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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2012-05-09, Page 1516 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, May 18, 2011 County to revisit tuck -eating bridge' Choi', Heath OM AQenty Huron County's Warden is eager to get the job done but Huron County Council- lors are not yet sure. In a pitch to fellow county councillors at the May 11 committee -of -the -whole ses- sion, Warden Neil Vincent (North Huron) reports a local contractor is offering to cover the county's costs associated with moving a rehabilitation project up to this year for the infamous "truck eating" bridge on County Road 13, on the edge of Clinton. "It will be the will of council whether they will be interested in moving it for- ward," says Vincent. In addressing the possibility of further debating moving up the project, which the county is slated to begin woridng on 2012, Coun. Bernie MacLellan (Huron East) notes that public notice of the new motion must first be given. As such, councillors agreed to further discuss Vincent's proposal at their May 18 committee -of -the -whole session. Severance OK'd After a several month wait. Bob and Jo- Anne Vodden are earning a thumbs up by county councillors in order to move for- ward with their plan to erect a retirement home on a section of farmland that the county's planning department is advising against because the move goes against the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS). In speaking of favour of the request, Coun. Bernie MacLellan (Huron East) says the county should allow it because it presents a little bit of a unique situation" Specifically, says MacLellan, given that the home will not negatively impact neigh- bouring farmland and there has been " a lot of public support,' making an exception seems like a sound plan. Coun. James Ginn (Central Huron) notes the applicant's hone municipality supports the request. "To me, this makes perfect sense. We need to Judge each planning application on its own merits; adds Ginn. In a recorded vote with 14 in support and three councillors opposed, the Vod- den Palmer application was given the committee's approval. County council must endorse it before the project can pro- ceed. Three councillors were absent for the vote. The application proved so contentious at the county level that administration was directed to prepare an expansive report on how many county properties could accom- modate new homes if all farmlands were opened up to the possibility. Severance Approved The planning department's recommen- dation was again eschewed in the surplus severance application for Dave and Heather Beimes of Huron East. Councillors learned the property in question is on the northeast edge of Grey Ward, and that one of the main barriers to allowing the request is the Beimes do not have another house so the severance can- not be viewed as surplus. In supporting the family's request, Coun. Bernie MacLellan (Huron Hast) HASKETT I I' \ I ' '•i ` 1 I 1 www.haskettfh.com - - Servireerialiet 11812 ti reports a sale is being negoti- ated between family members with the son purchasing the surrounding familand. Ministry Eyes OP Planning director Scott'Ibu- saw reports the Ontario Minis- try of Municipal Affairs and Housing is seeking 43 tweaks to the recent review process for the Huron County Official Plan. lbusaw notes the ministry does not require council's approval to make the modifications. Moving Ahead Councillors are giving the thumbs up to a Central I luron developer's plans to erect 10 Ebur -unit townhomes near Beech Street in Clinton as part of a 55 -plus years' retirement development. Councillors learned the 2.12 -hectare development will include a new road being built by the builder, Langendoen Holdings Inc., as well as a park The county's planning department reports five peo- ple, all of whorn had positive comments, attended a public meeting on the proposal in March. Appearing on behalf of the developer, Matt Langendoen says construction is slated to begin in June. He adds that one-third of the units are "already spoken for" Contract Changes A county perk that sees Sen- ior Management 'ream (SMT) members receive a free county vehicle, along with gratis gas and maintenance, underwent some changes though not every county councillor saw merit in the plan. As presented by Coun. Bernie MacLellan (Huron East), who is the driving force behind the changes, SMT members will now have several options before thern, including the free vehicle and mainte- nance, with a limit of $1,000 worth of'personal' fuel costs as opposed to the former situa- tion where all personal mileage fell under the county paid -for umbrella. MacLellan says SMT members could also opt to either continue tracking their When a death occurs... No matter the time, notify us. Even if someone else plans to call, contact us as soon as possible. county mileage on their own vehicle, as is the case with planning director Scott lbusaw and retiring cultural services director Beth Ross, or opt in for a $200 per rnonth vehicle allowance and mileage, which would both be taxable. In speaking against the pro- posal, Coun. John Grace Goderich) says it is unfair to open up an agreement the was created to entice the bes, of the crop to the Senior Man- agement Team and to retain them. "1 don't understand how or why we're even going down this road, says Grace. While MacLellan explains the changes are designed to address the "open endedness' of the contract, Grace says he doesn't like the idea of "reo- pening dents." County Warden Neil Vin- cent's query as to whether the original agreement means SMT members could revert to the original contract wherein overtime hours could be accrued was met with an affirmative response though Human Resources Director Darcy Michaud adds it is unlikely any of the SMT team will do so. 1 think it is just wrong how you approached it," adds Grace in an address to MacLellan. Grace also requested a recorded vote on the change that only impacts SMT mem- bers atA not the entire county staff that uses county vehicles. Those supporting MacLel- lan's motion were MacLellan, Dave Frayne (South Huron), Ben Van Dlepenbeek (ACW), Bill Siemon (Huron East), Deb Shewfelt (Goderich), Brian Barnim (Central Huron), Joe Steffler (Huron East), Neil Rin - tout (ACW) and Paul Klopp (Bluewater). Those opposing the change were Grace, Vin- cent, George Roberston (South Huron), James Ginn (Central Huron), Dave Riach (North Huron), Art Versteeg (Howick) and Tyler I lessel (Bluewater). 'three councillors, Jim Dietrich (South Huron), Dave Jewitt (Central Huron) and Paul Gowing (Morris-Turnberry), were absent.