HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-06-19, Page 66 Lakeshore Advance '•• Wednesday, June, 19, 2013
Zurich residents
Melissa Murray
OMI Agency
Zurich residents attended Bluewater's June 3
council meeting to voice their concerns over hav-
ing to pay $5,500 each for the Zurich lagoon's
upgrades.
More than 140 residents signed a petition saying
the fee is too high for residents, there has been no
transparency into the project, the public wasn't
informed of the status of the upgrade and there was
no public meeting about the charges and fees.
"We strongly object because these charges are
too high for the people of Zurich," said Elena Baker
during her delegation before council. She also
objected because she said residents weren't con-
sulted before the charges were made.
The charges are based on a flat fee per hook up.
Residents also have monthly bills for the user pay
system.
Baker said the flat fee, puts single-family dwell-
ings on a level playing field with apartment build-
ings, which is "not fair."
•••• -
unhappyaboutpayingfor lagoon upgrades
"The average income of Zurich was not consid-
ered; she said.
Baker asked that council defer the charges and
reanalyze how they would charge Zurich
residents.
As part of the delegation, resident Randy Geof-
frey told council about his neighbouring lot, which
he only bought so that no one could build on. He
now faces two charges of $5,500 one for his home
and one for the adjoining lot, which he says he'll
never build on.
"I'rn not paying it. One way or another, I'm not
paying it," he told council, adding $5,500 is a lot of
money to people.
Geoffrey said he, like Baker, disagrees with the
fee structure that council passed to recoup the
money for the lagoon upgrades.
"I'm sorry, but we're not happy."
Council explained that most apartment build-
ings also have only one hook-up, which helped
thein in their decision. They also didn't want to dis-
courage the development of apartments or condos
in the village through the pay structure.
411 The Municipality of Lanlbtorr Shores
LIVING IN LAMBTON SNORES...
A weekly Update on the Municipal Events in your Community
Administration Department - 7883 Amtelecom Parkway, Forest, Ontario NON 1J0
Tel 1.877.7882335, 519.788.2335 Fax 519-786 2135 Email admintstraticinnlamblonshores ca Vial our Web Site at www Iambtonshoros cur
TENDER - Bridge Deck Repairs
The Municipality of Lambton Shores is Inviting pre -qualified contractors to
submit a tender for concrete patch repairs on the decks, curbs and sidewalks,
drain extensions, and waterproofing and paving of the bridge decks
• Structure 1001 Is located at the transition from George Street to
Park Lane In the Town of Forest.;
• Structure 1004 Is located west of County Road 7 (Lakeshore Road)
on Cedar Point Line, northwest of the Town of Forest.
Interest contractors may obtain the lender documents online at
tlitRArrYWJAM1214nshoros.cankiry(J ggy9rr M9.11t(cgplt Ig fg11rJ2.1Q00Qf g
1112811th
Sealed tenders will bo received at the
Municipality of Lambton Shores
7883 Amteiecom Parkway, Forest
until Tuesday. June 25th. 2013 (911:00 aim, with a public tender
follow.
All bidders must be pre -qualified. Those who are not must submit a completed
pre -qualification form with their proposal
Brent Kittmer, P. Eng , Director of Community Services
519-243-1400
opening to
BY-LAW ENFORCEMENT
CONTACT INFORMATION
If you have concerns respecting Municipal by law enforcement,
please contact the appropnato enforcement officer at the
following numbers
North of Klondyke Road- Keith Crawford 238-5246
Including Southcott Pones. Huron Woods 8 Grand Bond
South of Klondyke Road - Glenn Bell 381.9899
IncJudmg Port Franks, Ipperwash, Medford and Arkona
1
Canada Day Celebrations
FIREWORKS - JULY 1ST
Esii Dodge Conservation Area
AND Grand Bend Beach
Living & Playing In Lambton Shores
Tho Municipallty of L.annbton Shores recognizes and honours the achievements
and contributions of community volunteers. Those prestigious awards express
Council's appreciation of the many individuals who aro helping to enhance tho
quality of life in Lambton Shores. Wo invite you to submit nominations for those
individuals whom you believe to have made a significant contribution to our
community.
Volunteer Recognition Policy and nomination fors aro available from any municipal office or online at w Iambt0115horoS,cq. Tho
deadline for nominations Is Friday, July 26, 2013 Completed forms can bo dropped off at any municipal office or emailed to
4vont@@hllnb(Onsh4LQ5 CO. Tho Awards will bo presented at the Annual Volunteer BBQ on Friday, September 6, 2013 at the
Legacy Recreation Centro In Thodford.
For moro Information please contact the Community Services Department at 1-866-943-1400 or email qy-gaigitOtTlbtohohorQ,g;4Q.
CommIttee of Adjustment ... Tho Lambton Shores Committee
of Adjustment will be considering the following matters at the Thursday, June
27th, 2013, meeting.
