Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2001-11-21, Page 24A message from Tile War Amr To order a Spot the Danger! video or the new PLAYSAFE Inzernove CD-Rom, visit our Web site at www.waramps.ca or call 1-800-250-3030. ee Motors Announces FINANCING 0 ALL USED CA AND TRUCKS 1996 & NEWE Up to 60 MONTHS (Min. $7500 financed OAC)' NO PAYMENTS FOR 90 DAYS Gre t selection to choose from tc, McGee Motors Ltd, 37 Hamilton St. Goderich 5;4-8391 ffer 00 • ntl w 31/01 PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2001. Plenty of planning discussion at NH council By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor There was a lot of talk about plan- ning at the Nov. 19 North Huron council meeting. Brian Treble of the Huron County Planning Department spoke first about a severance application for just over one acre from the property of Norman and Audrey Bonnett, RR1, Belgrave. The purpose was to create a new lot where Marion and Dale Hussey currently reside. Treble explained that the situation is unique as the Husseys' home was originally a mobile home but now it is several mobile homes attached together. • Saying the situation pre-dates the secondary plan, Treble said it would not be allowed today. Councillor James Campbell said because of the proximity to the Belgrave Creek he wanted "strong input" from the health unit before he By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor Blyth could soon be without a doc- tor's office. North Huron council learned at its Nov. 19 meeting that if the Seaforth Medical Clinic in Blyth does not get some municipal funding it will be forced to close. A letter from Mary Fisher, clinic manager, explained that the Seaforth clinic, now only has four physicians, down from six when it originally began serving Blyth. They were asking to help in pay- ing $16,000. a year to subsidize the clinic. Currently one doctor is in Blyth fdr-elght hours a week. Councillor Jim Campbell said he phoned Fisher to get more informa- tion and asked her if the other By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor A request for funding assistance with the new digital imaging X-ray machine at Wingham and District Hospital came before North Huron council at its Monday night meeting. Gord Baxter, Ross Davies and Roily Kaufman attended the meeting to ask council to consider financial support towards the $1.2 million machine. Saying this was the most expen- sive piece ever purchased by the hos- pital, Davies explained that it replaced outmoded equipment and as it was already in place at the hos- pital was "obviously badly needed." To date, in the month since the fundraising campaign began a total of $700,000 has been raised or pledged. A significant portion of this has come from Wescast, which has in total promised $60,000. The province has granted $54,000. Davies said they are appealing to all the townships which would have residents using the hospital. "We realize these are difficult economic times for taxpayers, but we don't think any taxpayer would object to a generous donation for their hospi- tal." Asked by Councillor James Campbell if the X-ray would be used primarily by area people, Baxter explained 'that most hospitals have would be - comfortable making a decision. "If this was new the health unit wouldn't allow it. I think we have to, cover this," he said. Councillor Jeff -Howson agreed recommending that council hold off on any decision until they hear from the health unit. Campbell seconded the motion, which carried. Treble next discussed the Wingham property owned by Wayne Colclough and whether or not the changes were made in response to orders from the municipality. While there were some modifications from the original state, which was what Colclimigh had said he would adhere to, Clerk-Administrator John Stewart said the engineer had in con- versation with him indicated that the changes would remedy the drainage problems for the neighbouring church property. Also, though the interior renova- tions had not been complete, Stewart said he had spoken with Colclough municipalities like Huron East and Morris-Turnberry, which also have patients tended by Seaforth physi- cians had been approached. "She said no, but they will be now" He also said Fisher would be will- ing to come to council, and added that the $16,000 was the shortfall for running both the Blyth and the Brussels clinics. Councillor Jeff Howson spoke of Dr. Hay, the Clinton doctor who had a practice in Blyth but left because of money as well. Saying he thought Hay had approached Blyth council for financial help to keep him in the village, Howson said he believed the consensus then was they didn't want to get involved. Stewart agreed, but said when he left Seaforth was the only clinic that said they would put an office in their own X-rays so resident out of the catchment area wouldn't need to come to Wingham, but added, this would be a "big benefit to the local people." Explaining that it was believed 70 per cent of the patients come from Huron with 30 per cent coming from Bruce, Baxter said that 50 per cent of the first group are probably from Wingham. It is expected that the campaign will run six months. Baxter also noted that some corporate pledges have been made over two to three years, thus council would not need to make a commitment in a lump sum or without giving it consideration at budget. Asked about a dollar value, he said they didn't want to put a dollar fig- ure on what council might pledge. Council will consider the request in the future. who was going to get in touch with the contractor. Councillor Murray Nesbitt expressed his view that if the engi- neer says the drainage problem is solved then that fine. Howson too said that he couldn't see keeping Colclough to the promise to revert to the original state, if the problem was indeed addressed. "We hired a professional and he said the drainage is solved. If we don't go on his say so, what's the point of hiring him?" Treble suggested however, that it might be wise to get the engineer's comment in writing. Campbell then said the interior work needs to be complete and an inspection by the chief building official done for the next council meeting. "We need to put a deadline on this." In a third matter, Treble explained that a property owner in East Wawanosh was hoping to sever 52 acres, which included a house and Blyth, though Dr Antoniadis of Wingham was there for a time after Seaforth set up. Council did pur- chase some equipment for Seaforth at the time, he said. Howson said he believed the majority of Blyth people still doc- tored in Clinton, but was quick to add that that comment was meant not to reflect any opinion, but simply as a statement that many people "just barn, in order to sell them. The chal- lenge according to Chief Building Official Byron Ellis, is fitting togeth- er the requirements of the nutrient management plan with the secondary Plan. The plan stipulates that as long as an operation is viable they can retain that lot. However, the barn could house 107 feeder cattle, which would require 130 workable acres for spreading the manure. If a lean-to was demolished eliminating the chance to house 44 cattle there, it would still mean 77.8 workable acres was needed, Ellis said, to comply with the nutrient management plan. For the 25 workable acres he would have he could only have 20 feeders which would not be viable. Campbell was concerned because the owner of the property had had a nutrient management plan passed for this property and wondered if the 52 acres had been included in his plan. Ellis said he was told that he had • ice seemed to carry on", when their doc- tor moved out of town. He did add however, that it "is nice to have a facility in your community." Campbell said he would like to see figures on how many people from each area using the clinic, "so we know where we stand. I would hate to see it go out of Blyth." Fisher will be invited to attend a council meeting. taken that out because he wanted to sell that land. Treble noted many issues to con- sider. He said council could require the purchase of more land, which would then leave the owner looking for manure agreements for spread g as he would be short. They co Id make it a requirement that the n owner get enough land agreements to meet the needs for the animal units he would have. Or they could say the barn had to come down. Asked by Howson what he fore- saw, Ellis said it would all be diffi- cult to enforce. Treble who was not seeking a rec- ommendation at this point, asked council what he might take back to these people for discussion. Campbell's response ended discus- sion, "I'd have a problem granting a severance." In his fourth item for council Treble discussed the need for a new secondary plan. Council agreed to set aside time to begin work on this. Treble also explained about Rural Connexions, The concept is to use graduates of local high schools as ambassadors of their communities, by encouraging them to promote the area. F.E. Madill Secondary School has been targetted as a pilot project at a cost of $2,400 per year for three years. Treble spoke of funding through Bell Canada that would cover the majority of the cost. Council voted to proceed with the program. Hospital foundation asks council for cash Blyth may lose physician's o