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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-01-25, Page 5Darryl Coote/Editor Local photographer Devin Sturgeon, left, presents a photograph he took of the outdoor rinks to councillor Trevor Bazinet. The photograph was given to the councillor on behalf of the community for his hard work on the outdoor rinks over the last three years. Bazinet receives `token of appreciation' for making the Victoria Park outdoor rinks a reality Darryl Coote Editor Councillor Trevor Bazinet had a surprise waiting for him in the audience of the council cham- bers Jan. 7. Before councillors' issues dur- ing the regular council meeting that Monday evening, Mayor Kevin Morrison called local photographer Devin Sturgeon to the lectern. Sturgeon jittered slightly as he stood up to the mic. "This is more nerve wracking than I thought," he said as he composed himself. He then called on Bazinet. "I have this fantastic token of appreciation for Councillor Tre- vor Bazinet for his hard work on the outdoor skating rink," said Sturgeon. "I have here a picture I took a couple years -- actually, the first year of the rink I believe, of the public enjoying the ice rink that you created. So I'd like to offer this to you for, really, I can say I speak for eve- ryone that you deserve at least this." He then presented Bazinet with a framed photograph of the outdoor ice rinks at Victoria Park. For the last three winters Bazinet has put made sure Goderich has had two outdoor skating rinks through fundrais- ing and maintaining the ice surfaces. "You deserve more," said Stur- geon. "You do a lot of work to keep that rink." Bazinet said the acknowledg- ment was "quite a surprise." He said an inspiration behind the rinks was the famous line from the film "Field of Dreams" "If you build it, they will come." He said the rinks are simply something little he can offer to the community. "It is a lot of work, and I would like to thank all the volunteers who helped me along the way," said Bazinet. "I meet new peo- ple every day over there who are helping me, which is a great thing. Which is a great thing because it's always back to being proud of your community and what you want to do for your community. And it is a lot of work. A lot of blood, sweat and tears. And a picture like this says it all. Thank you for recog- nizing it." Wednesday, January 25, 2017 • Signal Star 5 Council questions staff's recommendation against building helipad asking for more information, deferring decision Darryl Coote Editor Going against the suggestion of staff, Goderich council has asked for further information and more time on whether it should build a helipad north of the Maitland Val- ley Medical Centre. In late November 2016, Dr. Paul Gill rilade a presentation to coun- cil asking for its support to build a helipad near the local hospital. He said having a helipad close the Alexandria & Marine General would save time and resources during an emergency. ' Council then asked staff for more information. That information came back to council Jan. 9 with staff firmly against building the helipad as the land could be better used for future facilities. The helipad could also pose issues with neighbours, the report said. "It's clean, clean from an envi- ronmental point of view, clean for future develop.... So the recom- mendation is that it not be used for a helipad," said Goderich CAO Larry McCabe. However, many on council were reticent to squelch the idea, ask- ing for exact costs to build the helipad. Councillor Myles Murdock, who also asked for the figures, said it seemed like all of council was on board with the idea following Gill's presentation late last year, and that the helipad would aid in making the Goderich hospital a "centre of healthcare excellence." "It was mentioned in [staff's report] that you'd like to keep [the land] free for complimentary medical services, and to me this seems like a complimentary med- ical service if I've ever saw one,". he said suggesting that they go with the helipad on an "interim basis and see how it works." "I definitely won't support not gathering more information on it and I definitely won't support for- getting about it," he concluded. McCabe replied that staff saw a figure of about $50,000 for the installation but it would be much more than that because of Maintenance. Staff views the land could be better used for expansion of the hospital or buildings, he said, adding that council can't put in a helipad temporarily as the town's plans don't allow it. "You either do it probably or you don't do it. It is very valuable land. I think the report would have been different if the land had not been environmentally cleared, which it is. It is in our view valued land. This isn't the purpose of what it should do, he said. Ultimately, it's council's deci- sion, he said, but it's not what staff would recommend. "What happens once you've done it but what happens if down the road you want to do some- thing else?" he asked council. However, members of council, submitted An aerial image of the Alex . ' ra Marine & General Hospital and the proposed location for the helipad. such as Councillor Matt Hoy, didn't want to say no to the idea. "I fully trust the recommenda- tions of the town but I guess I'm wondering ... I wouldn't mind some numbers about what it would actually be," he said, add- ing, "I don't want to put it to bed either." McCabe said council could defer making the decision to another meeting, but staff's opinion won't change. He also. asked what role would exact fig- ures play in council's decision making; if council wants to a hel- ipad it will have a helipad, and it doesn't matter how much it will cost. "You have to make a decision if that's what that land is going to be used for," he said. Council then voted to defer the decision to a future meeting once staff obtains more information. ALL YELL PL115». 50%011c UE REGULAR 110tET PRICES! DISCOUNT TAKENATMA Saw p *ON REGULAR PRICE MERCHANDISE HURRY. HUGE SAVINGS EWM SATINY, JANUARY 28TH ONLY! 162 Courthouse Square G0-15ERIt 519 . 24x7232 schaef a ladieswear.ca k