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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-09-09, Page 14Page 14 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, September 9, 2009 LITEHOUSE Personal & Resldentlal Services Inc., PAL Box 313, Goderich, ON N7A 4C6 We are offering our services throughout the Grey/Bruce & Huron County areas, to include a complete Cottage/Residential Rental Managemen'. Service, with 20 years of proven track record for tenant placement in other locals of Ontario and our Quality Personal Home Care Program designed to assist seniors and the disabled. Residential rental services fees set at 70% inclusive of gross monthly rent until Nov. 1st, 2009, all cottage rental and management services 10% off for new clients until Oct. 31st, 2009, seniors and disabled receive 15% off some services all the time. Email us at litehouseetnt2l.com or call 519-440-2204 & 519-395-2477 (Leave messagfor us) County to host economic alliance Cheryl Heath sun media Huron County is stepping up to play host to the 2010 South West - em Economic Alliance's annual general meeting. That decision was meted out Sept. 1, during Huron County Council's September session fol- lowing a request by Coun. John Bezaire (Central Huron). In noting Chatham -Kent is hosting this year's event, Bezaire says, "It would certainly look like it's our turn." In noting sucll a move would come at a relatively low cost and commitment level by the county, Bezaire notes it would be fairly simple for the county to host SWEA. County Warden Ken Oke sug- gested a review of potential costs before signing on, but Bezaire's notation that SWEA was seek- ing to know Huron County's in- tentions prior to Sept. 8, was met by Coun. Bert Dykstra's (Central Huron) decision to move the mo- tion. Council endorsed the plan. SEEING GREEN Weedy issues are weighing heavily on the minds of county residents this summer, reports public works director Dave Lau- rie. In a short address to county council, Laurie reports the num- ber of complaints with regard TOWNSHIP OF ASHrtt.LD - COLBORNt_ - WAWANOSH TOWNSHIP OF ASHFIELD-COLBORNE-WAWANOSH MUNICIPAL CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR STORMWATER DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENTS (LONDON ROAD CORRIDOR, PORT ALBERT URBAN AREA) NOTICE OF PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING THE PROJECT: The Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh is currently investigating options to improve stormwater drainage in the vicinity of London Road (Port Albert urban area). This assessment is being carried out to address ongoing concerns with inadequate stormwater drainage along the London Road corridor, between Russell and South Streets, as well as drainage concerns along sections of adjacent local roads. The attached key plan illustrates the general location of the study area. At this time, a preliminary strategy for improving stormwater drainage in the project area has been identified. The key components of the proposal are outlined below. Proposed Servicing Plan: • Replacement of existing network of drainage swales along London Road and adjacent streets with a municipal storm sewer system; • Construction of new storm sewer drainage outlets at the Victoria Street and Port Albert Drains; • Replacement of approximately 1,800 m of roadbed and travelled road surface on London Road and adjacent streets. This work would be carried out in conjunction with the proposed stormwater drainage improvements. PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING: A Public Information Meeting is planned to present additional details on the proposed servicing plan and to receive input from interested persons: DATE: September 19, 2009 TIME: 9:00 ar.rn. — 9:30 a.m. (Open House) 9:30 a.m. (Presentation) PLACE: St. Joseph's Church (Kingsbridge). ENVIRONMENTAL SCREENING PROCESS: The project is following the planning process established for Schedule B activities under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) document. Schedule B projects are approved subject to a screening process. The screening process is conducted to identify any potential environmental impacts associated with the proposal and to plan appropriate impact mitigation. For further information, please contact the consulting engineers: B.M. Ross and Associates, 62 North Street, Goderich, Ontario, N7A 2T4. Telephone (519) 524:- 2641. Fax (519) 524-4403. Attention: Scott Alien, Planner (e-mail: sdllen@bmross.net). This Notice issued August 28, 2009. Brian Van Osch, Public Works Superintendent Township ofAshfield-Colbome- Wawanosh to weed growth on county and lower -tier roads is on the rise - a reality that is likely attributable to the province's cosmetic -pesticide ban enacted this year. Laurie notes the county is send- ing out letters to lower tiers with regard to weed spraying. GOOD NEWS County Warden Ken Oke re- ports there is some good news out there for those better than 60 years of age. It seems, notes Oke, that most seniors are impervious to the po- tential perils being wrought by the H 1 N 1 virus. LOOKING FOR TROUBLE? County Warden Ken Oke is counting himself among those who believe it is unwise to push the "buy local" campaign. Suggesting doing so is the equivalent of the growing move- ment in the United States to close the doors to imports, Oke says a 'buy fresh' campaign would better serve producers and consumers. "All we're doing is looking for trouble," says Oke, adding there aren't enough Canadians to keep Canadian farmers financially vi- able. Oke says rather than send out the signal that "don't be buying our products because we won't be buying your products," promoters would be wise to encourage con- sumers to seek out the freshest possible products. Meanwhile, Coun. Neil Rintoul (Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh) says the federal government still has a lot of work to do with regard to its labelling legislation. "The labelling rules have to be changed," says Rintoul, not- ing otherwise Canadians will continue to buy goods they think are made in Canada, when in fact they were only packaged here. FREE LUNCH? Coun. Bernie MacLellan (Hu- ron East) wants to address wheth- er county councillors can once again experience a free lunch. The majority of councillors, however, were not willing to again travel down that path. That issue drew some contro- versy earlier this year when Coun. Joe Seili (Huron Fast) questioned how much the county doled out hi paying for councillors lunches, only to learn the budget sat about $20,000. That knowledge led to council eventually choosing to cease offering up free lunches. Since the change, however, the issue has repeatedly raised its head. Chief Administrative Officer Larry Adams noted a two-thirds majority of council would have to agree to open up the lunchbox in order for debate to continue. Though MacLellan moved a motion to that effect, the vote ended in an eight -to -eight tie, meaning the motion was lost. WARDEN'S NOTES A moment's silence was held in memory of late North Huron Councillor Murray Nesbitt during Huron County Council's Septem- ber session. Warden Ken Oke says Nesbitt will be missed by all who knew him. In addressing the warden's ac- tivities for the summer months, Oke notes there was much on his plate for July and August, in- cluding participation in both the Zurich and Bayfield Fall Fairs, attendance at a Local Health Inte- gration Network meeting, as well as participation in a number of culturally based events including Huron Tourism's open house in. Benmiller. Oke notes he was also pleased to be part of a delegation, which also included councillors Bert Dykstra (Central Huron), Bill Dowson (Bluewater), and Doro- thy Kelly (Morris Turnberry), that presented agriculture -based con- cerns to provincial Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky at the recent Association of Mu- nicipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference. Oke notes the group also had the chance to meet with federal Agriculture Minster Gerry Ritz's assistant. "I was told the province wants input on long-term agricultural planning," says Oke. The warden adds it was with some sadness that the county bids adieu to the tobacco -use preven- tion group, known as Rebels With a Cause, which has been forced_to disband due to provincial funding cuts. "It's just unfortunate that we did lose the funding from the provin- cial government," says Oke. MYSTERY UNSOLVED An auditors' report unveiled at council's September session reveals there is a trust fund of unknown origins waiting to be spent. As part of an annual report on county finances, auditor Eugene Bender, of Vodden, Bender and Seebach, notes $10,409 in long untouched dollars are sitting in a trust, awaiting a chance to do council's bidding. ,Bender says though the . roots of the trust were sought, the ac- count's humble beginnings could not be traced. Nonetheless, says Bender, council could take advantage of the funds by allocating them for their intended use of funding for homecare. One county staffer notes she is currently working on a project that might unveil how the trust was sown.