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Lakeshore Advance, 2011-10-12, Page 1818 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, October 12, 2011 HURON COUNTY COUNCIL Power to the rural areas, says councillor Cheryl Heath QMI Agency At least a few Huron County coun- cillors were wondering if a unified approach would be the most effective one Wednesday during Limon County Council's October session held at the health unit auditorium) in Clinton. Me issue again before county coun- cil following a recent Ontario Munici- pal Board ruling that sided with Perth County on the issue of allowing sur- plus farm severances within its boundaries, though some of Perth's lower tier municipalities want to move forward with the change. Iluron County Coun. Ben Van 1)iepenbeek (Ashfield Colborne Wawanosh) suggests the OMB ruling drives home the point Iluron County must push for a resolution to discrep- ancies between its wishes and that which is permissible under the Prov- ince of Ontario's all encompassing Provincial Policy Statement (PPS). "We need t(1 make some presenta- tions to then) while they are doing their review," he says in reference to a policy review process that is under way at Queen's Park. Planning director Scott Tousaw, who sits on the provincially appointed rural and northern working group on PPS alongside Roy Hardy, the CAO of South Huron, says administration can carry council's wishes forward in addition to making a presentation to the Rural Ontario Municipalities' Association (ROMA) as previously planned. Coun. James Ginn (Central Iluron), however, believes more force is needed to propel change tit the pro- vincial level. "I think we need to be the driver of this issue," says Gime. Meanwhile, Coun. George Robert- son (South Huron) says it alight he wiser to get all Huron County munici- palities to endorse the idea of allow- ing severance of farm properties before forwarding a blanket resolu- tion on behalf of Huron County. Upon learning two municipalities, North Iluron and ACW, do not allow surplus dwelling severances, Coun. I)eb Shewfelt (Goderich) also sug- gests the lower tiers should first change their Official Plans before lob- bying the province to change. "If you want that, you should approve it in your own townships first," he says. Ginn, whose home municipality was at the crux of a lengthy debate on a controversial severance last year, says the time for change is now and at the county level. 1 certainly think we have the man- date to make that decision," says Ginn who says something must be done to stem the tide of people moving from the countryside. "We're losing our .r..r.a._> ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! DEADLINES Our Weekly Deadlines are as follows: ALL ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL Friday @ 2:00 pm Office Hours: Mon. & Fri. - 8:00 am - 4:00 pm Hues. - Thurs. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm mo "Nib AM Ili. communities. Part of the prob- lem is PPS and there are other problems as well." In contrast to Robertson, Coun. Bernie MacLellan (Iluron East) says it probably makes the most sense for the county's member municipali- ties to have differing views on severances. "North Iluron may have dif- ferent concerns from Huron East and that's why they don't do it," he says. While representatives from North Huron and ACW both report their councils are review- ing their policies on surplus dwelling severances, council ultimately voted on a resolution asking the province for more control on the severance question, Though Coun. Bill 1)owson (Bluewater) asked for a recorded vote on the motion, all of the councillors in atten- dance unanimously supported the move. Coun. Paul klopp (Bluewa- ter) warns that changing the PPS is unlikely to solve the problem of declining rural populations. Branching Out Huron County Council is branching out to the province in order to ask for assistance to woodlot farmers that were neg- atively impacted as a result of the Aug. 21 tornado that struck Goderich, ACW and Central !Imam As it stands, woodlot owners have no form of compensation for woodlot loss and given trees take at least a generation to again grow, Coun. lames Ginn (Central Iluron) led the charge to put in the request for Ontario Disaster Relief Assistance Program (ODRAP) funding on their behalf. County Nod Councillors unanimously endorsed the nomination of Iluron County farmers Bob and Pat Down for a recently announced Ontario Federation of Agriculture award, which is being created to commemorate the organization's 75th anniversary. In outlining the award's crite- ria, Chief Administrative Officer Larry Adams reports each county within Ontario is being asked to nominate a local can- didate and the OFA will choose an overall winner from the pool. "It's been my honour to work with Bob and Pat in a number of committees," said County Warden Neil Vincent (North I luron) in putting forth the cou- ple's names, No Deal Councillors learned Sifto Salt Inc. is not interested in using what is currently known as the 1.tunbton County patrol yard for storage in the months to come. The company recently changed its plans, reports pub- lic works director Dave Laurie, who made the original pitch at a past committee -of -the -whole session, As a result, the county will be moving forward with a plan to sell the site once it is appraised. (:Ilvinglhanks County staff and councillors took time out to pay tribute to a few dozen good men and women employees, Among those being hon- oured for their years of service were: Homes employees Bon- nie Mathers and Mary Lou Bell GRAND BEND Iht• (;r:tI1 I l•11(I \ I:lrl.t•t \ 1 11l\, 1(1 i1►.1111. 11,E II , 11 Ii)111( 1‘. I�)1 .1 'It',11 ‘.C.1 )11 .11111 1I1C Colonial 1 101 t•1 1ht' 11t'II 1.11 l.111' ��'l �t't\ ' 1I I 11C\1 \ CAI! for 40 years of service; Pat Fields and Brenda Bart for 35 years; Marie Lobb, Linda Bedard, Elizabeth McIntosh, Pauline Mero, Cheryl Riehl, Shirley Robinson, Glenda Chaput and Debbie Thompson for 30 years; Marilyn Blake, Anne Powell, Bonnie Jewell, Susan Heifer, Beth Levell and Donna Walsh for 25 years, and Elaine lio(igins, Doreen Thompson and Barb Springall for 20 years. In the Social Services depart- ment, Donna McPhee was hon- oured for 25 years and Cheryl Johnston and Christine Smith were honoured for 20 years of service. In Highways, Bill Empey and Darryl Hastings were honoured for 25 years and Rick Poels for 15 years of service. In Planning and Develop- ment, Scott Tousaw was hon- oured for 25 years of service, while Mike Burroughs was given a pin for 15 years of ser- vice, while in the Museum department, Jeremy AIIin was honoured for 15 years of service. Welcome Aboard Huron County councillors welcomed Chelsea McTaggart into their fold for the October session. Chelsea was introduced by her grandfather, Coun. Bill Sie- nlon (Iluron East), who reports her interests include Bantam hockey and soccer and that though she lives in Clinton with her family, "her ambition is to move to Huron East." In thanking council for the opportunity, Chelsea notes it was a "very interesting" and enjoyable experience dnHne Iakeshoreadvance.com Get all of your news, sports and more. Serving Grand Bend and surrounding area MST G.I.C. Rate 2.65 Imola. &Mpsi, „Ml IWO!) GRAND REND 2384404 EXETER 233-2420 elGiles c,2LINT " pool* ''� '1401 new traleae 1M.