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Huron Expositor, 2009-09-30, Page 9. News .• •.v..a •••• .5•00. The Huron Expositor • September 30, 2009 Pegs 9 Huron East councillors asked to go to jail for a good cause SusapIJuJi4ertUn$ck Huron East councillors were en- couraged to go to jail for a good cause at their Sept. 22 meeting. McKillop Coun. Andrew Flowers, who sits on the Huron County Crime Stoppers board, said the organiza- tion is looking for a councilor to take part in the Jail and Bail event this year at WalMart in Goderich on Nov. 4. "They're hoping for 35 participants but right now they have 11. It could be an interesting day as long as you get out of jail. They'll only hold you forr a day," said Flowers. Flowers said both Clerk -Adminis- trator Jack McLachlan and Seaforth Coun. Joe Steffler have participated in the past. Anyone participating in the Jail and Bail event is asked to raise a minimum of $500 to be used as bail. money after they agree to be "arrest ed" to raise money for Crime Stop- pers. HEAT wants response Huron East Against Turbines (HEAT) wants to know if the mu- nicipality has had any response from the Ministry of the Environment or 'Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell about .the motion it passed asking the MOE to conduct an independent study on the health impacts of com- mercial wind turbines. HEAT member Jim Murray wrote a letter to council at its Sept. 22 meeting asking for any response to be made public. "We would like a formal letter from Huron East on the results of their re- sponses," he said in his letter. Murray also thanked council for its time and effort "on this very impor- tant issue." Clerk -Administrator Jack McLachlan said council received a letter Aug. 10 from the Minister of the Environment John Gerretsen thanking council for its June 24 let- ter and - pointing out that a 45 -day comment period on the Environmen- tal Registry posting ended on July 24. "Our proposed approval process for renewable energy projects is based on the best available science and is a progressive and unique approach. Ontario is the only jurisdiction, to our knowledge, that is setting a stan- dard for minimum setbacks on land from residences," said Gerretsen in his letter. The letter also said the MOE is encouraging leading-edge science by establishing an academic research chair to study renewable energy technologiesand health. -The letter was, copied to Huron - Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell. Can anybody hear me? A recent Ontario Municipal Board hearing ht Seaforth's town hall showed a Seaforth councilor that the room needs a sound system. "I was sitting back there in the gallery and r only heard 30-40 per cent of the testimony," said Seaforth Coun. Joe Steffler. Steffler added that reporters have complained they can't hear every- thing that, happens in the council chambers. "Put it in the budget so people back We're Growing with You We're pleased to announce that Pat Redshaw has joined the United Communities Credit Union team as our Small Business Specialist. Pat brings with her over 36 years in the Financial Services industry including the last 10 years as a Personal Financial Planner. She is also a strong believer in giving back to the community, volunteering with the Children's Hospital, Habitat for Humanity, and the Down Syndrome Association. Pat welcomes both new and former clients to visit her at our Clinton branch location. She looks forward to working alongside our members, providing financial counselling, loan and investment advice to help our members and their businesses succeed. United Communities Credit Union is a trusted partner, providing professional financial services to people, businesses and communities in southwestern Ontario for over six decades. 64. OP United Communities Credit Union tme. Wua Commitniti&wWet 48 Ontario St, Clinton 519.482.3466 myu n ited.ca there can hear us. It's a waste of time having a gallery otherwise," he said. Brussels Coun. David Blaney sug- gested that Public Works Coordina- tor Barry Milts look into the cost of a sound system for the council cham- bers. Town hall restoration While work is now being done on the roof and brickwork at Huron East's town hall in Seaforth, a quo- tation on restoration needed on the bell tower must still go to the mu- nicipality's Heritage Committee for approval before proceeding.. Clerk -Administrator Jack McLachlan told council at its Sept. 22 meeting that town hall's bell tower needs repainting and repairs to the woodwork, repainting and repairs to the metal ridge caps and flashing. "We want you to be aware of the money involved but I recommend we hold it up until it goes to the Heri- tage Committee?" he said. The total cost of restoration work on the shutters and frames, sof- fit and fascia, metal ridge caps and tower ridge, cone is $61,425 in a quo- tation from Ken,. Koebel, of Consecon, Ont.• Deputy -Clerk Brad Knight told council that work on the slate roof has been done on the south side of the town hall and continuingon the east side. He added that eavestrough still has to be repaired on the north side of the building. "The south side was the worst in terms of the slate," said Knight. "We think he's doing a pretty good job." McKillop Coun.. Bill• Siemon said he thought repaired eavestrough will help preserve the brick on the building. "The brick in the corner is shot from water travelling down and speeding the deterioration. So, eavestrough will help a lot," said Siemon. "If we've got to spend a little mon- ey now, we should get anything that needs it fixed," he said. Solar rooftops Huron East will be researching a new program that would install so- lar panels on municipal rooftops and connect them to the provincial pow- er grid, Clerk -Administrator Jack McLachlan told council at its Sept. 22 meeting. He said the Local Authority Ser- vices Ltd. has been invited to attend a clerk's meeting to explain its solar photovoltaic program. Correspondence from the LAS says municipalities can either jointly own the solar panels, solely own them or lease their rooftops to generate re- newable power during a 20 -year con- tract. "The goal of the program is to pro- vide municipalities with a means to leverage Ontario's Green Energy Act (environmentally and financially) to become community leaders by using roof tops of municipal buildings to house solar photovoltaic arrays that generate renewable power," said the letter. McKillop Coun. Bill Siemon said he thought the program is a "great opportunity." "We can lease out the roofs of our arenas or anything else with a fair- sized roof. It shouldn't cause any dis- ruption and should provide income for our community centres," said Siemon. No new taxes Huron East council is supporting a resolution from the Town of New Thcumseth asking the ,province not to create any rtew taxation with its proposed harmonization of the Good and Services Tax (GST) and the Pro- vincial Sales Tax (PST). "I think it's time they came clean on this," said Tuckersmith Coun. Larry McGrath. "There are a lot of taxes we don't know about and I'd prefer it if they gave a complete list of what's taxed," he said, adding that he doesn't be- lieve retailers will pass any savings onto their customers. McKillop Coun. Bill Siemon said he thinks the taxes can be harmo- nized . as long as they don't include anything that wasn't taxed before. "Until someone . tells the truth, were going to be paying a lot more tax, even to get our hair cut," agreed Seaforth Coun. Joe Steffler. BEClitille you re e type t0 Wifl3 Mitchell flood Donor Clinic Friday, October 9 5 to 8 pm Mitchell Arena & Community Centre 185 Wellington St. . Call 1 888 2 DONATE to book an apio11'itm8nt a Maw Seaforth Blood Donor Clinic Monday, October 5 2 to 8 pm Seaforth Community Centre 122 Duke St. Cortsdian Blood Strikes it's in you to give