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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-11-08, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2000. Bly th council hears cost of arena reno By Janice Becker Citizen staff It will soon be time for the residents, business owners and organizations of Blyth and surrounding area to anti up as the community undertakes a major Brussels council questioned about services after Jan* 1 By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff Service is good in Brussels and concerned residents want to keep it that way. Since the all-candidates meeting there have been a number of phone calls to the municipal office expressing a fear that with amalgamation the village was not going to maintain its level of service, Clerk-Treasurer Donna White told council at the meeting Monday night. Also present was ratepayer and village employee Don Crawford, who spoke to council about his specific worries with regards to this matter. He said that he had heard that Brussels would no longer have a full-time roads employee in town, that snow would not be removed daily and that there was to only be one part-time person . He asked Reeve Ralph Watson, one of two village representatives on the Huron East transition board if this information is correct. “I asked you to mention it at the transition board two months ago, and I still don’t have any answers,” Crawford said. Councillor Joe Seili said that the information he had heard was that there would be three people for the renovation project of the Blyth and District Community Centre. Todd MacDonald once again attended Blyth council to bing them up to date with regards to the planned worked. A committee has formed to organize a fundraising campaign to south and three for the north, but no services would be cut. “The math isn’t there,” he said. When the village’s other transition board representative Councillor Mary Stretton reiterated that the intention has been no lost services, Crawford noted that nowhere in the employment organization chart was there a provision for a full-time worker in Brussels. “For Grey and Brussels there is to be one part-time employee,” he said adding that he had given this information to Seili and Councillor Greg Wilson, who with Watson are running for council seats, prior to the all-candidates meeting so they would have the information. “I feel we are going to get screwed and (council) better stand up and start barking and you better do it as a bunch,” said Crawford. Saying that Grey and Brussels has 50 km more road than Seaforth and Tuckersmith, he added that what he sees happening is going to put the village back 20 years, when snow removal was not as thorough. Seili too showed concern. “Who will push it back from the comers after the plow goes through? Who will clean around the fire hydrants?” Crawford said the many senior citizens living in the village have increase the dimensions of the ice surface as well as add change rooms and storage space. MacDonald told councillors it has been estimated the project will cost $800,000 to complete just the work which is required. This could create handicapped come to expect the little extras. “It all needs to be addressed.” As a village employee, along with Hugh Nichol, Crawford said they had to put in extra hours to clear snow in winter because their days were filled with the regular tasks. Over the past three years a 44 hour work week should have totalled 2,200 hours, he said. He and Nichol had put in a combined 2,500. “There has to be a full-time position in this town. As far as the job posting, it’s bullshit and you better say something.” Seili agreed. “If that’s what’s been decided, we’ve been asleep at the trigger.” He expressed concern that if hours are being cut back, and people are getting raises, where the savings were being found. White said that she had spoken with her peers at Seaforth and Grey and “everyone seems to think Brussels should be served well.” Council decided to attend the Thursday night transition board meeting to express these concerns as a delegation. Councillor Greg Wilson volunteered to be spokesperson. “It would be a real shame for people in this town to go back 20 years in services,” Crawford said before leaving. accessibility as well as change rooms for the increasing number of girls involved in hockey. Additional funds raised could be used to make the arena look like it should, he said. MacDonald requested council contribute one-third of the basic costs in hopes that the provincial government would provide an in- kind grant through the Superbuild program. However, there was serious concern whether money from the government could be counted on. Councillor Rob Lawrie said the community should raise as much of the money as possible without the expectation of government grants. Though he agreed Blyth could and should contribute one-third, he emphasized the need for community support. The committee will also be approaching the neighbouring municipalities of Hullett, East Wawanosh and Morris Twps. for VOTE JAMES CAMPBELL Ward 2 Township of East Wawanosh November 13 VOTE MASON BAILEY for Blyth Ward Councillor Township of North Huron support. MacDonald stressed that the committee needs the full amount of funding or the project falls through. The children need to have ice size comparable to others so they can compete, he added. Councillor Jeff Howson agreed with the proposed contribution, saying the arena is the heart of a community and it is needed. Following the PT Cruiser draw and cash calendar, MacDonald expects heavy canvassing for funds to begin in the new year. It is hoped the construction can be completed in time for the village’s 125th anniversary in 2002. Though the outgoing council is not able to pass a motion to authorize the spending because of the election, a recommendation will be forwarded to the new council. The money for the project is to come from the sale of the PUC, funds which are dedicated to use within the village. Sludge tank construction begins By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff Work will begin this week on the new sludge storage tank for Brussels at the sewage treatment property. Henry Rouw spoke to council at the Monday night meeting to provide an update. While the original building was to be four feet into the ground and 10 feet above, this has been changed he said to six and eight. This will increase the price $,1000. Also, to access the tank part of a fence had to be removed and double gates installed. The new posts, repairs to fence and gates will cost $1,200. A new road, 240 feet in length and 15 feet wide will be constructed at a cost of $2,400. The project which has been approved by the transition board was estimated at $60,000. Suffi­ cient funds are coming from the sewer reserve to cover the costs. White said that as the tank cost was $42,000 plus tax, the additional costs still come well within the budget. E. Wawanosh talks of drain It was a question of dollars when Hutton Heights residents expressed dissatisfaction in regard to the Johnston municipal drain assessments at the East Wawanosh council meeting recently. Paul Montgomery and John Beldman attended the Oct. 24 session, to discuss the bill received for the work completed earlier this year. Though the men had no problems with the actually construction, they did question the engineering costs for the job. Beldman indicated that the engineering accounted for 55 per cent of the $105,000 project. Stating that engineering costs should be only 23 per cent of the total, he said council should have received quotes. “You people are supposed to be working for us.” While Councillor Judith Gaunt said quotes could not be asked for the unknown and Reeve Don Schultz said council had always been satisfied with the work of Tom Pridham, Montgomery said the “fees reduced if the project had been done are way out of line.” at the same time as the Patterson Schultz said costs could have been Continued on page 27 For MAYOR of the New Municipality of Morris-Tumberry ELECT LYNN HOY Advance Poll - November 4, 2000 Questions & Concerns? Call 357-3435 “Your support will be appreciated” Election day is November 13, 2000 Anyone requiring a ride to the polling station, . please call 357-3435 Dedicated to Accountability, Affordability, Sustained Growth and Economic Diversity Resident of Blyth and Community since 1955, continually self-employed as a farmer, Real Estate Broker and Property Developer - patronizing, promoting and developing our community Married with 6 children and 18 grandchildren 39 years of experience 5 years • East Wawanosh School Board, during transition to Central Schools 9 years • Huron County Federation of Agriculture - 7 years on executive committee • 2 years as President 6 years • O.F.A. Board of Directors • 1 year on Executive Committee • 2 years as Chairman of Hydro Routes Committee, representing farmers' interests with respect to transmission lines 3 years • Board of Directors Ontario Mutual Insurance Co. 4 years • Board of Directors Clinton Public Hospital 3 years • Board of Directors North Huron Publishing Company Inc. 7-1/2 years • Blyth council • 6 years as Reeve and County Councillor 12 years • Board of Directors - Clinton Community Credit Union, 1 year President.