7:05 p.m. - Michael Beal -- A-11/2013 Minor Variance - 10255 Oakhurn
Court, Grand Bond
7:05 p.m. - !Mks Ptoltlnp- A-09/2013 Minor Variance - 23 Woodward
Avenue, Grand Bend
7:05 p.m. - 81d Kemp - A-1012013 Minor Variance - 9941 Niplgon Street,
Port Franks
7:05 p.m. - Muriel Maier - B-0412013 Consent -- 293 Ontario Street. South,
Grand Bend
Full copies M the notices for these appbcnikma are available on tho Municipal
Website or can be obtained by calling the Forest office at 786.2335 or
1.877.788.2335.
The meetings are held at the Legacy Centre. 10 Allen Street, Thedford.
NOTE: There is only one Council
meeting scheduled for the months of
July and August.
REMINDER: All L:unbtun Shores
Comic 11 and Committee meetings are
held
at the Legacy Centre in Thedford,
unless otherwise noted.
Council members also discussed
what options could be afforded to the
Geoffrey situation, who tried to deem
his two properties, but wasn't able to,
Councillor Janisse Zimmerman
brought a motion to the table asking for
staff to look into the possibility of allow-
ing Geoffrey to defer payment until a
building permit is issued for the adjoin-
ing lot, but the motion was lost after a
recorded vote ended in a five to five tie,
with councillors George Irvin, Kay Wise,
John Becker, Geordie Palmer and John
Roy against and councillors Janisse•Zim-
merman and John Gillespie, as well as
Mayor Bill Dowson, Deputy Mayor Paul
Klopp and Councillor at Large Tyler
Hessel in favour.
Bluewater's Chief Administrative
Officer, Steve McAuley, said the request
to rearrange the payment structure is
complicated by the fact that 129 of 391
residents have contacted the municipal-
ity with their choices as to how they
would like to proceed.
Forty-eight residents have paid in full,
six have partially paid and 75 have cho-
sen to debenture the full amount over
the 20 years allowed.
Ile explained to council that if prop-
erties are deemed or granted excep-
tions, it affects the amount the other
users have to pay.
Ile told those in the gallery and the
delegations that if they want more infor-
mation about how the project went or
the history of the public rneetings and
decisions, they could contact hire for
more information, as the $5,500 fee
stands.
Granted
The friends of the tipper Room,
brought a request to council that they
endorse the Legacy Grant that the group
would submit for the 100th anniversary
of the former Iiensall Town Hall.
The renovations needed for the upper
room are estimated at about $300,000.
Council unanimously supported the
request.
Demolition
Council approved the tender from
Vandriel Excavating for $100,986.44 to
take the building down at 120 King
Street in Hensall.
'Ihe amount includes a $6,000 contin-
gency fund.
After the building is demolished, it
will make room for a parkette, which the
municipality has budgeted $30,
Grand Opening
Bluewater council chose the date for
the Bayfield Library grand opening cer-
emony, which will take place on July
13th. More information about the event
will be made available when dignitaries
R.S.V.P.
Recruitment
Bluewater council has decided, for
the time being, not to get involved with
doctor recruitment.
Mayor Bill Dowson said, "If they're
not doing a good job, we need to hear
about it, but it's not our mandate to get
involved.
Coun. Janisse Zimmerman raised a
motion asking for a report from staff
about what other municipalities are
doing by way of doctor recruitment, but
the motion received no seconder.
Sarnia-Lambton has the highest
proportion of people
Lambton County has spent more
than $215,000 over the past 10 years,
upgrading buildings and services to
make there accessible for the elderly
and people with disabilities.
'Ihe work is part of sweeping changes
across Ontario under the Accessibility
for Ontarians with Disabilities Act,
designed to snake all public spaces,
services and transportation completely
accessible by 2020.
"Since 2003 we'vt' reviewed, i believe,
every program in the County of Lamb -
ton, and the majority of the facilities of
the county," saki Doug Ball, manager of
social planning and children's services
with Lambton County.
An accessibility advisory committee
and a staff working group were set up in
2003 and staff have since eliminated
almost 266 barriers to accessibility in
the county, he said.
Those improvements range from
making the county's website compati-
ble with technology that helps people
with vision impairments, to widening
doors and adding wheelchair ramps at
various facilities.
Annual reviews of facilities have cov-
ered everything except tht' county's
social housing, said Ball, who chairs the
county's staff working group.
"Because there's so many units; he
said, adding every year there are more
reviews.
Sarnia-Lambton also has the highest
number of residents age 65+ In the
region, the Erie -St. Clair Local health
integration Network Mt HN) reports.
Almost 19% of locals are governr
pension -eligible here, while just sh
1890 meet the mark in Chatham -Kent,
and more than 15% are 65+ in Windsor -
Essex.
About 14% of Canadians were 65 or
older in 2011, with that number
expected to jump to 23.6% by 2036,
according to the Ministry of Finance.
The Erie -St. (:lair region also has
higher than normal rates of chronic dis-
eases like diabetes and chronic obstruc-
tive pulmonary disease than Ontario
averages, the 1.11IN has said.
Making improvements to accessiNi-
fty will help that population. But it also
benefits everybody, Ball said.
"I use the example of it parent that's
pushing a baby in a baby stroller to get
into a facility," he said. "If there's only
steps there and no ramp or no elevator,
then it's not really accessible for thein
either."
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