HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-11-08, Page 15THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2000. PAGE 15.
Central Huron candidates answer questions
Taking a stand
Ron McKay, one of two candidates for reeve of Central Huron answers a question during the
all-candidates meeting in Hullett last Wednesday, while chair Allan Bosman stands by. From
left are candidates for council in Hullett: Doug Hugill, Tom Duizer (hidden), Bruce Bergsma,
Marg Anderson (partially hidden) and deputy-reeve hopeful Bob Szusz.
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
Some 50 Hullett Twp. ratepayers
turned out to hear the candidates for
Central Huron, Ward 2, at a meeting
in Londesboro Hall on Wednesday
night.
One of two candidates for reeve,
Ron McKay of Clinton was first to
speak following the introductions
from chair Allan Bosman.
McKay told of his roots in Hullett,
having been bom there and worked
on the family farm for many years.
He was elected to Clinton council in
1981 and with the exception of one
term has continued to serve, as a
councillor and deputy-reeve, and
currently as mayor.
This experience, he said, would be
used to make sound decisions for the
ratepayers.
McKay also spoke of his volunteer
work on fire boards, as a minor
sports coach and as one of the volun
teer labourers to help build the
Clinton pool. “I am not afraid of
work, and I would work for you.”
As a retired school principal and
farmer, McKay says he knows
Goderich and Hullett Twps. well. “I
know where the bumps in the roads
are and where many farmers live.”
He would use this knowledge to
make Central Huron one cohesive
unit.
Probably one of the biggest issues
he believes will be the right-to-farm
legislation versus environmental
concerns.
Referring to his Scottish back
ground, McKay said he does not like
to spend money and would handle
taxpayers’ dollars equally carefully.
“I ask for your support because of
my experience, I am frugal, and I
know agriculture.”
He concluded with his reason for
running. McKay said he had been
approached by a farmer who said it
was something he should consider,
“because you know what it’s like to
get manure on your boots.”
His opponent, Clinton reeve and
Huron County Warden Carol
Mitchell, talked about providing an
opportunity for input from the public
as municipal government is closest
to the people. She offered some
financial information on the new
municipality. The annual budget is
$3.7 million, while the capital budg
et is $1 million. The total assets are
$26 million.
Central Huron will have 35 full-
time and 25 part-time or seasonal
workers.
“The task of amalgamation is all-
consuming, but the day-to-day busi
ness cannot suffer,” she said.
A healthy environment must be
ensured if business is to flourish in
the new municipality, she said partic
ularly the business of farming.
If elected she would like to see the
formation of an agricultural advisory
committee. Also she proposed semi
annual ratepayers’ meetings.
“Central Huron needs a bold,
imaginative, economic development
strategy,” she said. “We cannot but
go forward if we all work together.”
Next up were- three candidates for
deputy-reeve. John Bezaire, who was
raised in Hullett Twp., but now
resides in Clinton, is a former coun
cillor, who said he decided to run
again because he missed municipal
politics. He thanked the people pres
ent for their interest, then spoke of
how the job of reeve and deputy
reeve in the new municipality were
going to be very important. “They
will need to be the uniting force in
the council chambers and a strong
voice at council. It is going to be up
to the county to let Queen’s Park
know if they want us to take respon
sibility for some services they will
need to give us money.”
The challenge facing the new
council, Bezaire said will be main
taining the current level of taxes. “In
the next few month’s there will be
times of adversity.” Because of the
area’s diversity he said it will be
important to keep everyone’s inter
ests in mind. “And remembering that
the people from this area make it
what it is.”
Bert Dykstra of Goderich Twp. is
a nine-year veteran of council. He
told of how his family emigrated to
Canada because of the excellent
opportunities particularly in agricul
ture as his father was a farmer.
“Change and challenge are not new
to our family,” he said.
Amalgamating two rural munici
palities with one urban one will be
challenging he said. “It will be
important to build unity.”
He also spoke of the bylaws that
will need tobe rewritten, but stressed
it can all be done smoothly “with
diligence and a fair desire to make it
work.”
Dykstra believes in strong infra
structure and said that water quality
will continued to be an issue facing
the new council. “People are entitled
to good, clean water.”
He also spoke of creating an envi
ronment that will encourage eco
nomic development and growth.
If elected he promised to represent
with an open mind and be sensitive
to what others are saying.
Bob Szusz, who has served 12
years on Hullett council, as council
lor, deputy-reeve and now reeve
spoke of his work on committees and
as a representative at county council.
He has also been a member of the
transition board.
Szusz said when he became reeve
he knew it would be a large commit
ment, but said the work and chal
lenge has been rewarding. Bringing
together three municipalities as
Central Huron with the new council
as its deputy-reeve, will be no less
so, he said. “We must work as a
team to address ratepayers’ concerns
No one person here is better than
another and that’s how it should be.’
He too spoke of the municipalities
diverse blend noting that it will
undoubtedly create unique situa
tions. “I promise to be approachable,
but also held, accountable.”
For Szusz the major issue is eco
nomic development. “We need to
keep people here. We’ve got a good
start but we need to keep growing.
We talk about keeping taxes down,
well, that’s the way to do it.”
Provincial downloading and the
ability of municipalities to take on
these services efficiently and at low
cost to taxpayers is another big issue,
he said.
Szusz also spoke of water quality.
The situation with Lake Huron, he
said, is something all must help to
correct. “This is not happening
because of just one sector of our
society. New guidelines must work
for everyone,” he said.
Wells are another issue and Szusz
said councils must work with the
province to press for funding.
Stating that services which
ratepayers have come to expect must
be maintained, Szusz said he feels he
is “approachable, committed and
result-oriented. The time has come to
put the past behind us look forward
with excitement but concern.”
Central Huron can be strong and
be a leader, he concluded.
The four candidates for two coun
cil spots made brief presentations.
Marg Anderson said she has enjoyed
the previous three years on council
and found it a learning experience.
The amalgamation pf Central
Huron’s three municipalities will be
a big challenge for council, she said,
and through her work with the transi
tion board, Anderson said she has
gained the knowledge needed. She
promised to bring her experience to
the council table to be a voice for the
people of Hullett.
Bruce Bergsma, a two-term mem
ber of council, talked about the posi
tions he has held on various commit
tees, and with the pork producers.
“I look forward to the challenge of
working as a team for the betterment
of the community, to ensure the
future for our children and the local
economy,” he said.
Tom Duizer, a resident and busi
nessman of Hullett, said that as a
member of council past and present
he has become aware of the respon
sibility of effective municipal gov
ernment. He has served on various
committees, and was chair of the
landfill committee. The experience,
he said, has given him the skills to
take on the problems the municipali
ty will face.
“The key to success will be to
address the concerns.”
Doug Hugill, also a two-term
member of council, one as deputy
reeve, said he believes in fair taxa
tion and the maintaining of services.
He looks forward to seeing the
three municipalities working as
one.
In the public question period, Bob
Trick asked McKay and Mitchell
what was happening to the township
office.
McKay said at this point the future
was uncertain, however, it has been
discussed that the office remain open
for a few days each week. “If no one
comes in we will presume it is not
needed and it will be put up for sale,”
he said, adding that that decision
would be made not by him, but by
eight people at the council table.
Mitchell agreed stating that the
transition board had decided the
office would stay open until some
pattern was established.
Whether it stays open or not will
“depend entirely on usage,” McKay
concluded.
Judith Vellenga asked the candi
dates for reeve what standards they
used to judge their decisiors in terms
of right or wrong. “What moral
background or principles you adhere
to in making decisions?”
McKay said that was a difficult
question to answer because of the
subjectiveness of decisions made.
The woman then asked if he had
no absolute standards such as the
commandments.
McKay responded, “Are you ask
ing me a personal question about my
religion?” When the woman
responded that she felt that was pub
lic information, McKay ended dis
cussion saying, “No it’s personal.”
Mitchell asked if she was correct
in her understanding that Vellenga
wanted to know what parameters she
used to make her decisions. After the
woman responded in the affirmative,
Mitchell said that she believed in
public consultation and how it affect
ed the community and its needs. She
spoke of how decisions are impacted
by many things such as finances and
the environment which all have to be
considered.
“That’s what I use as my parame
ters. It’s the collective will of a group
of people.”
Kittie MacGregor asked about the
current status with neighbouring
boards such as fire and landfill and
also about the effects of amalgama
tion on addresses.
Szusz said it was the intent of
council to continue involvement with
the area boards, particularly the
Blyth fire board, “one of the best fire
departments in the county,” he
added.
The addresses, he believed, would
not be changed.
Rick Packer asked a complicated
question regarding the spreading of
manure through agreements with a
neighbouring farmer and whether
any of council would support a poll
cy that would tie the land to the deed.
If it were to become like some
municipalities where such agree
ments were registered against the
title of the land, “my concern is that
people willing to take manure now,
may not be,” said Packer. ,
Bergsma said there were no exam
ples of this in Ontario. “It has been
tried very unsuccessfully.”
McKay saying that he believed
there would be provincial legislation
telling municipalities what to do,
added, “I don’t think we have the
right to make decisions that make it
impossible to sell your land,” a com
ment that got nodding assent from
the rest of the candidates.
A question about garbage was
answered by Szusz who said that
until June there would be no change.
Trick then said the community
should be honoured to have enough
people in the township willing to
run. “My father, who is 93, said, ‘I
can’t complain if I don’t vote, so I’m
voting.’ We should thank these peo
ple for putting their name down to
run.”
At the conclusion of the question
period, Bosman clarified an issue on
the right to vote. “If you are a tenant
of properties in more than one of the
three wards, you can only vote where
you live.”
Cfiristmas?
Think
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