Loading...
The Citizen, 2005-06-09, Page 23THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 9, 2005. PAGE 23. Council’s grumbles over rumble strips continues By Keith Roulston Citizen publisher Complaints over the disruption in the lives of St. Joseph residents caused by noisy rumble strips led to nearly an hour of debate at Huron County council. June 2. The debate arose after the county highways department milled new rumble strips into the pavement on County Rd. 84, approaching its intersection with Hwy. 21. In 2002, following complaints from neighbours about the noise from raised rumble strips leading to the intersection, county council had intervened and instructed that the strips be ground down to a point where they reduced noise but still warned drivers of the upcoming intersection. Debate at Thursday’s meeting was stirred by a resolution from the May 11 meeting of the agriculture, public works and seniors committee which said the strips should stay in place until a written opinion regarding liability was received. Other councillors asked that the strips be taken out immediately. “Council did make a motion (in 2002), said Dave Urlin, South Huron councillor. “They shouldn’t have been put back in. Those people built there long before the rumble strips were put in. 1 believe in rumble strips but I wouldn't want to live there either " Bluewater councillor Paul Klopp, who had fought on the behalf of the neighbours to have the noise reduced in 2002 noted there had been no accidents caused by people driving through the intersection onto Hwy. 21 since the strips were reduced. “The key was, they weren’t taken out, they were reduced,” Klopp said. “They (the residents) compromised." Others felt safety should be the first priority. Baked treats “Our policy seems to be we put rumble strips in but if people complain, we put comfort over safety,” said South Huron councillor Ken Oke. “When you put comfort over safety, I think anyone who goes through the intersection has a cause to sue even if the strips weren’t at fault.” Ben Van Diepcnbcck of Ashfield- Colborne-Wawanosh argued council should pass the motion to get a legal opinion. “If we get (another) request to take strips out again we need a legal opinion.” Goderich councillor Ellen Connelly said she wasn’t sure how she had voted in 2002 but “if I voted for (reducing the strips) then. I’ve changed my mind. It’s called safety It’s called people. It’s called grandchildren.” “I’m going to make a motion that we stand up for safety of the people,” she said. Bluewater councillor Bill Dowson argued that if council changed its mind on the rumble strips only three years after ordering them reduced it would lose credibility. Jim Ferguson, Bluewater councillor, argued that the council already lost credibility because the new strips had been put in against council’s previous motion. “It should have come back to the roads committee before the strips were put back in,” he complained. The debate ended with a series of defeated motions. The original motion to seek a legal opinion was defeated. Connelly then put forward her motion that the rumble strips remain but the road department look into moving them further to the east so they wouldn’t be so close to the built-up area, but that motion too was defeated. Dowson then proposed a motion that would see the strips paved over while the road department developed a written policy as to where rumble strips would be used. Earlier he had pointed out there are no strips used to warn of intersections in Varna. Bayfield, Brucefield or Egmondville. That motion was also defeated Finally, Bernie MacLellan, councillor of Huron East proposed the highways department develop a written policy to be brought back to council. This carried. & Vie for edictkA .A Saturday, June 11 •A •A •A •A •A from 9:00 pm -1:00 am Howick Arena Free draw for Sony Home Theatre System at 10:30 pm Must be in attendance Music by D.J Lunch provided •A •A A 85* fRiitliday, Ruth Sauve-Schade It’s not all about the good buys on books that keep people thronging to the Blyth Festival book sale each June. For 25 years Lois van Vliet, left, and Lynda McGregor have been baking and selling delicious rhubarb pies. (Vicky Bremner photo) Belgrave park A work crew of parents and Belgrave Kinsmen Club members were busy last Friday and Saturday installing the new playground equipment at the park in Belgrave. Members are shown as they get one piece of equipment ready for installation, (jim Brown photo) GuuSLif U-O! /lata, o-v-e/i Ute, lull qau (jO-! Love Barry and the girls You're invited to help celebrate her 85th Birthday June 25 at Brussels United Church l~3 pm for ice cream &. cake June 11 Happy 88th Birthday Ralph S. Schade You're invited to help Ralph celebrate his 88th Birthday at Brussels United Church , 1-3 pm for ’C ice cream & cake June 25, 2005 Blues Band June 18 ‘Rack ‘Rutiiud Classic Rock JUNE 19 Father's Day Menu Call for details TUESDAY NIGHTS 2 for 1 Fish and Chips WEDNESDAY NIGHTS Kids eat free THURSDAY NIGHTS Wing Night FRIDAY NIGHTS Karaoke SUNDAY NIGHTS Roast Beef Dinner