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Huron Expositor, 2007-03-07, Page 10Page 10 March 7, 2007 • The Huron Expositor News New playground planned for Dublin if organizers %t receive anticipated Ontario Trillium grant Andy Bader If an Ontario Trillium grant is received, the Dublin Lions Club and the Dublin Athletic Association will be joinifig forces to build a new playground in Dublin this year. And • they can thank the Municipality of West Perth for financial assistance in making it happen. Representatives from both the Lions and Athletic Association appeared before West Perth's com- mittee of council Feb. 19 explaining that they would like municipal assistance in any potential shortfall for the project, quoted at $49,800. The groups have jointly submitted a proposal to the Ontario Trillium Association for $35,000, and hope to receive word on any approval by the end of March. If there is no Trillium grant, there will be no project - at least not this year. If there is a grant received, the group's ultimate goal is to have the playground installed by mid - 114 1 id- May. "The Lions feel that a playground has more than a sentimental value to the Dublin hall and park - it is also a selling point," said Mike McCarthy, on behalf of the Lions. "From spring through summer many family events take place at the park (family reunions, fundrais- ing events and venues for minor sports leagues) and the presence of the playground makes the hall that much more rentable." In 1979, the Dublin Lions built the original playground at a cost of $14,000 using all volunteer labour. Ever since, the upkeep - both finan- cial and labour - has been provided by the Lions. Last year, however, the Lions were told that the playground no longer complied with current safety regulations and as a result would have to be dismantled. Regretfully, it was torn down last December by Lions' members. A committee was struck to inves- tigate a new playground to replace the old one, with 1"1 Canadian Food Agence canadiennt, Inspection Agency dinspecti,.n des ;limy tII!. PUBLIC NOTICE NEW REGULATIONS FOR HANDLING, TRANSPORTING AND DISPOSING OF CATTLE CARCASSES AND TISSUES The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is enhancing regulations to help eliminate bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, from Canada. Beginning July 12, 2007, there are new require- ments for cattle producers; slaughterhouses; feed, pet food and fertilizer manufacturers; waste management facilities and others who handle, transport or dispose of cattle remains. Everyone involved must be prepared. Visit www.inspection.gc.ca/bse or call 1-800-442-2342 to learn more. Canada the quote only as low as it is due to the volunteer labour the club and the athletic association will provide. To cover the shortfall, West Perth agreed to provide an $8,000 grant and a $4,134 loan to the organiza- tions if the Trillium grant is received. Applications to the Trillium Foundation are made four times a year, with a March 1, 2007 deadline to apply for the first round. "We've been told it's an excellent time to apply," McCarthy said. The proposed playground would be very similar to that which was erected in Mitchell by the Lions Club two years ago, council was told. Dublin Lions President Greg Ryan added that the service club plans to complete the refurbishing of the Dublin hall themselves by replacing the exterior siding, phase two of their overall plan, which also will include new accessible wash- rooms in the future. A new roof and ceiling has already been completed. The municipality's insurance car- rier had concerns over the height of the old playground structure and the pressure -treated wood that was used when it was built. The wood, while good for with- standing rot and insects, contains toxic compounds, commonly used in playgrounds, decks and picnic tables built years ago. Council members were generally supportive of the idea, with Hibbert Coun. Barb MacLean saying "it really is stupidity, we're the ones who told them to take it down." She added that many people's decks are made of the same wood that was part of the playground, which doesn't make sense that it had to be taken down. West Perth Operations Manager Mike Kraemer gave a "heads up" that there are new Canadian Standards Association (CSA) stan- dards to meet when installing play- grounds on municipal property, and to ensure that the new structure does meet the new criteria. Proposed rezoning of local salon and spa brings. opposition Local business owner, BIA concerned rezoning will weaken downtown business core Susan Ilundertmark' iMMEEOMMED Some strong opposition was received from local business owner Gerry Ryan to a pro- posed rezoning of Majestic Salon and Spa on Goderich Street at Huron Eskst council's Feb. 20 meeting. The proposal to change the zoning from res- idential medium density (R2) to residential medium density special (R2-5) would allow the salon to expand and exceed the required 25 per cent of the total floor area requirement for a home business. It would also allow four employees to work there along with the owner. Ryan said the salon is already in contraven- tion of the zoning bylaw. "Financially money has been spent and ren- ovations made all in contravention of the bylaw. I suggest there are 80 -plus businesses operating within the bylaw that have commit- ted themselves far more to the town with commercial , business and BIA taxes," he told council. Ryan, who also sent a letter to council expressing his concerns, said with four employees, the salon would potentially need as many as 15 parking spaces for staff and customers and could create traffic problems in a residential area. "Clearly, this would be a full blown business which should not be located in a residential area. We have a number of storefronts on Main Street. There is no need to rezone resi- dential property for the convenience of owners to operate a business in their home," said his letter. Council also received a letter from the Seaforth Business Improvement Area (BIA) commenting on the proposed rezoning. "Seaforth BIA wish council to take into con- sideration that due to the fact that there is adequate properly zoned space in the down- town area, council is at risk of setting a prece- dent that may weaken the downtown core in the future," said the letter. Huron County planners also expressed their concerns about customer traffic in a residen- tial zone and the fact that the expansion would make the business the primary, not the secondary use of the house. Planners recommended that the expansion only allow the home business to occupy 27 per cent of the house, not the proposed 59.3 per cent, require only six parking spaces and reduce the number of employees to one. Applicants Ben and Jenny Schenk asked council to defer the rezoning request until April 2.