HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-09-16, Page 10Page 10 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, September 16, 2009
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Bokhout stepping into liberal ring
A Clinton doctor is seeing red.
Dr. Maarten Bokhout, a long -serving family phy-
sician and member of the Clinton Family Health
Team, is tossing his hat into the federal Liberal
nomination ring for the sei;ond time.
Bokhout, who served as the Medical Officer of
Health for Huron County between 1987 and 1995,
lives near Blyth, and is active in the local united
church, the Optimist Club, and the Blyth Festival
Orchestra. He is along -time member of the Blyth
Festival.
Bokhout is married to Helena McShane. The cou-
ple has six children.
County eyeing transport grant
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Cheryl Heath
sun media
The County of Huron is seeking out
50,000 reasons to unveil new program-
ming.
in making a pitch to Huron County's
committee -of -the -whole session Sept. 9,
planning director Scott Tousaw reports
the county is eager to apply for up to
$50,000 in funding under the province's
newly unveiled Transportation Demand
Man, gement Grant.
While noting the county is not as pub-
lic transportation rich as its urban coun-
terparts, Tousaw says the grant could
help fund special projects like a bike lane
in Clinton through to Huronview.
"It would look at a whole range of op-
tions," says Tousaw.
In supporting the request, Councillor
John Bezaire (Central Huron) notes he
has been a approached by a number of
groups and individuals in past months
that are eager to get moving on proj-
ects designed to promote and boost eco -
friendly tourism.
"I think there will be a lot of people
happy to see us do this," he says.
Let's review
It is time for the official unveiling.
That was the news delivered to the
Sept. 9 committee -of -the -whole session
care of planning director Scott Tousaw.
In reporting county staff has been con-
ducting a five-year review of the Official
Plan, Tousaw says it is time to officially
unveil the report to the public.
And, he notes, the process has revealed
two areas of concerns, both of which fo-
cus on the populace and fall into the two
areas including growth allocation and af-
fordable housing since statistics suggest
the county's population could grow up to
68,000 by the year 2031.
Surplus dwellings on farm properties
are another area of interest since there is
a desire to protect farmland and prevent
developers from speculating in agricul-
tural areas.
"We've taken a fair bit of time drafting
those policies," he says.
Indeed, county planners Craig Metzger
and Sandra Weber took some to unveil
surplus -dwelling proposals in an attempt
to create uniform county -wide criteria to
deal with surplus -dwelling severance ap-
plications.
After some debate, councillors agreed
to recommend a draft policy that would
require the homes on any proposed farm
severance to be at least 10 years of age.
Other areas in need of attention in the
draft policy include proposals to cre-
ate a natural environment heritage plan,
encouraging accessibility, dealing with
population -growth allocations in settle-
ment areas and undertaking an aggregate
study.
Thanks to a motion by COW, the coun-
ty's draft policy changes to the Official
Plan will be unveiled at public -informa-
tion session at 7: 30 p.m., Oct. 8, at the
Holm esville hall.
Good news
Some late summer sunshine is just
what the farmer ordered.
In making her monthly report to Huron
County's committee -of -the -whole ses-
sion, Jane Muegge, regional information
coordinator for the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, re-
ports late summer heat and sunshine is
making a noticeable difference in corn
and bean quality this summer.
And, she notes, it has also slowed
down mold growth.
"That's fabulous," she says.
Severance approved
Four Central Huron property owners
were given the green light to sever a farm
dwelling on their Auburn -area land fol-
lowing some debate.
County councillors entertained the pro-
posal after a neighbour expressed some
concern with the plan.
After hearing the neighbour would
prefer for farm buildings not to be de-
molished and that the severance include
less farmland, the COW opted to approve
the sale.
It's here
e borer is here.
That was the word delivered to COW
by the county's forest conservation of-
ficer, Erica Garfat, following Coun. Bill
Siemon's (Huron East) inquiry as to why
the amount of tree cutting on county
property is on the rise.
While questioning whether the price
of wood is up, Garfat notes it is not but
companies are convincing landowners
to harvest now due to emerald ash borer
concerns.
The scoop?
County council is awaiting a report on
the possibility of the county of Huron
branching out into the maple -syrup pro-
duction business on county -owned land.
Though Coun. Bill Siemon (Huron
East) notes he doesn't support the no-
tion, Coun. Bernie MacLellan (Huron
East) says councillors should review the
county's report before making a final de-
cision.
"We should find out what the scoop is,"
says MacLellan.