HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-09-16, Page 14Page 14 - Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Laurie replaces Kaastra on Avon -Maitland school board
Stew Slater
special to the signal -star
A former president of the Hu-
ron County branch of the Feder-
ated Women's Teachers Associa-
tions of Ontario union (now the
Elementary Teachers Federation
of Ontario) is the newest mem-
ber of the Avon Maitland District
School Board.
On Tuesday, Sept. 8, Wilhelm-
ina Laurie experienced her first
meeting as a trustee representing
Central Huron and Huron East.
She was selected by her fellow
trustees following an application
and interview process, to replace
two -term predecessor Shelley
Kaastra.
Kaastra resigned effective June
30 to concentrate more efforts
on a youth shelter and youth
support program in Clinton.
"We looked at the people
who applied and we decided
that (Laurie) would be the
best mix with the current
trustees, and the best fit for
what the community needed,"
board chair Jenny Versteeg
told reporters, following the
Sept. 8 meeting.
A native of St. Marys now
living in Varna, Laurie spent
her career as a teacher and
principal in the former Huron
County board of education.
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NOTICE OF STEP-DOWN — PHASE 1 PROJECT
Detail Design and Class Environmental Assessment
For Group Work Project (GWP 406-94-00) - Highway 21
From South of Huron County Road 84 (Zurich/Hensali Road, St. Joseph)
to South of Huron County Road 3 (Mill Street, Bayfield)
Municipality of Bluewater, County of Huron
THE STUDY
On behalf of the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), Stantec Consulting Ltd. has carried out a Detail Design and Class Environmental Assessment
Study for improvements to Highway 21. The project was broken down into two study areas from 0.20 km south of Huron County Road 84
northerly to 0.28 km south of Huron County Road 3 for a length of 15.92 km in the Municipality of Bluewater, County of Huron (GWP 406-94-00);
and from 0.30 km south of the Jowett's Grove Road (South)/Ofd River Road intersection northerly to 0.49 km north of the Jowett's Grove Road
(North)/Bayfiekt River Road intersection in the Municipalities of Bluewater and Central Huron, County of Huron (GWP 406-06-00).
A Public Information Centre (PIC) was held in November 2008
to present the Recommended Plan for improvements under
Phase 1 and Phase 2. In direct response to input received
from the public and interested stakeholders at the PIC,
Phase 2 improvements north of the Bayfield River Bridge
proposed under GWP 406-06-00 will be undertaken
separately. The Ministry will re-evaluate the recommended
plan and provide further opportunity for public input on the
revised design at a later date.
The step-down notice is directly related to the proposed
improvements within the study limits for Phase 1
(GWP 406-94-00) as follows:
• Rehabilitation of Highway 21 pavement;
• Minor intersection improvements including radii
revisions, paving and approach shoulder treatments;
• Reconstruction of private and commercial entrances
as required;
• Roadside safety improvements including guiderail
replacement and the removal and/or protection of
roadside hazards as required; and
• Drainage improvements including ditching,
minor storm sewer installation, and replacement/
rehabilitation of highway, sideroad and
entrance culverts.
Highway 21 will remain open to traffic during construction.
The traffic management plan was presented at the PIC
and includes temporary reductions to one lane with
flagging on the highway during daylight hours.
THE PROCESS
Phase 2
Study Area
GWP 406-06-00
Lake
> uu roil
Phase 1
Study Area
GWP 406-94-00
N
KEY MAP
MIt... NICIPALTIY OF
Zurich
The project was started in April 2008 as a 'Group B' project in accordance with the Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for Provincial
Transportation Facilities (2000). It has been determined, through consultation with agencies, First Nations and affected property owners,
as well as field investigations, that the Phasel Recommended Plan for the rehabilitation of Highway 21 from south of Huron County Road 84
to south of Huron County Road 3 (GWP 406-94-00) will not result in any significant adverse environmental or property impacts. Therefore,
Phase 1 is being 'stepped -down' to a 'Group C' project and formal documentation is not required. 'Group C' projects are considered approved
under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act, subject to compliance with the Class EA and the application of mitigation measures
where necessary. A Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) will not be prepared and there will be no opportunity to request a
"bump -up" for Phase 1 to an Individual Environmental Assessment (through a Part II Order) under the Environmental Assessment Act.
