Lakeshore Advance, 2012-02-29, Page 2Permanent solution for bus
issue at Grand Bend school
"Lynda Hillman-Rapley
Lakeshore Advance
A temporary bus loading location
has been set at 81 Crescent for Grand
Bend students. This will remain until
Lambton Shores can go forward with
a permanent solution.
The current situation of bus loading
and unloading due to the lack of turn-
around options has resulted in drop-
ping children off at the corner of Gill
Road and 81 Crescent. Students are
then escorted to the school yard,
along the sidewalk on Gill Road.
School staff has expressed concern
that this is a dangerous situation for
students and teachers as they are
The buses were then utilizing the Harbour Side Village
road system however since these roads have not been
assumed by the Municipality the developer believed
it was not safe for the buses to use this system
— Peggy Van Mierlo West
required to traverse across the ingress
and egress (enter, leave, return) of the
Gill Road parking lot.
Peggy Van Mierlo West, Director of
Community Services says this is not a
new situation for the school as there
is quite a history of bussing
dilemmas.
"Prior to the extension of Gill Road
the school buses would turn around
Lambton County pay freeze c�ntlnues
OMS Agen y
SARNIA -- Lambton County coun-
cillors may have ended up with more
than they bargained for when they
froze theirown paycheques in 2009.
The pay levels stayed frozen last
year -- and will remain that way, until
leader proposes a change
of direction and council votes on it.
' the original intendon was just for
that budget year, Warden Steve
Arnold said.
"It seems to have grown into a per-
petual thing."
Councillors had been getting a
cost -of -living increase annually, until
the budget debate In 2009.
With the Western world tumbling
into recession, council approved a
motion to breeze its 2009 renunera-
don at 200A levels.
Arnold --- the mayor of St. Clair
Township and not warden at the lima
-- moved the motion during that
year's budget session.
Enough is enough says Bailey
QM Agency
Lakeshore Advance
On Wednesday, MPP Bob Bailey
expressed his frustration with Dalton
McGuinty's refusal to step in and con-
trol the skyrocketing energy costs that
are threatening the livelihood of
Ontario families. MPP Bailey's reaction
was in response to the Ontario Energy
Board's decision Tuesday to allow util-
ities to raise rates to cover fines and
legal costs after being found at fault for
charging consumers excessive and ille-
gal interest rates on late payments.
Bailey's comments follow reports
that Ontario energy consumers will be
stuck with $18 million in fines and
legal fees local utilities incurred for
overcharging them. The Ontario
Unergy Board (OEB) is also expected to
aide shortly on a request from Ontario
'ower Generation (OPG) for a 6.2 per-
cent increase in its electricity rates
effective March 1st. lust last week Lib-
eral MPP Pat Hoy bemoaned the fact
that hydro rates were increasing "not
quickly enough" to support his
Ai
This is another example
of the McGuinty Liberals
reaching into the pockets
of Ontario families
to pay for all of their
experimental policies and
mismanaged programs
MPP Nnb Bailey
government's energy agenda (Chatham
Daily News, February 17, 2011).
This is Just the latest hike to hydro
bills, Other Dalton McGuinty charges
that have been slapped on bills include
the IIST tax grab, smart meter costs,
$53 million hidden hydro tax, expen-
sive green energy subsidies, the sweet-
heart Samsung deal and other OPG
rate increases.
"'Phis is another example of the
McGuinty Liberals reaching into the
pockets of Ontario families to pay for
all of their experimental policies and
mismanaged programs" said Bailey.
"When you acid in the impact of the
1IS'1' and other rate increases, rising
hydro bills are forcing many families to
make difficult decisions. These deci-
sions often affect a family's ability to
afford things like keeping their kids in
minor hockey and figure skating. its
time that this Liberal Government
begins to consider Ontario families'
ability to pay their hills when they
make energy sector decisions that will
result in extreme electricity price
increases."
While the McGuinty Liberals think
Ontario families have an endless abil-
ity to pay, families are near the break-
ing point and need some relief. In
October, the Ontario PCs announced
they will create a permanent and dedi-
cated consumer advocate at the OEB
to ensure Ontario families' interests
come first again.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 3
at the end of the road how-
ever the bus services felt
that this was too danger-
ous, says Van Mierlo West
adding buses have also
used a private parking lot
as a turnaround however
due to asphalt degradation
within the parking lot the
owners of the property have
requested that the board
cease from using this
property.
"The buses were then uti-
lizing the Barbour Side Vil-
lage road system however
since these roads have not
been assumed by the
Municipality the developer
believed it was not safe for
the buses to use this sys-
tem," she says.
At this point, representa-
tives of the school opted to
return to the loading and
unloading location, which
was approved on a tempo-
rary basis during the con-
struction of Gill Road which
occurred in 2009, 81 Cres-
cent and Gill Road. The
problem here is the flash-
ing lights when the chil-
dren load and unload and
that is not fairing well with
people using Crescent
Street for their banking,
post office, dining etc.
Lambton Shores a11(i
School Board staff have met
to discuss various options
to mitigate this situation
and come to a final solu-
tion to this ongoing
problem.
If they remained status
quo, they would need a
crossing guard which is an
added expense and difficult
to find someone who wants
to work fifteen minutes
twice a day. If they improve
Gill Road at the turn around
there is an estimated cost
of $3 million (municipal
portion) and the school
board believes the turn
around is too far of a drive.
Another option was widen-
ing the school yard to
accommodate the busses
with an estimated price tag
of $123,170.00 (cost shar-
ing). '1'o continue to use the
private property the school
board would need a legal
agreement with the prop-
erty owners and this would
not be a permanent solu-
tion, The recommended
option is to use the harbour
Side Village road system
with no capital expense
and this would create a per-
manent solution. They
must wait for these roads to
be assumed with an esti-
mated time late fall 2011.
This recommendation was
passed with the amend-
ment to temporary load
and unload at 81 Crescent.
G KA FI D P A limmy's
MR:giKE]
SCOttiSH BAKEKY
Re -opening Wed March 2
Come in for our in-store specials
Wed Thurs Fri.
Specials
Raisin Bread - $1.99
Whole Wheat Bread - $.99
Sausage Rolls - buy 3, get 1 free
Store Hours
Tues - Sun : 9am - 5pm
36 Ontario St N. Grand Bend
514-338-5055 - www.grandpajimmys.com