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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-03-19, Page 22 Times–Advocate Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Bluewater on "even keel" By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF VARNA — Bluewater is a "very even keel municipality with no big issues," according to OPP Sgt. Mike Dougan who presented the yearly OPP statistics to Bluewater council Monday night. Council was told by Dougan that bail violations are a major concern for the OPP with the number of violations rising from six in 2006 to 18 in 2007 and that the OPP is showing "consid- erable interest in tracking them down and holding them account- able." Other statistics showed there were 62 violent offences in 2007, which was unchanged from the previous year while break and enters dropped from 63 to 39 while mischief to property crimes rose from 48 in 2006 to 73 last year. With 10 missing persons reported last year and 12 the year before, Coun. George Irvin asked how long a person has to be missing before the police respond. Dougan said "as soon as they are missing from home, we'd like to know, not in 24 hours." Coun. John Becker noted that while speeding violations in Dashwood had dropped tem- porarily, they have risen again. Coun. Peter Walden agreed, saying speeding along Highway 84 between Hensall and Zurich is also a concern. Dougan said the OPP is devot- ing more resources to enforce speed limits and Mayor Bill Dowson noted that Huron County has collected a large amount of information on speeding statis- tics, which he said the OPP would do well to look at. In other business, Airport Line will see a replacement of bridge 34 this summer after a motion was passed accepting a tender for $193,110.75 from Van Bree Drainage. Executive director quits GODERICH — Huron United Way executive director Kimberley Payne has resigned. "It is with regret that I announce the departure of our executive director," said Huron United Way chairperson Randy Stanlake. "She will be deeply missed locally but also regional- ly, provincially and nationally within our movement." Payne announced last week that she will be leaving the Huron United Way after serving four years as executive director. She has twice been the execu- tive director at the Huron United Way, previously from 1997-2000 and recently from 2004-2008. From 2000-2004 she was the executive director for the Tilbury Information and Help Centre in Chatham -Kent. The board of directors is devel- oping a strategy to replace Payne, and will be sharing that information with the com- munity in the next few weeks. Payne has taken the job of executive director of the Stratford Chefs School, the premier culi- nary school in Canada. REGIONAL WRAP UP Homes damaged in fire THAMES CENTRE — Five mobile homes in Thames Centre were damaged in a March 13 fire. At around 10:37 p.m., Middlesex OPP and the Thames Centre Volunteer Fire Department responded to a mobile home fire on Dundas Street near Shaw Road in Thames Centre, where four other mobile homes were also subsequently damaged. The mobile homes were being stored at a local busi- ness and no one was living in them at the time of the fire. The damage is estimated at over $300,000. The cause of the fire is undetermined. Middlesex OPP, with the assistance of the Middlesex Fire Prevention Officer are continuing to investigate. Further details will be released once the results of the forensic examination are completed. Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Middlesex OPP, Crime Stoppers or your local police department. London swine meeting LONDON — The future of the Canadian pork indus- try, will be the focus of a swine industry education event next month. The eighth annual London Swine Conference will run April 1-2 at the London Convention Centre. Participants will hear from internationally renowned experts, including extension livestock economist and economics professor John Lawrence of Iowa State University and vice president Ben Woolley of Sunterra Farms Ltd. in Alberta. "This year's theme, Facing a New Reality, acknowl- edges the challenges facing the Canadian pork sector," says conference chairperson and swine specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs Jaydee Smith. Presentations will focus on a wide range of topics fea- turing the future of pork production and preparing for a border closure. South Huron councillor remuneration released By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — The municipality has released figures for its council and police services board remuneration and expenses for 2007. Members of South Huron council are paid by a combination of a flat stipend and payments per meeting, in addition to insurance, conference registration and expens- es. Mayor Ken Oke received $27,814.98 in 2007, plus an additional $3,561.63 for his work on the police services board. Other remuneration for councillors included: Deputy Mayor George Robertson, $22,681.24; Coun. Pete Armstrong, $21,435.37; Coun. Cathy Seip, $18,715.84; Coun. David Frayne, $17,037.41; Coun. Jim Dietrich, $16,203.64; and