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Home My WebLink AboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-10-19, Page 11Wednesday, October 19, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 11 County department seeks more funding Huron County's economic develop- ment department is encouraging county councillors to send in the ftmds. In a presentation to Iluron County's tkt. 12 committee -of -the -whole session in Clinton, economic development officer Mike Pullen says more sustaina- ble funding is needed to get the ball rolling. While reporting on recent successes in drawing tourists to Huron County thanks to the Huron Tourism Associa- tion's work in drawing travel writers, Pullen says the advisory board would like "more leverage funding" for eco- nomic development projects given its provincial government grants are drying up. "We're finding our external funding is becoming less and less flexible," notes Pullen. Coun. Bernie MacLellan (Huron East) says though he supports the idea, he is concerned the bulk of such money would end up in the hands of consultants. "Is the funding for actual work or studies?" he asked. Pullen says the truth is the money would be used for both studies and cap- ital projects since most upper tier grants do come with provisions requiring studies. "There is a desire to look at more of those on -the -ground projects," says Pullen. Ultimately, councillors agreed to look at the possibility of providing more funding to the conunittee during their 2012 budget deliberations. They also agreed to Pullen's recommendation to create a Huron Economic Development Advisory Board effective December 2011. 'Ihat committee will be comprised of the county warden, three county councillors, one representative from each of the county's five economic pil- lars and two representatives from the Huron Business Development Corporation. Read All About it In a related report, Huron Tourism Association director Cindy Fisher reports all indications are one writer's I'commendation can make all the 'difference. In a report delivered by Fisher and consultant Laurel Armstrong, the pair reported the county's ongoing efforts to host travel writers is paying off as one writer alone, Mark Stevens, managed to Kineto I heatre Forest "CONTAGION" Rating: 14A (MMS Tama) ootos.r 31, 22, 23 & 28th Starring: Matt Damon, KalaVAnaiM, Jude Law promote Huron County in three publications, The Toronto Star and the maga- zines, Canadian Yachting and Lakeland Boating. "Editorial features are eight tittles more effective than advertising," says Fisher, who notes The Star article was by far the most effective as St. Joseph's Brentwood on the Beach received 12 calls within eight hours of the publica- tion's release while the bed - and -breakfast Clair on the Square in Bayfield received more than 40 calls in the weeks that followed. Fisher adds the goal is to continue offering perks to travel writers in order to bet- ter spread the word about Ontario's West Coast. After the Storm In a wrap-up report on how the county's planning depart- ment dealt with issues follow- ing the F3 tornado that touched down on Aug. 21, director Scott 'Tousaw acknowledges things are still not quite business as usual. Though there was minor damage to the department's assessment office, Tousaw says both it and the depart- ment's Small Business Enter- prise Centre were closed for three business days due to the power outage. Though it is now open, problems with the telephone system remain as calls are being routed through Clinton, meaning direct extensions and voicemail can- not be accessed. While giving kudos to his department for going the extra mile in the weeks after the twister's touchdown, Tousaw notes planning department staff members went door to door to deliver regular information to Goderich residents left with- out utility and phone services. In addition, three department staff and one planner assisted with the logistics needs for social services. Furthermore, a full-time planner is working with Goderich for a minimum of six months, and a number of enhance economic develop- ment services are ongoing, including having the GiS staff- ers assist with mapping. "I feel that our staff was exemplary over the course of the crisis," says Tousaw, who credits planner Craig Metzger with perhaps putting it best with the summation: "In the end our plans are only as good as our people and some- times our people are better than our plans." Tousaw adds the county's forest conservation officer has also been kept hopping by helping farmers deal with damaged woodlots. 'The only challenge we had was communication with those first three or four days," says Tousaw, noting some staff members had neither Net nor phone services, and though the Blackberry proved helpful, those messages didn't always go out. Goderich Mayor Deb Shew- felt took time out to dote that municipal staff created news- lettters in those first critical days through the use of man- ual typewriters. "Don't throw out those typewriters, he advised. Please Take Me Home! ROYAL LSE inakella" Ask Marje about Pets and Real Estate at 98 ONTARIO ST. S in Grand Bend (next to House of Flags, Sears & No Frills) Marje Crowe* is helping London Animal Care Centre find adoptive parents for lonely cats and dogs. If you can share your loving & happy home with a 4 -legged friend, please call Marje for more infomation or go online to London Animal Care Centre's website at bttpl/www.accpeta,Ca. Helping You is What I Do! 37 Years of Caring Experience! if you're buying or selling your home or cottage, please call Marje Crowe' at 519-661-0380 ... and don't forget to spay or neuter your pets. 'lbusaw concluded his presentation by noting the department reviewing its Con- tinuity of Operations Plan, including the possibility of finding an out-of-town site to set up in if power was out in the entire community. Moving Ahead Repair work on County Road #83's truss bridge is moving forward thanks to a resolution passed by councillors on Wednesday. Conn. Bernie MacLellan (1 iumn East) asked whether placing a load limit on the site alight help curb the bridge's wear and tear but public works director Dave Laurie notes given that 3,000 vehicles regularly use it, that move would likely prove to be an unpopular one. 'lie project will cost $120,000, and will be included in the 2012 Public Works Capital Budget. Severance Approved Though the Municipality of Morris- 'llirnberry's Official Plan does not allow it, county councillors moved to approve a new lot creation under surplus sever- ance policies after learning Morris-Thrn- berry councillors support it, and that the severance itself will allow the current homeowners to stay in the family home. Planner Carol Leeming says the prop- erty owners, Alex and Susan Fair of Mor- ris-Turnberry, are interested in severing the home from the farmland, which is being sold to a nearby farmer. Leeming says the problem is there was a previous severance on the farmland, which, according to the Morris-i'urnherry Offi- cial Plan, would prohibit the change. After a pitch by landowner Alex Fair, which revealed the previous severance occurred in the 1970s right around the time Iluron County set its policy with regard to severances, councillors approved the request. "Morris= l'urnberry strongly supports this application. It just makes sense," says Coon. Paul Dowing (Morris- ILrnberry). Goon. Bill Dawson (Mummer) also supported the application and notes it is good to see that a century home will remain in the family. Linking Up Huron County's roads department is preparing to link up to road condition reporting web sites this winter but it will not go so far as to regularly post updates on conditions from its own road crews. Public works director reports that though there was some consideration to regular updates, the change would require too Hutch of the road crew's time. Awarded Aperture Photographic is the winning bidder for a project that will see the com- pany compose video and photographic content for a Make I luron I lone market- ing campaign designed at drawing immi- grants to the region. The project, which is 1011 per cent funded by the province, will cost $35,0(X), plus IIS'T. Coun. Bernie MacLellan (Huron East) also took time out to note that schedul- ing conflicts prevent him from attending the committee's meetings and asked that another representative step up, which is something Coun. Dave Riach (North limn) agreed to take on. 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 'hies. - Thurs. 9:00 am - 5:00 pm 8 Onarlp St. S, Grand Eland ` PH: 819-231,4083