This notification marks the beginning of the 30 -day review period in which affected parties may request to MTO that the Phase 1 Project
remain a 'Group B' project and not be stepped -down. If MTO and the objector cannot agree, then the objector may ask the Minister of the
Environment (135 St. Clair Avenue West, 12th Floor, Toronto, ON M4V 1 P5) to rule on the request. It is the responsibility of the objector
to forward the request to the Minister of the Environment before the end of the review period on October 15, 2009. A copy of the objection
should also be forwarded to Stantec Consulting Ltd. at the address shown below.
COMMENTS
Please provide any comments or concerns that you may have regarding the study or the decision to step down the Phase 1 project to a
'Group C' project by October 15, 2009 to the address below. Input collected will be used in accordance with the Freedom of Information
and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record. If you have
questions or require more information, please contact:
Mr. Gordon Murray, P.Eng.
Senior Project Manager
Stantec Consulting Ltd.
49 Frederick Street
Kitchener, ON N2H 6M7
TM.: 519-585-7358
Toll-free: 1-866-579-4410
Fax: 519-579-8733
E-mail: gordon.murrayestsntec.com
Amy McGuire, P.Eng.
Project Engineer
Planning & Design - West Region
Ministry of llansportation
659 Exeter Road, 3rd Floor
' London, ON N6E 1L3
Tel: 519-873-4715
Fax: 519-873-4600
E-mail: amy.mcguireOontario.ca
She was active in teachers' union
activities, and also has strong
links with the New Democratic
Party.
Following her retirement, she
worked on the fundraising cam-
paign to bring a CT scanner to
Huron County.
"I've had a lot of experience
in the past in education," Laurie
told reporters, adding this lessens
"the learning curve" compared
to someone without education
experience coming into a trustee
position in the middle of a term.
She hopes, however, that filling
out Kaastra's term will not mark
the end of her involvement with
the board. That term runs until
November, 2010, and Laurie says
she expects to seek re-election at
that time.
Clinton celebrates fourth
annual scarecrow festival
Chert' Heath
signal -star staff
The Clinton BIA is giving
both residents and visitors
something to crow about.
For the fourth -consecutive
year, the BIA is presenting
its ever -increasingly popular
Scarecrow Festival, which is
designed to scare up visitors
from far afield as well as to en-
tertain the folks at home.
As always, children -oriented
activities will be a focal point.
A short list of events set for the
little ones includes an obstacle
course and toddler -animal land
as well as entertainers with
the Fisher Price set on their
minds.
There is plenty in store for
the adults, too. In addition to
bringing people together, the
festival will once again mark
the festive fall season and pro-
mote all that there is to offer in
Clinton to friends and neigh
bors.
"It's a great day for the
whole family," says Nancy de -
Gans, owner of Tasty Treats &
Treasures of Clinton, and one
of the BIA's volunteers. "There
will be lots of music and food
and entertainment. It's for all
ages."
The BIA notes the Scare-
crow Contest is the heart of
the festival and gives business,
families, community -service
groups and friends a chance to
bring their collective creative
talents together for a chance
to win prizes in a variety of
Scarecrow Contest categories
including the Scarecrow Fam-
ily Grand Prize, traditional, •
whimsical, children's, busi-
ness or the crowd favourite,
The People's Choice. Winners
in all categories are chosen by
popular vote via votes cast by
festival visitors. Each entry re-
ceives a voting number, which
is displayed with the scare-
crow. Ballots are available at
the ballot booth in Millennium
Park, which is located behind
Central Huron's majestic yel-
low -brick town hall on Clin-
ton's main street.
Scarecrow Contest entrants
should note the first -place win-
ner of the children's, whimsi-
cal and traditional categories
will receive $100, while the
business winner gets a free
quarter -page advertisement in
The Clinton -News -Record.
Meanwhile, Sammy Scare-
crow's Family Grand Prize is
$250. Contest information,
rules and entry forms are avail-
able at Bartliff s Bakery, Wil-
son's Digital Printers & Office
Supply, Godfather's Pizza or
Side Street Video in downtown
Clinton. The draw will take
place at Millennium Park at
4:30 p.m. during the Festival.
Other activities to check
out Sept. 19 include a dog
show, horse -and -wagon rides,
a Scarecrow marketplace and
craft show, activities at the
Central Huron fire hall, euchre
tournaments as well as food,
music and more.
As an added treat, the area's
businesses, homes and down-
town core will be gussied up
in a fashion befitting a celebra-
tion of all things scarecrow.
The Scarecrow Festival will
roll out from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m.,
rain or shine, in the core of
Clinton on Sept. 19.
For more info or online entry
forms, visit the web site, www.
scarecrowfestival.ca