slippery roads. In some areas, the
plows had to go out and around the
piles, he added.
When asked about including
something in the new tree bylaw
about the piling of logs on municipal
property along roadways, Lawson
said that is not allowed, under
direction from the Ministry of
Natural Resources.
The municipality had received
several notice of intents for logging
in the past weeks with more arriving
regularly.
Permission from the county is not
needed for logging, but they must be
informed of the work.
Blyth
prepares
for
125th
Based on the initial enthusiasm of
a group of 20 people at a meeting
Feb. 6 to discuss Blyth's 125th
anniversary, it appears the village
will be celebrating in 2002.
After hearing ideas suggested by
those present, another meeting has
been scheduled for Feb. 20 at 8 p.m.
at the Blyth Legion. Supporters were
sent home with the urging to get
their friends involved.
—To make it a big event we need a
lot of people," said Ken Stewart of
the Blyth Lions Club who co-chaired
the meeting with Bev Blair. The
Lions had decided to get the ball
rolling by calling a meeting, Stewart
said, but holding the event is a lot
more than the 28 club members can
do themselves.
In the weeks ahead people will be
needed to take part in various
committees to put on the show.
"Many hands make light work,"
Blair said.
Already Phil Black has stepped
forward on behalf of the committee
that staged the successful Santa
Claus Parade in December to say
they would co-ordinate the parade
for the big weekend.
Though no date was settled on, the
Civic Holiday weekend of August 2-
5, 2002 seemed to be favoured by
those present.
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
Mayor Lin Steffler took Huron
County engineer Sandra Lawson to
task when Huron East councillors
had the opportunity to discuss the
proposed new county tree bylaw at
the Feb. 6 meeting. "I have a
problem with a bylaw that includes
18 exceptions."
Lawson, "if you look at other
examples. Most of the exceptions
deal with drains, buildings,
Christmas trees and provincial
laws."
Noting that Huron County is now
12 per cent forested and the goal is
20 per cent, Lawson said the county
considers half an acre as woodlot
instead of the two acres in other
"Under the old bylaw, landowners
could clear half an acre a year and in
four years the woodlot would be
gone," she said. "Now that property
owners have to be granted a minor
exception to clear any trees, those
that are allowed to clear must also
replace with an equal area of
woodlot."
Lawson added that the county is
"That is pretty standard," said counties.
Trekking by snowshoe
The Carter and Cockwell families from the Atwood area took advantage of beautiful bright skies
Sunday afternoon to participate in a snowshoe adventure at the Wawanosh Nature Centre in
the East Wawanosh ward of North Huron. After venturing along the kilometre-long scenic trail,
visitors were invited back to the main building for hot chocolate and coffee.
0111: -1111 e
ESTABUSHED /,
. po o Citizen -r
Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Volume 17 No. 7
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001
75 Cents (70c + 5c GST)
Inside this week
pa Riding in the
`' ambulance
..? Cranbrook girl gets
Pg. / tryout with National
Ballet School
Da Q Local PeeWee
" teams take series
leads
P2 Seniors travel south
0. 1 — to Antarctica
Grand production
Pg. brings glimpse of
summer
Fire
protection
concerns
Brussels
councillor
By Janice Becker
Citizen'staff
Concerns regarding fire protection
i-n Brussels were brought before
Huron East council, Feb. 6., . when
Brussels Councillor Joe Seili spoke
of a letter he had written.
In the past, when increased
pressure was needed in the village
watermains to fight a fire, a village
employee would start generators at
the wells to boost the volume.
However, new water regulations
prohibit anyone other than licensed
personnel to make adjustments on the
water system.
Amalgamation has also taken
licensed employees out of the
village, Seili added.
Worried there could be as much as
a 40-minute wait for a licensed
person to boost the water pressure for
a fire, Seili said the situation is is
unacceptable to him or the Brussels
Fire Department.
Public Works Co-ordinator John
Forrest informed council that Well 2
in Brussels would soon be back in
operation when a pressure- demand
activated chlorinator was installed. It
was hoped the equipment would be
installed at the end of last week.
Forrest said though the pressure
will not be as good as the village had
with the gas generators, it will
definitely be better as Well 2 will be
drawn into service when there is a
demand for increased pressure.
Forrest admitted this was the best
the municipality could do.
Asked by other councillors why the
Brussels water system lacked the
pressure needed to fight a major fire,
Forrest said it had never been
upgraded to handle the higher
pressure on a daily basis.
The chlorinator in Well 2 will also
bring the water supplied by the
system up to provincial standards.
Huron E. mayor debates bylaw exceptions
