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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2006-04-20, Page 30Rhonda deJoni. Director Eric Coates Production Sponsors Schoolhouse by Leanna Brodie Sparling's Propane Co. Ltd. Watch for features on other Generous Supporters in the Coming Weks! ,`" Artistic Director Eric Coates,SAn Sterling (Sparling's) Young Company Supporters Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Blyth 2006 Event Sponsors -11111.:MLCI_ HURON INSURANCE MANAGERS 6 Blyt estival Season Launch Opening with special guest Juanita Wilkins Saturday, April 22, 2006 - 8 p.m. Tickets $25.00 each Blyth Memorial Community Hall Call for tickets - 523-9300 PAGE 30. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 2006. Good time to be warden says Morley With help Brody Nesbitt, with help from his bunny-eared mom Michelle and grandma Connie collected eggs during the Easter Egg Hunt on the Greenway Trail on Saturday afternoon. (Vicky Bremner photo) Residents feeling frustrated after landfill site meeting By Heather Crawford Citizen staff Frustration was running high as residents opposed to the expansion of the Wingham landfill site left an open house meeting in Wingham on Monday, April 10. "It's as if they just don't care about anything that doesn't affect them directly," said Wingharn resident Jim Taylor whose farm is located close to the landfill. "I have two grandsons to worry about. They have enough problems without us giving them more." According to Taylor, about 15 residents showed up at the meeting, all of whom were concerned about the health risks of expanding the site and the damages to their property. Clerk-administrator John Stewart said the landfill site has not yet been assessed for expansion. "North Huron council and the county would like to carry on to the next step which is the environmental assessment which takes about three years. The county is looking into the possibility of expanding the site," he said, adding that it was not yet a definite. "There was no mention (from the councillors, engineer or county workers present) about property value," Taylor said. Barb Hallman, who lives directly across from the landfill site with her husband Brian had said previously they often suffer from smoke blowing in their direction when garbage is being burned. Stewart said that residents mentioned very specific issues, however a liaison committee will be set up from the recommendation of the county to address these concerns. "The county said there has to be a committee set up that will probably have a representative from North Huron, an engineer, a consultant and neighbours. They will [develop] a terms of reference which will include all of these different issues to be addressed," he said. Stewart explained that the meeting was a reaction to the residents' feelings as though a decision was made and they didn't have any say and also to explain what had been going on for the past 30 years. "We provided information to show we took the necessary steps and now we would like to [continue] with the next steps." "I'm worried about all of that garbage getting compressed and getting into the groundwater," Taylor said. "This is a serious issue and it's a high priority for us and it should be a priority for everyone." He said he was very disappointed that one of his council representatives, deputy-reeve Murray Scott was not present at the meeting. Scott's absence was explained by Stewart in a phone interview saying, "the meeting was for the public works committee." Scott is not part of the committee. For now, Stewart said no final decisions have been made. "If everything goes perfect, the earliest we would be accepting garbage at the site would be 2015 and more likely 2022. We need to go through an environmental assessment first." Stewart said some comments were made at the meeting to suggest that the site was not appropriate for a landfill and they will ,be addressed in the tests and assessment. You might say the province has made Huron County warden Rob Morley's year. "1 picked the right year to be warden," Morley told county council, April 6 as he tallied up ,.$6.5 million in provincial funding announced for the county in the past two months. The largess began with $3.3 million through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund that helped councillors reduce the expected size of the tax increase for county purposes while also rebuilding its reserve funds. Next came the provincial budget with an announcement of money to rebuild. municipal roads and bridges with Huron County getting a $2.5 million share. Last week came news of $600,000 for the county's ambulance service. Morley said he understood this is the first of a three-year plan to get the province back to paying the 50 per cent of ambulance costs it promised to contribute when the service was downloaded under the Mike Harris government. Finally came $147,000 for the Huron County Library service. Councillors quickly found a place for the $2.5 million for roads and bridges. County engineer Don Pletch explained that because engineering work is required before bridge reconstruction can go ahead, it wasn't possible for more additional bridge repairs for this year. However in reducing the original budget to bring the tax increase down to a reasonable size, councillors had cut an estimated $2.5 million in resurfacing projects. Morley noted that the tenders for other paving had come in lower than .last year and so it would be a good move to go ahead if they could get similar lower bids. After some discussion, councillors agreed to call tenders for additional paving of County Rd. 8 from Auburn to Summerhill; County Rd. 31 from Hwy. 21 to the top of the hill in Saltford; and County Rd. 3 from Bayfield to Varna. "It was in the budget," said Bluewater councillor Bill Dowson. "Now that the money is there I can support that motion." But Central Huron councillor Bert Dykstra worried that it might be sensible to put some of the money away for bridge renovations next year. Morley pointed out, perhaps hopefully, that next year is a provincial election year and maybe the province would be dishing out more money to make a good impression. County librarian Beth Ross explained that the $147,000 in library funding was for rural, remote, Native and francophone libraries in centres with under 20,000 population. This is one time the money didn't go to the cities, she said. The money is to encourage family literacy and life-long learning and is one-time funding. Ross said the library staff could probably spend the money several times over, but a plan for how it will be allocated will be brought to the library board shortly. But if the province could give unexpectedly, it could also take money away unexpectedly. On March 3 the Huron County Health Unit suddenly found out it had $542,683 less than it had planned for in its budget. "These were additional 2006 funds, explained Penny Nelligan, director of the health unit. "I believe the (funding) formula was changed. The ministry says it wasn't." In answer to a question, Nelligan said the cut will not affect the health units programs but will mean it will not be undertaking some projects to help meet its mandate. "We're in very good condition compared to other health units," she said. "We would have had to hire to carry out these programs. Others .are having to lay off." Meanwhile Morley said council will need "to have a conversation" about how to make use of the rest of the funding. There is still $2.46 million left in a general reserve from the $3.3 million received from the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund.