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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-01-15, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2003. Board of health gears up for West Nile Virus By Keith Roulston Citizen publisher Huron County’s board of health will set up a permanent West Nile Virus (WNV) program and will set aside $73,000 in funds in expectation of a matching amount from the province for surveillance and control measures. According to a report from Dr. Beth Henning, the county’s medical officer of health, there have been 77 confirmed cases of people contracting-WNV in Ontario and a further 122 probable cases of infection. Eight peop'e infected by the virus have died, though it’s unknown whether the virus contributed to the deaths of several of the victims. There has also been 51 confirmed cases in horses across the province with a further 36 probable cases. All 37 health units across the province reported birds that died from WNV in the summer of 2002. In Huron there were five birds confirmed to have died from WNV, one each from Clinton, Hensall and Seaforth and two from Goderich. These birds might have migrated into the county, Henning said. The health unit didn't do testing of mosquitoes to see if the insects themselves were infected. As part of its 2003 plans, the health unit will increase mosquito surveillance and may use the county’s geographic information system to track areas of surface water. A big part of the program will be public education, convincing people to reduce breeding grounds for mosquitoes by eliminating areas of standing water. Only if all other methods of controlling the mosquito population fail will a program of spraying mosquitoes be considered. The county will also urge the province to create a laboratory that can test for, and confirm, WNV. Last year specimens were sent to the province’s Central Public Health Laboratory where, because of the heavy workload, it might take six weeks or longer to receive test results. Subsequent testing at a federal lab added another three weeks to the delay. Penny Nelligan, director of the health department, told council that there have been surprises in the way the virus has affected people with some previously healthy people being affected. For some people the length of the infection has been longer than previously thought, she said, with people suffering flu-like symptoms. County budget process could be troubling By Keith Roulston Citizen publisher There are indications that for the first time in years the process of approving the budget for the County of Huron could be difficult. In recent years, with council giving staff a specific limit in the amount of tax increase expected, budget approval has been swift and non-controversial. This year, however, staff are preparing a budget based on needs, not on a council-imposed target and some councillors indicated at the Jan. 9 meeting that they may have problems with the proposal, due to be considered at the Jan. 20 committee of the whole meeting. “What if we don't like the budget and turn it down,” asked Central Huron Councillor Bert Dykstra. “Are we going to clock ourselves out of time for revisions?" He was assured by Dave Carey, treasurer and acting chief administrative officer, that there was plenty of time for revisions. Carol Mitchell of Central Huron also worried about the approval process. “I feel this budget is going to be difficult,” she said in urging enough time for debate and that approval not get lost in a busy agenda at the committee of the whole meeting. Goderich Councillor Deb Shewfelt asked if actual figures from last year’s operations would be included in the budget documents for comparison purposes. Carey said he would try to include projected actuals based on costs to the end of November expenses. Howick Councillor Norm Fairies pointed out it was difficult to expect staff to have final actual figures for the year ending Dec. 31 by Jan. 20. No local councillors head county committees By Keith Roulston Citizen publisher No councillors from local municipalities will head Huron County council’s three committees for 2003. Huron County to lay charges against Grey Twp. company By Keith Roulston. Citizen publisher Huron County is preparing to lay charges^ under its tree bylaw against a Grey Twp. company for illegally clearing land. County council has recommended that charges be filed against Acre T Farms for clearing a strip of land 15 metres wide by 220 metres long through a woodjot on the farm of County to spend $50,000 on solving water problem By Keith Roulston Citizen publisher High salt content and extreme hardness of water in a well at the Seaforth-Clinton ambulance station will require a treatment system costing $50,000, county council was told at its Jan. 8 meeting. In order to get the volume of water required for the station, located midway between the two towns, the contractor had to drill to 340 feet but testing of the water from the well showed very hard water as well as a high salt concentration that made the water impossible to drink. Staff have been drinking bottled water and a freshwater tank has been brought on site to provide water for hot water purposes. Installation of a water softening and a reverse osmosis treatment system which will cost an estimated $32,000 for equipment and $18,000 for engineering was approved by council, but not without some grumbling. “I’ll support this but we have to Bluewater’s Paul Klopp will chair the agriculture, public works and seniors committee. Other members of the committee include Bill Dowson of Bluew'ater; Bert Dykstra of Central Huron; Keith Johnston of Morris-Turnberry; Rob Morley of Ben Terpstra in order to extend the right-of-way for a manure line from the w'est half of lot 28, concession 10 to the east half of lot 28. Dale Edgar, acting tree commissioner reported that part of a good woodlot had been destroyed by the action. Valuable sugar maple, black cherry and white ash with saleable timber had been bulldozed into piles without the knowledge of the landowner, Edgar reported. look long and hard at where we build in the future,” said Goderich’s Deb Shewfelt. “Institutional use needs to be on urban services.” Paul Klopp, councillor for Bluewater, complained that the councillors were not kept informed about the situation and asked Larry Adams, the county’s new chief administrative officer, to look into systems to keep councillors better informed in the future. “This sure left a bad taste in my mouth,” he said. Coming Soon to The Citizen South Huron, Lin Steffler of Huron East and Warden Dave Urlin of South Huron. Deb Shewfelt of Goderich will chair the health and planning committee which will include Ellen Connelly of Goderich; Diane Many smaller trees in the remaining woodlot were damaged from the piles being pushed in among the remaining trees, he reported. UJhat do Surf, Turf 6 Snow Have in Common? GubGadeL ©Husqvarna Chris Tyndall Team Vincent is pleased to welcome Chris and invite you to drop by or give him a call for great deals on the latest recreational vehicles! Denomme, Bluewater; Norm Fairies, Howick; Doug Layton, North Huron and the warden. Joe Hogan of South Huron will chair the social and cultural services committee which will include: Carol Mitchell, Central Huron; Neil Rintoul, Ashfield, Colborne, Wawanosh; Murray Scott, North Huron; Ben Van Diepenbeek, Ashfield, Colborne, Wawanosh and the warden. Appointed members of the library board on this committee include Ron Anderson, Paul Elgie, Pat Down, Robin Dunbar and Carol McDonnell. Fairies will represent the county on the Bruce Grey Huron Perth District Health Council while Urlin and Denomme will sit on the board of the Huron County Children’s Aid Society. Dowson will represent the county on the Maitland Watershed Partnership’s water action committee and Scott will sit on the partnership’s terrestrial commit­ tee. Dowson and Urlin will sit on the Technical Review Huron Farm Environmental Mediation Committee and Van Diepenbeek will sit on the Healthy Futures Committee. Shewfelt, ’ the Huron Corporation. will sit on the board of Business Development