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Huron Expositor, 2007-04-25, Page 5Opinion The Huron Expositor • April 25, 2007 Page 5 MPP Carol Mitchell responds to issue of accessibility of her constituency office To the Editor, I feel it is imperative to respond to the article, MPP's office says 'no can do' to HCAAC (April 11, Clinton News -Record) (also April 11 Seaforth Huron Expositor), with regard to the Huron County Accessibility Advisory Committee's (CAAC) recommendations for con- stituency offices. This letter will also be sent to all members of said committee. First, I will provide some background on the issue. Because of the size of the riding and the fact that it encompasses both Huron and Bruce counties, I felt that it would be imperative to have two offices to better serve the constituents of Huron -Bruce. To that effect, I chose to have an office in Clinton and an office in Kincardine to offer bet- ter access and a presence in both of the counties that I represent. At the Kincardine site, I was able to negotiate the implementation of full accessibility into the lease contract. At Clinton, prior to moving in to the office, we felt that the work completed by owner of the property would allow for full accessibility into the building. However, in the period of time since occupying the office, we have learned that the building is not, in fact, fully accessible. According to HCAAC recommendations, the grade of the concrete ramp that was installed was not at the proper incline to adequately allow for appropriate access to offices and would create difficulties for wheelchair access. We are still awaiting reconstruction estimates from the municipality. Upon receiving those fig- ures, I will begin negotiations with the owner of the property to improve the accessibility of the building. While there is no legal obligation for a con- stituency office to be fully accessible due to their temporary nature, I feel there is a moral obligation to comply as my offices should be available to "all constituents." The statement in the press that I am not pre- pared to do anything is absolutely false. Let me be clear on my position on this issue: when the lease is renegotiated, full accessibility for the building will be an absolute requirement in negotiations. At that time, it will be up to the property owner to determine whether or not a lease is possible moving forward. I would ask the committee members to be very clear on the reconstruction required to be fully accessible. Carol Mitchell, MPP Huron -Bruce Telephone business extending in Seaforth with 50 installed in 1907 April 14, 1882 A man named Heffron, in Blyth, a few days ago performed the rather difficult task of eating 25 eggs in seven minutes. This feat was performed for a wager of $1.40. Thomas Lapslie met with a rather severe accident last Monday. He was getting a load of sawdust from Mr. Govenlock's mill in Winthrop, when his horses became frightened at the sound of the steam whistle, and suddenly threw him from the wagon. He was con- siderably stunned and bruised but recovered in a short time and returned home. Good Friday was commemorated at Winthrop by Moses Hanna fin- ing Mr. Morrison for walking across his land to seek him about making fences. Moses is a meek man. Wages are very high now, and have prospects of being very high at harvest time, for one mechanic was offered $25 for 12 days in har- vest, but would not take it. April 19, 1907 A telephone gang have been here off and on for a couple of weeks, erecting new poles and wires and installing new instruments. Mr. Fear, the agent, said there are over 50 installments and changes of instruments waiting •to be made. This looks as if the business in Seaforth is rapidly extending. The W.H. Willis shoe factory resumed operations on Monday and there are not likely to be any more suspensions. As soon as a charter has been procured, the per- manent company will be formed, the works taken over and run, and we expect this important industry will be on a more prosperous foot- ing. For Sale - Pigs, nine small ones, five ver three months old, $4 each; one brood sow in pig, $9; one good Jersey cow, $60. L.A. Van Egmond, Seaforth. Wm. Emigh has disposed of his hotel property in Walton to Mr. Thamer of Milverton. The price is said to have been in the neighbour- hood of $4,300. April 8, 1932 An oxford ewe on the farm of W.M. Doig, Tuckersmith, recently gave birth to twin lambs, and 12 days thereafter gave birth to another lamb. All three are alive, strong, healthy and doing quite well. Chautaugua programs came to an end in Seaforth on Saturday night with the presentation of "Old Crusty Takes the Air", by the Havelan Players, in Cardno's Hall. A full house greeted each perfor- mance, making the venture a financial success for the first time in three years. Constable Snell, who is the offi- cial reception committee for, and host to, overnight visitors at the town hall, had as his guests during the month of March, some 52 wan- derers. This is an increase of 14 over the previous month. April 26, 1957 There is going to be Friday night shopping in Seaforth, but just when hasn't been decided. 26 mer- chants polled favoured Friday night and 19 Saturday night. The decision favours the trend in neigh- bouring towns where all merchants are open Friday evenings. Seaforth fire brigade answered a call Monday afternoon when sparks from a barn fire ignited shingles on the roof of a small barn at the rear of the home of Mrs. H. Scott, Goderich Street, east. April 21, 1982 Concerned citizens, service groups, educators and businesses in Dublin and area overwhelmingly support a petition calling for the installation of traffic lights in the police village at the "dangerous intersection" of Highway 8 and Perth County Road 10. The Ministry of Transportation and Communications has denied requests for traffic lights at the corner in the past after traffic mon- itors indicated there was not enough flow to warrant them, but the petition approach was suggest- ed by Huron -Bruce MPP Murray Elston (Lib.). Thursday and Friday's "Old Fashioned Community Concert" at Seaforth District High School was a sell out, both nights. Carol Baker of Harpurhey, one of the organizers of the event, says a total of 800 to 900 tickets were sold for the Thursday and Friday night perfor- mances which raised a profit of roughly $2,500. Senior citizens in Seaforth are a pretty active bunch. And what they'd like more of, according to a survey 62 recently completed for the rec department are card games (44); bus trips (36) and bingo (34).