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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-11-23, Page 17Ti Ural -Star • Wednesday, November 23, 2011 INC;Ron r► UST ter TIME FOR HOLIDAY" MOMS AN1rIALS&tL1s Wednesday, November 30 /*fared i s will be haft! at•the Laos Huron Looming Cent!' son St. E. Godai (downstairs MacKay Centre for Sen Class is from 6:30-9pm Cost $ 30 To r - or leant more, contact Anna at )g- 154 tx otography OPEN Today. 1 in S people with diabetes SUiVIveS hed, t dneese H.tp reverse the trend Ylslt gets rious.0 OUSE Lift tT i Atgl:114 AT_R 4110 111I:Mi1wE MIN I TINS 1st• 9:00 - 5:30 pm 2n1•9:00.5:30PM 3rd • 9:00 - 4:90 pm iltH1:11F11i' Eft sansisitimi naseMIeits sal uucIL OMIT In M AMM N1lliIIv SinNwt" Oran n sty nom • mazaseti MIN INN RIM MR MIMI MB NEM nil SIM MMfIN At 111 MINI MIN NlM111111 �-� 2011 Serta CLEAROUT SALE SERTA PERFECT SLEEPER starting at $59.9 Queen set POCKET COILS Stang at $199 Queen set 300 Suncoast Dr., Goderich 519-524-6064 Health care staffing will face critical shortages Huron County Council is a step closer to committing to keeping HealthKick going thanks to a move that will see the county put $107,795 into the program's budget. During a.presentation to Huron County's Nov 16 committee -of - the -whole session: at the Huron County Health Unit's auditorium, project manager Laura Overholt asked for the funding to ensure the unique program is able to keep operating within its multi pronged mandate, which is strongly youth and training centred. While provincial fund helped sow the project's roots, Overholt says the program will now need some county support to ensure it can begin the transition to a sus- tainable program that continues in its quest to mentor youth who are interested in healthcare careers and developing courses designed to enhance the educa- tion of those already working in the field: During a related presentation, county homes administrator Barb Springall reports work non a Homecare Human Resources Study recently wrapped up, and it shows Huron and Perth Counties will be facing critical staffing shortages in the healthcare field in the next 20 years, just as a signifi- cant portion of the population enters the 65 and up age category. "We're trying hard: to recruits people," says Springall, who notes both nursing and Personal Sup- port Worker positions remain unfilled. A key strategy as outlined in the report, says. Springall, is a focus on finding way to train people who grew up here since they are the most likely to stay. p..rnployee retention is another key issue, says Springall. If we have them, we . need to keep them." Lastly, says Springall, there has to be some sort of program intro- duced to formally acknowledge the work of the Homes' many volunteers. "They do many, many hours of work," she says, adding that a number of the Homes' volunteers are as old, and older, as the seniors they are helping. Among the recommendations formulated by the report is a request for the province to provide funding to allow for support staff for home directors who are facing an ever-increasing workload. "Directors of care will need sup- port so they can manage the work- load," orkload," says Springall. "They are burning them out at an alarming rate. The .province needs to recog- nize that's an issue." Another recommendation is to allow for Personal Support Work- ers to take on more tasks. Springall adds the PSW field is a crucial one given that an esti- mated 30 per cent of them will be retiring in the next 10 years.` "We're going to need to figure out ahead of time, 'where are these people going to come from?" No stormwater management, no Huckins development "lhe lack of proper stormwater management is keeping Huckins Street development on hold. Developer Rob Crncich, who along with business partner Gord Green is buying up much of the Huckins Street industrial area, is asking the town to reimburse construction costs for a stor[nwa ter retention pond to be built on the Signal -Star property. The lack of such a facility. means that Rona is unable to continue work on its relocation to the Dearborn building on the northern side of Huckins and Highway 21 Because the developers own both industrial properties at the intersection, planner Denise VanAmersfoort said only one development agreement is needed. However, each property needs a separate site plan agree- ment. Now that ownership of the Signal -Star building has been transferred, Crncich said the stormwater issue needs to be resolved before that site plan agreement can take. place. "No matter who the tenant is,". he said. "The MTI won't approve anything unless Huckins is dealt with." Because of its proximity to the highway, the properties are: sub- ject to Ministry of Transportation appy. The 1VCIY3,' Crncich said, has identified the SWM pond as a town responsibility. He noted since the construction of the. buildings in the early 1970s up to present day, every owner: has complained to the town of inad- equate:stormwater management. To date, nothing has been done. Town administration made an offer to assume ownership the SWM pond after its construction, for the tidy sum of $1. Crncich, however,is looking for some- thing more substantial: "The pond needs to be built for Rona to proceed, he said.. "We are willing to up front the cost but would like to get paid back over time.." Developers swimming against the current in pond debate CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 6 The usual team of the Mayor and CAO, along with town engi- neer Bruce Potter and solicitor Greg Stewart plan to meet and find a commonround with p develo er Rob Crncich and his engineers from Burnside and Assoclatles. The breath of fresh air in this situation is Coun. Jim Donnelly, an experienced arbiter who can hopelunybring' his own brand of common sense to the table so cooler heads can prevail some thing he appealed for at the November 14 council meeting. Consider the fact that the Cor- poration of the Town of Goderich was already planning to build the exact same thing twice over in order to sell raw land east of Maitland Woods. The plan was to recoup the cost over time... kind of like what Cmcich is proposing. However, the recession and the shift in development areas halted the Parsons Court project more or less indefinitely. The quest_ for virgin soil has become an exercise in retrofitting existing industrial developments. Trou- ble is, the Dearborn building was built too low and the industrial expansion of four decades ago is starting to show a few short- sighted (and damp) skeletons in its closet. But with the Rona and Signal - Star developments hinging on. a stormwater management plan, everybody loses if something isn't done soon.