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Home My WebLink AboutLakeshore 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." tylr/:kula(uvunmedia. rn