The Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-04-15, Page 13Carlow intersection compared
to 'death trap' at council
Cheryl Meath ---
sun media
Lynn Depatie wants to take a bite
out of crime in Carlow.
Depatie, who recently purchased
the Carlow General Store, came be-
fore Huron County's April 8 commit-
tee -of -the -whole session in order to
request the installation of a flashing
light at the intersection of Blyth Road
and Lucknow Line.
The reason?
Depatie says the intersection is a
death trap waiting to happen. And,
she adds, the close proximity of busi-
nesses and buildings to the roadways
only compounds the problem.
"I believe this is a very important
situation at hand," she says, adding
she has seen a few accidents and
many "near misses" since moving to
the area last June.
More frustrating, she says, is the
acknowledgement of many passers-
by that they "love to speed through
Carlow."
Motorists with heavy feet are so
common in the area, she says, that it
is a popular speed trap with the OPP.
"My daughter says we don't have
to watch COPS on TV, we're watch-
ing it in Carlow," she says.
Depatie points to other small com-
munities, like , Brucefield, as ones
where a yellow flashing light has
been installed. She notes representa-
tives of the Coalition for Huron In-
jury Prevention (CHIP) have already
pledged to lend its speeding radar
that flashes passing. motorists speed
to the hamlet.
Yet, says Depatie, more must be
done.
"At least by coming here I know I
tried my hardest," she says. "Hope-
fully, a yellow flashing light can be
installed at Carlow."
County Warden Ken Oke, who
spent many years at the helm of Mid-
dlesex County's roads department,
says while he sympathizes with the
plight of residents, flashing yellow
lights do not slow down drivers.
"In all the studies we did, the yellow
lights really didn't effect the speed of
the traffic," says Oke. "It creates kind
of a false sense of security."
In echoing Oke's sentiments. Dave .
Laurie, director of public works,
reports there is nothing to suggest
flashing yellow lights deter speeders.
"Studies show that a light won't
slow people down,' he says. "My gut
feeling is it's not going to solve the
problem."
While Depatie argued if the light
saves one life, it's worth the expense,
.other councilors noted there are sev-
eral hamlets throughout the county
that could also benefit from some-
thing similar.
Mayor Bill Dowson (Bluewa-
ter) reports the hamlet of Varna has
a problem with motorists rushing
through the community.
"I'm a strong believer in that the
hamlets should have a four-way
stop," he says.
Coun. Joe Seili (Huron East)
echoed some councillors' sentiments
that similar requests, like one made
by Huron East's Turnberry Estates,
have gone ignored.
"I'm sorry. you have to kill a few
people to get action but that's the way
it is," he says, adding that he person-
ally believes flashing lights do work.
While the roads department was
asked to compose a report on the
Carlow situation, Seili says the wiser
move would be to erect the light.
"What's the cost of the study? You
could probably put the light up for
less money," he says.
Meanwhile, Coun. Deb Shewfelt
(Goderich) suggests photo radar
could be the answer.
"It seems to me it's policing that
needs to be consistent," he says, not-
ing though photo radar is banned in
the province, the lower tiers could
use it.
Seili later moved approval of De-
patie's request but the suggestion it-
self elicited further comments.
Coun. Max Demaray (Howick)
says if Carlow gets one, the McIn-
tosh comer should too while Dowson
suggests one for Varna and Dorothy
Kelly (Morris T urnberry) wants to
see one in Belgrave.
"Take all the money and buy the
photo radar," chimed in Shewfelt,
while Oke suggested one could be
installed on Airport Line.
Coun. David Johnston (Bluewater)
says'a report is in order.
"This has ramifications for all of
Huron Coun-
ty," he says.
Seili's mo-
tion was ta-
bled in order
to allow the
report, which
is expected to
take a month
to complete.
Attendance should equal earning
Cheryl Heath
sun media
Joseph Seili believes 50 per cent attendance
at Huron County. Council meetings should
equate to a 50 percent honorarium.
That was part of the argument presented
by Seili (Huron East) during Huron County's
April 8 committee -of -the -whole session.
Expressing frustration with the newly intro-
duced committee structure that requires coun-
cillors to take a minimum of three days off
work each month, Seili says the time has come
for county administration to acknowledge that
there is more to lower -tier politics than sitting
around the council -chamber table.
"You are discriminating against the working
class people who sit at this table," says Seili.
"The working class people need to work for
the people who are collecting pensions and sit-
ting at this table."
In essence, says Seili, any councillor at-
tending 75 per cent or more meetings should
continue to receive the full honorarium while
others should be compensated according to the
number of meetings attended.
Seili's motion can at the heels of a request
by Ben Van Diepenbeek (Ashfield Colborne
Wawanosh), asking for an exemption from the
long-standing 75 per cent meeting attendance
rule to qualify for an honorarium since a fam-
ily member is quite ill and needs to attend doc-
tor's appointments. It was a request councillors
endorsed.
In contrast, Coun. John Grace (Goderich)
asked for special consideration late last year
when he fell short of the 75 per cent quota by
two per cent last year.
"I know we had a little bit of fun with (my
request) last fall," says Grace.
Still, says Grace, he did attend a number of
special meetings outside council chambers,
including several as chairman of the health
board.
"I attended more meetings, probably, than
any other county councillor," he says.
Meanwhile, Coun. Bill Dowson (Bluewater)
says honorariums were introduced as a way to
lure county councillors to monthly sessions
since attendance was often lacking.
"Why not take it off the books?" he asked.
While Seili hoped to see his motion go for-
ward, the committee instead opted to have ad-
ministrators present a report, replete with the
budgetary impact, on the issue.
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