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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2012-08-22, Page 15Wednesday, September 14, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 9 Bluewater debates use of Bayfteld's Clan Gregor Square Vanessa Brown Lakeshore Advance What started as a request for werea- nal activities in a Bayfield park turned a debate over the purpose of one of the village's most popular outdoor spaces during last week's Bluewater council meeting. Because Clan Gregor Square is munic- ipally -owned Lund, Bayfleld's chamber of commerce needs council's permis- sion to apply for a grant that would fully fund building a proper outdoor skating rink that can be converted to a pickleball and shuffleboard court for seniors in the stammer. But some councillors argued that approving the project would establish a precedent that would lead to other requests for the park such as badminton and tennis courts. "We've got to be prepared - do we want to turn that park into an amuse- ment park... or is it a place for people to go and enjoy the quiet?" Mayor Hill Dow - son asked. 'There is a demand in Hayfield for more seasonal activities for seniors, according to a handout provided by the chamber. President (Atli(' organization Roger Lew- ington said pickleball, a racquet spurt similar to tennis, is popular among the aging demographic. 'the league could be expanded, he added, if there was a per- manent court to play on. Residents cur- rently use a private tennis court. The concrete space would then he converted into an ice pad for free public skating during the winter months, he said. The Hayfield Fire Department has built an ice rink in the past, but thawing has caused flooding in the park, The grant would pay for a sealed border that would keep the water contained if the ice melted on warner days, Lewington said. When the temperature drops, the water would freeze into ice again. 'I'ht' chamber proposed the concrete pad be installed in the northeast corner of the park. The project would cost between $15,00() and $20,000, all of which would be covered by the grant. "It would create some activity in the park during the short winter season where you would have skating, or in the summertime if people %vatic to play there,' Lewington said. People of all ages would he encouraged to use the facility, said Mike Dixon of the Hayfield Optimist Club. Lewington submitted letters of sup- port from the heritage committee, Icons club, optimist club, historical society and town hall board, t lotvever, Lewington was chided for not consulting Bluewater council first. "1 have some concerns that out' senior staff have not been consulted, and there is some opposition on this;' said Hayfield Coun. Geordie Palmer. "I have to look at it from the point of view that our staff must be consulted first." Lewington explained that the group only recently became aware of the grant that needs to be applied for by Sept. 15. !loping to speed the process along, Dixon reneged on the' group's suggestion that Bluewater staff help to clear snow off the ice, saying that volunteers would shovel instead. "1 believe in the intent, 811(11 believe in trying to get it some support here," said Coun. Tyler Hessel. However, 11Ittt'lvaler's staff has to be fully involved in creating a policy with the group, he added. Council unanimously passed a motion to "support the principle" of the project -- enough to allow Lewington to apply for the grant, but the issue will conte back to council to be voted on at a later date. Goderich support Bluewater council unani- mously voted to donate a mature Christmas tree to Goderich after the recent tornado. At a recent town -wide church service, Goderich Mayor 1)eb Shewfelt expressed his wish for '1'he Square to be fully lit with Christmas lights this winter. "From our council, 1 want to show our respect and our sorrow for what has happened to the prettiest town around," said Mayor Bill Dowson at the beginning of last week's coun- cil meeting. "I've given a lot of thought to what we could do for Godeticll as a small sym- bol that alight he a lasting symbol" Goderich council must approve the idea before a tree is given. Bayfield library grant denied 'the municipality has been denied funding to help pay for the new Hayfield library branch. Bluewater had applied for about $934,000 from I Inman Resources Development Can- ada, a branch of the federal government. "As of now, we have no grant monies towards the library at this time," Mayor Bill Rowson said during last week's council session. The library reconstruction project will cost $1.2 million before taxes. Huron County: Not business as usual for county workers County reviews storm's aftermath Cheryl Heath QMI Agency E luron County's social services direc- tor was vacationing in the Muskokas Aug. 21, when he heard a twister touched down in Goderich. In the course of the next few days, reported Dave Overboe to Huron County Council on Sept. 7, it was defi- nitely not business as usual. "Our managers enacted our emer- gency plan," says Overboe, noting that in such situations, the county is respon- je.�e for a vast range of duties and serv- including providing shelter for dis- placed people, recording and receiving donations, and providing clothing and food to those in need. "We did all that with five staff," says Overboe, noting the recently intro- duced 211 service, which gives resi- dents any information they require, proved instrumental in the days follow- ing the storm. "It was a Godsend. It took a lot of pressure of us," confirms Overboe, who says in accordance with provincial reg- ulations, county staff also had to visit each tenant in public housing to ensure their safety. "We were very fortunate in that we had very minimal damage," says Overboe. However, he adds, given that many social housing tenants were without electricity and gas services, provincial regulations required county staff to tour each facility on an hourly basis in the event of a fire or other emergency. "We were also providing upwards of 1,500 to 1,600 meals it day," says Overboe. Another immediate issue was the need to relocate county and court house personnel from the courthouse. Over - hoe says while there was some initial discussion about using the Jacob Memo- rial Building for court services, that move would've necessitated the use of every square inch of the facility. Even in order to assess the courthouse damage, says Overboe, a number of gov- ernment bodies had to be consulted, including the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Environment. 'Ihe county's next phase of action is to deal with the longer-term transition for housing and to offer up a stress manage- ment team that is interviewing everyone impacted by the storm in a door-to-door canvass. During a question -and -answer ses- sion with councillors, Overboe con- firmed there are no reports of anyone who is homeless because of the twister though dozens of Goderich residents were accommodated in motels, inns and hotels in an area stretching south to Grand Bend and north to Kincardine in the days following the tornado. Ultimately, says Overboe, the goodwill of the couty's residents shone through as rural residents opened their doors to many of those Impacted by the storm. While Overboe notes a more compre- hensive report is forthcoming, Coun. John (racy (Goderich) says Union (pits officials were impressed by the speedy response to the' issues in need of addressing in storm's aftermath. "flats off to you, 1)ave, and the Salva- tion Arany," says (race. In a separate report, Overboe reported that the courthouse would remain closed for longer than first expected due to three separate reports of asbestos found during testing. When asked by Coun. lashes Ginn (Central 1 luron) whether the courts are still seeking more space in the building, Deputy (;AO Dave Carey says the Min- istry of Attorney General's office expressed some interest in possibly making some improvements to the facility before returning. Goderich Mayor Deb Shewfelt took an opportunity to note rumors of the Colonial Parking Lot Wednesdays 8 8111 - 1 pm Local Produce This Week *PEACHES, 'Zl. l('('HINI, *RASPBERRIES, *APPLES, *SQUASH, *SWEET CORN, *BEANS, *MEATS ANI) MORE... Thh-vidoommadirog. 1 www.grandbendfarmersmarket.ca courthouse being shifted from its foundation are false as Overboe confirmed win- dows were broken but the courthouse "fared very very well. Structurally, the engi- CONTINUED > PAGE 10 FOR CHANGE IN HURON BRUCE ® To eliminate HST on Home Energy Bilis © To lower tax burden on Middle Class Families `37 To clean up waste in Government • To invest in Health Care and Education VOTE ThoLisa mpson