HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-10-11, Page 3Wednesday, October 11, 2006
TIMES—ADVOCATE
3
Parker looking to revitalize Hensall downtown
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
HENSALL — Hensall ward Coun. Rod Parker is seek-
ing a third term in Bluewater in the upcoming munici-
pal election and says while the last term has been busier
than the previous one, there have also been more
positives
In the first term for Bluewater, Parker said
many of the councillors, including himself, were
more interested in protecting their own territory
than working on behalf of the municipality.
"I was very vocal on my territory and I soon
learned I have to look at Bluewater as a
whole...I've learned a big difference this term
that I've got to work together with everybody."
Parker said one of the main reasons he decided
off effects for the community.
"The ethanol plant isn't going to want their subsidiary
plants miles and miles away. They're going to look at
bringing them close to the area."
While businesses in Hensall can't compete with larger
stores in bigger communities, Parker said smaller stores
that focus on particular markets such as
antiques or cheese would be a good fit for
Hensall.
"These speciality shops is, I think, the niche
we're looking for."
With the introduction of the ethanol plant,
Parker said companies that previously built
around Highway 401 may look at coming to
the area, a move that may also improve the
chance of a grocery store coming back to the
town.
to run again is that he is determined to get water Rod Parker
and lagoon work done for Hensall.
Although he said the longer four-year term
is a big commitment, Parker, who is married
"That was one of the things I ran on the last election with three children, said he loves Hensall.
and it hasn't been achieved yet but I think it will in this "I feel safe here with my kids...I appreciate that aspect
term." and I want to give something back to the people."
After a meeting with provincial Minister of Parker added the work of volunteers in Hensall has
Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky been instrumental in keeping services such as the leaf
and Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell at a conference in pickup and watering flowers in the community.
Ottawa, Parker said he can live with the plans for a "For these people to step forward is great community
water pipeline to Hensall. spirit...we wouldn't have that service if it wasn't for
"Two years ago it was going to cost $6 million, now them volunteering. I can't say enough about Andy
with the ethanol plant coming on board...we are down
in the $3 million figure the people were comfortable
with."
If the water and lagoon issues can be resolved, Parker
said he would like to focus on revitalizing the Hensall
downtown and the ethonal plant will produce good spin-
(Bilcke) and Klaas (VanWieren). Every time I turn
around they're doing something to better the communi-
ty "
Keeping the green waste disposal service in Hensall is
another issue Parker says has worked out well. While
some residents were initially unhappy to lose the service
of having it picked up at their door, the flexibility of
being able to drop it off without having to get to the
Ifensall landfill has served residents well. Although the
service in Bayfield has been discontinued due to abuse,
Parker said each community needs to be looked at indi-
vidually.
"I was very vocal that just because the one in Bayfield
is being abused, don't take it away from the people that
patrol theirs."
Financially, Parker said Hensall is in good shape, with
"phenomenal" reserves, for which he credits the Hensall
councils before him.
"They always thought about what was going to hap-
pen in the future and always had great reserves set
aside. We walked into amalgamation sitting way better
than anybody."
Parker added that Hensall may have to look at spend-
ing its reserves before they are rolled into municipal
funds.
"One of these councils is going to vote if it's not spent
within the municipality within such and such a time, it
goes into the coffers."
For that reason, Parker said he has approached
groups in town about community projects the reserves
can be used for and that anyone with ideas should bring
them forward.
One potential project Parker said he is looking at is a
walking trail around Hensall.
"I'd like to get some people that are energetic in that
aspect and get a committee together and work with
some of the landowners to give up a couple of metres of
their perimeter land...it's like Morrison Dam, you can
still see nature while you're out walking "
Diechert running again in the Zurich municipal ward
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
ZURICH — "I decided I wasn't finished yet,"
says Zurich ward Coun. Marg Diechert, who
is seeking another term in the upcoming
municipal election.
"We need to have a grant for the lagoons,
and I don't want to see that going ahead with-
out it," says Diechert who added another pri-
ority is a new library in Zurich as well as get-
ting work done on the Bayfield Library.
Diechert said the last term has been frus-
trating without much movement on some of
the issues, which she said have been dragging
for awhile.
"We have to keep the higher levels of govern-
ments for funding for both the Hensall and
Zurich lagoons."
With the lagoon project eligible under the
Canada -Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure
Fund (COMRIF), for which Bluewater has
applied unsuccessfully, Diechert said the munici-
pality just has to keep applying.
"I'm not sure what other angle you could come
at, I think we've got all the angles in our applica-
tion as it is."
As a whole, the municipality is starting to
Marg
Diechert
come together, says Diechert who said the
arena construction was a major accomplish -
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ment for the term as well as the health and safety
upgrades to the other arenas in Bluewater.
"Nobody ever brings those up...there was a lot of
money spent on the other facilities."
Diechert says a four-year term, is a little too much.
"Three was good. It gave you a year to get your feet
wet and two to
do whatever
was necessary.
Four is going to
be different."
URG
E
DREW
ROBERTSON
for
DEPUTY MAYOR
SOUTH HURON
NT
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