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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2009-09-23, Page 6Pogo 6 The Huron Expositor • September 23, 2009 :tl • News Huron libraries will need changes to become more accessible Cheryl Heath The Ontarians With Disabilities Act will require changes to Huron County's .dozen library branches. That news was delivered as part of a countywide mandated service- delivery review via cultural -services director Beth Ross at the county's Sept. 15 committee -of -the -whole ses- sion. In noting seven library branches fall short on existing guidelines for accessibility, Ross said there may be even more changes required at the new facilities in Exeter and Goder- ich. Indeed, noted Ross, the Act spells out the specifics. "The Disabilities' Act will affect the size of washrooms, space between aisles, and even the size of shelves we can use," she said, noting that in Clinton, as an example, the branch is home to six-foot high shelves. While acknowledging the Mu- nicipality of Central Huron has the Clinton branch on its radar in terms of accessibility issues hi need of ad- dressing, Coun. Bert Dykstra (Cen- tral Huron) wondered whether some accoutrements, like reading areas, are still necessary. "It's highly important to commu- nities that libraries play that role," said Ross, adding the public spe- • cifically requested reading areas be included in the new South Huron library in spite of the fact the long- standing branch never had them. Meanwhile, Coun. John Grace (Goderich) wondered whether the time has come for the library system to branch out into other areas. Ross said the library already part- ners with a number of community- based organizations. The only thing keeping libraries from offering more programming, she said, is space lim- itations. More space needed The Huron County Museum needs room to grow. That was the main message deliv- ered by the county's cultural services director while presenting an over- view of museum services. As it stands, said cultural -services director Beth Ross, there are a num- ber of worthwhile donations being offered up but little opportunity to take them since the county does not have adequate storage space. "There's an unbelievable number of collec- tions that keep coming in," said Ross. "And these days we're pretty much only ac- cepting it if it's small." While the department is in the process of conducting a study on space is- sues, Ross noted there are a num- ber of steps in the process including the putting a out a Request For Proposals for a consultant to cre- ate a detailed re- port that would include the pub- lic's input. Another con- cern, said Ross, You are invited to attend these area churches ST. THOMAS ANGLICAN CHURCH A Congregation of the Parish of The Holy Spirit Sunday, September 27 Worship & Sunday School at 930 am Office hours & Morning Prayer with Rev. Karin Fridays 10 - noon Soup & Salad Luncheon Wed Sept. 301130 -fpm Everyone Welcome BETHEL BIBLE CHURCH An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 519-527-0982 Sunday School • All Ages • 9:45am Sunday Worship 11 am Youth Group &B&GClub Wednesday 7pm Pastor Mark Kennedy EVERYONE WELCOME ST. JAMES ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH WELCOMES YOU 14 Victoria Street, Seaforth 519-345-2972 Sunday Mass 11 a.m. ST. PATRICK'S, DUBLIN Saturday Mass 5 p.m. Sunday Mass 9 a.m. FR. CHRIS GILLESPIE NORTHSIDE UNITED Welcomes you September27at 11 am M& May Retther Sermon "A QUEENLY COURAGE" Nursery & Sunday School 54 Goderich St W., Seaforth 519-52%-2635 1111 wwwcava orthsideun • •ca EGMONDVILLE UNITED CHURCH Pastor Steve Hildebrand Worship Sept. 27th 11 AM Adult & Youth Sunday School at10AM Elevator & Ear Buds Available Come Worship with us And share Christian fellowship FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 59 Goderich St. W Seaforth 519-527- 0170 Sunday Sept 27th, 11:15 a.m. Mary Jane Bisset Sunday School & Nursery Provkkd. Thanks to everyone rrca out for the pork chop ne Is invited to attend. is the county doesn't employ an ar- chivist though one is required via provincial mandate. A strategic plan is also on the de- partment's wish list, said Ross, since issues are dealt with on a case-by- case basis. "We end up with ad-hoc responses to the community," she said. Gas or diesel? Whether to go diesel or gas threat- ened to put a temporary kibosh on plans to install a new fire -hydrant system at Huronview in Clinton. The issue arose after the county's facilities manager, Sandy Mclean, recommended the county award the contract to Stone Town Construction of St. Marys so the nearly $1-milion long-awaited project can move for- ward. Coun. Bill Siemon (Huron East), however, questioned the wisdom behind installing a diesel -powered standby generator when natural gas is considered the environment - friendly alternative. McLean reported the county pre- fers the diesel option since it gives managers complete control 'of the system in the event of a total energy blackout. Yet, some councilors remained convinced natural gas was the better option. Coun. John Bezaire (Central Huron) suggested if the county is worried about its carbon footprint, it could ask that biodiesel fuel be used since it re- portedly cuts emissions by up to 85 per cent. That option, said McLean, would be a concern since biodiesel has a tendency to freeze during the win- ter, which would present obvious challenges to the county. Coun. George Robertson (South Huron) suggested FOSTER FAMILIES NEEDED FOR SCHOOL Huron -Perth AGED CHILDREN! ChlidiertsAilSodety Help Children from Your Community For Information Call the Huron -Perth Children's Aid Society Huron County: Deanie Jardine at 519-524-7356 or 1-800-265-5198 Perth County: Vy Waller at • 519-271-5290 or 1800-668-5094 g the issue is not of great importance given the relatively low plausibility the standby generator will be need- ed. In noting it would not make sense to hold up a project "that has been held up for so long," Bezaire moved for he tender to go out as worded. "It's already been a too -slow pro- cess," said Bezaire, which proved to be a sentiment shared by council in approving the move. Rent hike Residents of the county's Highland arid Heartland apartments will see a 2.1 per cent rent hike effective Janu- ary 2010. Shots all round? Whether county staff will be ex- pected to take the H1N1 vaccination has yet to be seen. "We're waiting to hear a little bit more from the health unit," reported homes administrator Barb Spring - all, noting homes residents will also require the vaccination. All's quiet on the OW front Social services administrator Dave Overboe said the county's Ontario Works' caseload is stabilizing. But, he added, "We're still not sure where the economic downturn's re- covery is." Opinion Inquiry still needed into health effects of wind turbines, says reader From Page 5 distance from dwellings is 550 metres - this is not sat- isfactory when European countries are recommend- ing 1.5-2 kilometres from people. Municipalities with proj- ects in their areas know, first-hand, how much trou- ble they are. There needs to be an in- quiry into the whole pro- cess. There needs to be accountability and repa- ration to the people who have already been harmed because of a lack of dili- gence by government. The government is ignoring the right of Ontarians to a healthful environment as provided under the Envi- ronmental Bill of Rights. It is nothing less than criminal negligence for any more turbines to be built in this province until reg- ulations that protect our health are in place. Lynn Hoegy Brodhagen, Ont. VAN RIESEN FINANCIAL. SERVICES Ken Van Ripen CFP CLU CH.F.C, CHARTERED FINANCIAL INTERGLOBE Financial Services Corp. • Estate Planning • Retirement Planning . • Wealth Accumulation • Business Succession Planning Get Your Mono), Woi*ing So You Don't Havo 1bl 'Mutual funds offered through financial Services Corp.' Steven Preszcator CONN. 'LTA. 7 Kerg ;,� 1\ illjititt tit •rrr1lt. ( 1till( ill .11-7(i��