HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-01-25, Page 11Might as well jump
When there is snow on the ground, students at Hullett Central Public School enjoy any day
where the warm sun makes recess a little less cold. Some enjoyed the sun so much last week,
they jumped for joy before the wet weather that laid ahead. From left: Catherine Fielding,
Kayley Kuntz, Marley Fleet and Evie Reid. (Denny Scott photo)
Policing costs could
double in Blyth, EW
Continued from page 1
the issue has been debated, members
of the public were finally afforded a
chance to weigh in on the issue with
two public meetings at the Wingham
Town Hall Theatre on Jan. 17, one
in the afternoon and one in the
evening.
Reeve Neil Vincent started the
evening meeting by encouraging
everyone in attendance and everyone
watching the event online to speak to
their councillors and tell them how
they would like council to vote on
the issue.
Chief Administrative Officer
Dwayne Evans priced out the three
policing options, showing the
decision wasn't a simple difference
in cost.
The synopsis of Evans'
presentation was that, over the
proposed three-year transitional
contract provided by the OPP, it
would cost more than staying with
the Wingham Police Service. Over a
longer term, however, the OPP could
provide savings.
In the short-term, Evans said that,
on top of more expensive coverage,
between $450,000 and $480,000 in
expenses to close the current police
department needed to be considered
if North Huron went with the
OPP.
For the first three years of OPP
costing, Wingham ratepayers would
pay $1.9 million in the first year,
$1.28 million in the second year and
$1.31 in the third year. The
Wingham police service, however, is
forecast to cost $1.165 million in the
first year, $1.28 million in the
second year and $1.19 million in the
third year.
Looking to a 10 -year period,
Evans said the municipality could
realize potential savings, however
those numbers are based on current
OPP pricing and call volume, both
of which could increase in the next
three years.
Evans estimated that the OPP
could provide $2.13 million in
savings to Wingham over 10 years,
or an annual average of $213,398.
As for expanding the Wingham
Police Service to cover East
Wawanosh and Blyth, Evans refered
to a report by Wingham Police Chief
Tim Poole who said having one
police officer constantly patrolling
East Wawanosh and Blyth would
require two more officers and
additional support staff.
Municipality -wide policing
provided by the Wingham Police
Service would increase the annual
cost from an average of $1.26
million annually over the next 10
years to $1.7 million.
The increase would nearly double
the annual policing cost in Blyth and
East Wawanosh from $339.66 per
home (average, based on
assessment) to $659 per home.
Wingham ratepayers would also pay
that same amount, resulting in a
reduction to their annual policing
cost.
The added expense would
guarantee one officer dedicated to
East Wawanosh and Blyth and one
in Wingham unless both attended a
call in the municipality.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
Wingham resident Steve Hill
asked several questions about the
benefits for the Wingham Police
officers switching to the Ontario
Provincial Police as part of the
change.
While there were clear benefits
such as access to more expensive
equipment and more potential for
career advancement in the
organization, it was eventually
revealed by the OPP that these
options may not be available to all
existing Wingham Police Service
members.
Specifically, it was explained that
there would be a hiring process that
Wingham Police Service members
would need to go through including
Continued on page 12
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018. PAGE 11.
LED stop signs
coming for Blyth
Continued from page 1
according to a speed survey
conducted in August, 2017, clocking
in at 70 kilometres per hour, speed
through the intersection continues to
be an enforcement issue. He said
that the OPP and Public Works
Department will continue to work
together to monitor and enforce the
posted speed limits, in addition to
the installation of a permanent radar
speed sign to advise motorists of
their speed in an effort to calm
traffic in the area.
Lund suggested the installation of
LED stop signs and LED stop sign
ahead signs on Blyth Road, which
would be a "relatively easy"
improvement the department could
make in the area. He said that lit stop
signs like those he wants to install in
Blyth have proven to reduce failure
to yield incidents by 52 per cent and
incomplete stops by 29 per cent.
"County Public Works sees this as
a positive step towards minimizing
failing to stop issues," Lund said in
his report.
Lund also acknowledged the new
issues surrounding transport trucks
parking along the road near Tim
Hortons. He said there are already
parking bylaws in place, but county
staff are looking at prohibiting
parking in the vicinity of the
intersection and erecting signage to
that effect.
Lund told councillors that there is
a $50,000 allowance in this year's
budget for a traffic study that would
investigate improvements for traffic
signals or a roundabout in Blyth, or
it could be used to provide capital
budget estimates in the event that the
work is undertaken in the future. He
did say that the installation of traffic
signals would cost $300,000 and the
creation of a roundabout would cost
even more.
Council accepted Lund's report
and took no further action.
cot Mcvviied
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