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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2017-01-25, Page 19Mayor of Bluewater asks Huron East to jump on board in a regional recreational study Shaun Gregory Huron Expositor Bluewater mayor Tyler Hessel told his neighbouring municipality that the first step for the region to shore up its recreation budget is to fund a joint study. In a Huron East council meeting Dec. 20, I lessel said a recreational study for Huron East, Bluewater and Central Huron is an ideal method to understand their collective and individual capital investment and maintenance positions con- cerning recreation. He estimated the cost of the study at between $10,000 and $15,000 per borough. The communities need to put its recreation money where it will be best used, he said, and a study would, without bias, highlight over served and underserved areas. "We need to come out with an analysis of what the communities' needs are," he told council. "[Let's] hire a consultant to do an analysis of the area." He added that there is also funding available for the study at a district level. Hessel urged council to jump on board because hav- ing knowledge of the entire region's recreational necessities will help each municipality better direct where they allocate money. His reason for combining the three municipalities together is that citizens throughout Bluewater, Huron East and Central Huron often utilize recrea- tion facilities and programs throughout the region. However, Huron East council seemed unrespon- sive to his request as it is cur- rently doing its own study, funded by the Ontario Min- istry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMFRA) relating to their three recrea- tion facilities. Leaning towards sports activ- ities ctioities throughout his speech, Hessel said a lie part of finan- cial losses is a result of the ever- growing vergrowing popularity of summer sports compared to those held in thewintet Summer activities are growing in popularity, espe cially soccer, he said, citing Sports Canada statistics. Hessel said as an example that his hometown of Bayfield only had 29 children regis- tered for hockey three years ago compared to 104 who were signed up for soccer. "I'm not saying we get rid of arenas, but I think we should start looking at what we are doing with the future of them, he said. Hessel admitted that he gets no joy from the decrease in hockey enrolment as in his youth he was a "rink rat" and that he still coaches the game, but these are the facts. "It's tough for me to say that and it's tough for me to even suggest that hockey is getting harder for people Ito afford]:" His son plays AAA hockey and it's about S3,000 a year and "it's not getting cheaper to play, it's getting more expensive." "[It's] the reason why you have 104 kids signed up for soccer is because it costs $40." As for Seaforth Minor Hockey, Hessel has heard of the difficulties there are with talks and tales around town of "pulling in children" from other communities just to continue the program. He then said while serving as a councillor for Bluewater, he would receive letters from ratepayers requesting funds for the pool in Vanastra as his residents also used the facility. If Huron East ever expects funding from Bluewater from the facility, they'll need the numbers to back up the request. "Arguably, we don't have the data to prove that and that's one of the reasons you'll never get money from us," Hessel said. "Bayfield Lucknow 2018 Reunion Committee chooses local's logo design The Lucknow 2018 Reunion committee has selected a logo for the June 29 to July 2, 2018 event. Following a logo contest in early winter 2016, the committee chose a design by Lucknow's own Robin McDonagh and would like to recognize everyone who participated in the contest. The round bordered logo boldly states Lucknow across the top followed by 16Q years underneath with the reunion date stated at the bottom June 29 - July 2, 2018. Centered across the logo in a red ribbon is the new reunion slogan "Be Seen In Twenty Eighteen". Since the 2018 celebra- tion falls on the Canada Day long -weekend, the committee chose the col- ours red and white, along with grey. Kaytlyn DeBruyn had recreated the logo based on McDonagh's hand - drawn design. DeBruyn has incorpo- rated the reunion colours into the design as well as the same font used for the Lucknow branding. The reunion committee has been working hard, planning for the 2018 cele- bration. Recently, the sub committees prepared their budgets and will be looking for municipal and provin- cial support. Fundraising events are being planned in prepara- tion for the homecoming as well. In the spring, the committee hopes to Shared The Lucknow 2018 Reunion has a new logo. Reunion Co - Chairs Glen Gibson (left) and Luke Smith (right) revealed the logo design with Robin McDonagh, the winner of the logo contest. launch the reunion souve- nir sales. Watch for information on Facebook, Twitter and our website www.lucknow- reunion2018.ca, donated by HuronTel. residents keep asking about a pool, well we have a big 'one right beside us on the west side. But if we said we are helping with a commu- nity neighbouring to us, we advise you to [get] here because we help fund it." Tuckersmith Coun. Larry McGrath said given that Huron East has a population of about 10,000, how many people would it take to maintain a facility? He asked if 40,000 could sustain it. Hessel said it might take about 40,000 people without losing a substantial amount of money. "You wouldn't see a super grocery store built in down- town Seaforth to serve 2,000 people," stated McGrath. "You can throw all the sports in all you want -- hockey, whatever -- but if you don't have the Wednesday, January 25, 2017 • Signal Star 19 Shaun Gregory The Mayor of Bluewater, Tyler Hessel came to Huron East council December 20 to ask the table of politicians to jump on board in an initiative to understand recreation. He believes a recreational study must be conducted to better understand the financial woes. population to sustain that facility you're going to strug- gle as the facility ages." Not much else was discussed on the matter during council concerning the mattet Brad Knight, CAO of Huron East, told the Expositor fol- lowing the meeting that coun- cil did not give staff any direc- tion of where they stand on Hessel's delegation. "I think part of that is, we are doing our strategic planning process for our three recreational facilities now and we are likely half way through that process," said Knight. "Maybe the reason council didn't say a whole lot is that they'll give his comments some consideration when they are doing the strategic plan." He ended with saying Huron East would rather "wrap that up" before mak- ing any other decisions. Is your RRSP`'. t about 'the dist Coaches take a more holistic approach called Pr Planning. Spend 30 minutes with us, refresh your long-term RRSP, but also plan for living today (and maybe that trip next year). It's all possible when you work with a Libro Coach; an expert who actually cares about you. 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