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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-11-24, Page 22 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, November 24, 2004 Regional wrap up $150,000 for medical clinic SEAFORTH — Huron East council pledged to contribute $50,000 a year and the Seaforth Community Development Trust donated a one-time $100,000 grant towards the Seaforth Medical Clinic at a special council meeting Nov. 9. The Huron Expositor reported in a presenta- tion to council, Seaforth Community Hospital Foundation president Ron Lavoie told council the clinic needs to spend $750,000 broken down to $250,000 on outside improvements — including $100,000 for the roof and $25,000 for brickwork and furnace repair — $250,000 on a new computer system and $250,000 on annual operating costs. Hunter spots a black bear CLINTON — It seems the area's newest resi- dent is of the ursine species. The Clinton News - Record reported area residents are grinning and bearing it after news that a black bear was spotted on Fish and Game Line between Clinton and holmesville recently. Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources is reporting the bear was spotted in a farm field. The sighting has prompted the ministry to advise area residents to steer clear of bears if one should approach or be seen. Fall of ground at Sifto GODERICH — The Sifto salt mine in Goderich experienced a 'fall of ground' early morning Nov. 10, but no one was injured, said Rowland Howe, mine manager. The Goderich Signal - Star reported the fall of ground — part of the mine roof that came down at one intersec- tion of the mine — took place in an area that's been restricted for a long time, Howe said. The event resulted in a brief halt to produc- tion but production is now back to normal. Big bill BLYTH — North Huron got bad news at the Nov. 15 council meeting when they learned they have to make a retro -active insurance payment of just over $10,000. The Citizen reported the retro assessment reciprocal insurance dates back to 1998, 1999 and 2000. Bluewater council hears library options By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF VARNA — Bluewater council received a report from Huron County librarian Beth Ross on the Library Strategic Plan Monday night. Ross said the Strategic Plan was started two years focusing on four goals, which were infra- structure, human resources, management of library service delivery and funding and finance. In the mid 1980s, according to Ross, there were 29 librarys in Huron County, but the number has since decreased to 13. She said with most services now con- centrated in larger centres, libraries have also moved so they can provide the most efficient service to taxpayers. The consultant hired for the Strategic Plan said the aim was not to respond just to present needs but also to future ones and recommended there be 11 or possibly 10 service points for the County. Ross said the Zurich branch is in desperate need of expansion, Bayfield should be expanded and even the Hensall Branch may not be adequate. Asked what would happen if council didn't meet the require- ments, Ross said people would make a decision with their feet. "A library is a measurable bene- fit downtown ... it can make a difference to the health of the community." Asked if there was any support from levels of government for funding library expansions, Ross said the Trillium Program had been expanded to cover libraries, with a potential of up to $75,000 per year for up to five years. Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson asked if there was an opportunity for funding for both libraries. Ross said "I would make a strong case for that with both projects being quite valid ... But they are your buildings and you'll have to make the applications." Council also heard from Patti Down and Mary Earle from the Friends of the Zurich Library who endorsed the Plantations building in Zurich as a site for a new library and said it could be done on a rent to own basis. Later in the meeting, coun. Josh McClinchey presented the plan for the Bayfield Library Expansion and public wash- rooms. Under the plan a stand alone washroom building of 600 square feet would cost $156,250. It would cost $131,250 to add a washroom addition of the same size to a 500 square foot library expansion that would cost a $171,875 for a total of $303,875 with the total cost of the project being $309,975. Funding of the project would come from $47,870 budgeted in 2004 for the Bayfield library and washrooms, plus $37,500 bud- geted for the Zurich library. An additional $50,000 would come from local fund raising and $75,000 would come from a 2005 Trillium Grant for a total of $210,379. The final $102, 596, according to the report, would come from volunteer labour. McClinchey finished his report by saying it was not a small undertaking and it would require a community group to take it on. Coun. Marg Deichert said she was disappointed McClinchey wanted to take money budgeted for the Zurich library with a building available in Zurich. McClinchey said he wasn't try- ing to "scoop" Zurich funding but the plan couldn't move forward without a commitment. "All I'm asking for is what we've already committed to." Coun. Bill MacDougall said maybe the Zurich plan was clos- er to reality, then the council could go back and support the Bayfield plan after. Coun Rod Parker said he could- n't support anything until the Strategic Plan was explored. "When we did the Hensall Library, we had people come to council with a plan. Here we have assumptions." McClinchey replied "this is what was decided that is feasible. How can I apply for Trillium without the support of the coun- cil to upgrade the library?" A proposal put forward by McClinchey to support the Bayfield plan funding was declared dead when it did not receive a second. A motion put forward by Deichert to proceed with an investigation of renting to own the Plantation building for the Zurich library was defeated. With no further motions put forward, it was decided to bring the issue back before council at a later date. Traffic improvements suggested for Exeter school By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — The Exeter Public School Council has some ideas to improve traffic flow in front of its school on Victoria Street. George Finch of the School Council approached South Huron council Nov. 15, explaining the School Council's ideas for changes to parking, speed limits and signs. Council made no deci- sions on the proposals, but will have municipal staff look at them and bring back ideas to council for discussion. One of the ideas to improve traffic flow in front of the school is to change the "No Parking" area in front of Exeter Public to "No Stopping." Finch said parents loading and unloading their children in the morning and afternoon are stopping in front of the school, making things difficult for school buses. He said changing the area to a "No Stopping" zone will solve the problem. The "No Stopping" would be in effect Monday to Friday dur- ing the school year from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Buses would obviously be allowed to stop in front of the school. Finch also provided examples of signs that could be erected in the area. Another request from the School Council is that pedestrian cross- walk signs be put up on both sides of the cross- walk in front of the school. Another proposal is to reduce the speed limit on Victoria Street from Andrew Street east to be lowered from 50 km/h to 40 km/h. Finch, an OPP constable, said 50 km/h in the area is simply too fast and there is no reason for people to drive fast on that road. Some councillors sug- gested an even lower speed limit on the street — Coun. Harvey Ratz proposed 30 km/h, while Deputy Mayor Dave Urlin said he saw a 25 km/h speed zone in front of a school in Kurt Russell makes stop in Huron Park Continued from front page Huron Motor Products during his stay. "It was pretty exciting," said Marilyn Hicks, a waitress at the Malibu. "He gave us his autograph and he was very nice." Hicks also noted Russell ordered Canadian beef and seemed to enjoy the meal. "It was good enough for Kurt Russell, so they should re -open the border," she joked. Both Orr and Hicks said Russell was down-to-earth. "We dealt with him like every other customer," Orr said, adding Russell wanted his visit to the area to remain low-key. London. The Exeter Public School Council also pro- posed a "No Stopping" zone in the entrance to the South Huron Rec Centre. While the preceding ideas wouldn't cost much money, the one proposal that would be costly was the request of a new sidewalk from the east side of the Rec Centre laneway along Victoria Street that would eventually hook into the walkway that leads to the Pryde sub- division. Finch said a new sidewalk would take pedestrians off the road. Mayor Rob Morley said a new sidewalk could be a problem in the winter when snow piles up on it, preventing children from walking on it. Urlin congratulated the School Council on their efforts to improve road safety in the area and said council figured a problem would even- tually arise in the busy area. "Let's have staff look at it," he said. FRIDAY Nov. 26, UNTIL 11 P.M & SATURDAY Nov. 27, 2004 Look for more great d In our Two Magic Day= ED HOT riday Specia s November 26, 2004 Willa qualifier 1*9. 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