Coun. Tom Tomes, $12,151.23. It was revealed at Monday night's council meeting that Tomes erred on his 2007 expenses and forgot to include some of them, so they will be car- ried over into 2008. Besides Oke, police ser- vices board remuneration was: Roy Triebner, $1,785.57; Allan Quinn, $1,682.49; and Elizabeth Bell, $45.09. Other council notes: Strategic plan The municipality is looking for public input into its "Draft Strategic Plan 2008-12," a docu- ment which "pro- vides a sense of vision, shared pur- pose and support for council, staff and the communi- ty," according to a report from chief administrative offi- cer Roy Hardy. The five-year strategic plan was done in conjunction with the 2008 bud- get talks and South Huron wants grant Continued from front page up giving $50 million to the HELP project, South Huron should receive some of it. Robertson and other members of council will attend the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa in August and will make their case that South Huron should receive some of the grant money. Coun. Pete Armstrong supported Robertson's wish to speak at AMO, saying South Huron was "a major player" in the beginning of the HELP project and "if we have to go after that money ourselves, we should." South Huron was earlier awarded a $4.3 million Canada -Ontario Infrastructure Program grant for the project, with the province kick- ing in $2 4 million and the feds paying $1.9 million. included an analysis of South Huron's "strengths, weaknesses, opportuni- ties and challenges. "Council then focused on a review of the core businesses of the munici- pality, identified its vision and a series of short- term and long-term strategies." The municipality has made the draft strategic plan available at the municipal office and South Huron's website and will accept public input until March 31. Correction In last week's page 1 story called "Redevelopment project will see significant changes at rest home," the total cost reported was incor- rect. The actual figure is $9.4 mil- lion. Also, a quote by Blue Water Rest Home administrator Martha Craig should have read that the improvements to the home will help "the curb appeal of the home." The T -A regrets the error. Habitat build Continued from front page now in 30 countries, Schenk said, adding former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is the most recog- nized member. Schenk said Habitat will start the application process for the Exeter build in a few months. Mayor Oke thanked Schenk and Dale for bringing the Exeter build to council's attention and told them "we'll see what we can do." Renovations at SH Hospital on schedule Continued from front page costs during renovations, so addi- tional funds will go towards that. Hunt said renovations, which include a new lobby and waiting room, new gift shop with windows, new emergency department, new diagnostic imaging department and barrier -free washrooms, are slated to end June 13, although the new emergency room will open in its traditional location May 12 (during renovations the ER has been moved to the east wing of the hos- pital, as has the entrance). The new emergency department will have six patient rooms, an increase over the current three, and a new negative pressure venti- lation system will protect staff and patients from any pandemics, fevers or other outbreaks. Space for staff, patients and visi- tors during the renovations has been tight, Hunt said, and there have been issues with "traffic jams" in the hallways, something for which she apologizes to the patients. She said volunteers with the Hospital Auxiliary have been "ter- rific" at helping to manage traffic every day. She said it's been an adjustment moving the diagnostic imaging and echo department during renova- tions. Also, Hunt wants to remind the public to only use the southeast entrance to the hospital and not the Under construction — Renovations to South Huron Hospital's emer- gency department continue and are slated to be finished in June.The hospital has reached its $1.6 million fundraising goal and will unveil the renovations in an open house once everything is complete. Pictured above from left amid the construction are executive supervisor for K&L Construction PatrickVerstraten, clinical resource nurse Brenda Palsa, ER nurse Doris Wragg, Dr. Sean Ryan and Ryan Stirling of Architects Tillmann Ruth Mocellin. (photo/Scott Nixon) old emergency department entrance on the west side. She said some visitors are still trying to get in the old entrance and it can be dangerous in light of the construc- tion taking place. The last major renovations at South Huron Hospital took place in the 1970s and Hunt called the cur- rent construction "an exciting pro- ject. We really want to thank the community for making this possi- ble." Adds Faber, "It's been a great success." Faber and Hunt credited the public for their support of the project and for their co-operation during construction. "It's been a real success to date," Hunt said, adding, "We'll meet the needs of our staff and physicians." The hospital will host an open house when renovations are fin- ished.