The Citizen, 2018-03-15, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2018.
Whitfield Drain issue more complicated than anticipated
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
The future of the Whitfield Drain
in Blyth is still uncertain after it was
announced that the drain doesn't run
as far as landowners and councillors
believed it did.
North Huron staff were previously
directed to assess the drain, which
councillors believed ran all the way
to the Blyth Creek, as a result of
proposed housing development at
the north end of Blyth.
The drain was brought to council's
attention by neighbouring landowner
Ernest Dow, who wanted the
infrastructure assessed prior to the
creation of a subdivision at the north
end of Blyth.
The municipal drain won't affect
the development, however, as Chief
Building Official Kirk Livingston
explained to council, saying the
development would outlet through a
natural waterway.
The drain was originally
constructed in 1953 and despite
plans to have it outlet to the Blyth
Creek, the project was never finished
according to Livingston. The final
part of the drain, between Thuell
Street and the Blyth Creek, was left
as an open ditch, contrary to original
plans.
Livingston said that, as a result,
the municipality is limited in what it
could do to maintain or repair the
drain.
"We can't do maintenance work
on the open ditch," he said. "It's not
part of the drain."
Livingston said the open ditch
should have been a closed -in,
corrugated steel pipe, based on the
1953 report on the drain, but was
never completed.
He said the closed portion, which
does service some lands at the north
of Blyth, does need repairs, saying
he located two blow -outs as well as
erosion problems. However,
repairing them would be a "band-
aid" solution to the existing drain as
it doesn't have sufficient capacity for
the lands it does service.
Livingston said that if work could
be completed, it would be best if it
weren't initially requested by the
municipality.
"If you're looking at getting that
drain to a sufficient, proper outlet it
could be done under a section 78
report which would be favourably
seen if it were a landowner to submit
the request," he said.
Letters to the Editor
Writer supports HC decision
THE EDITOR,
I must say that I don't clearly
understand the funding situation of
the Tanner Steffler Foundation. I'm
under the impression that a
charitable foundation is born when
an individual or group has a few
million, or more likely, billion
dollars that they don't really require.
This becomes the seed money for
the foundation which then achieves
legitimacy, as well as tax-free status
enabling it to seek voluntary private
donations.
It takes serious "cojones" to start a
"foundation" without funding,
regardless of good intentions, and
then expect the already over-
burdened, yet underserviced tax-
payer to do the "right thing".
In my opinion, this makes the
foundation a mandatory tax rather
than a voluntary choice. Huron
County Council definitely made the
right decision, but it should be of
great concern that six councillors do
not have the taxpayers' best
interests at the forefront.
Vilnis Jerva,
overburdened taxpayer.
Program discriminates: Waechter
THE EDITOR,
I am writing this letter to make
readers aware of the discrimination
being practised by the current
federal Liberal government against
many people who live their lives
according to their religious beliefs.
The Canada Summer Jobs program
now includes a list of values that
both the applicant for the funding
and the organization's core values
must fit.
The applicant and the
organization's core mandate must
agree with the rights enshrined in
our Canadian Charter of Rights and
Freedoms which include freedom
from discrimination based on sex,
religion, race, national or ethnic
origin, colour and mental or physical
disability. I agree with this.
They must also agree that women
have the right to abortion on
demand, commonly referred to as
reproductive rights, even though the
Canadian Charter of Rights does not
include the right to an abortion.
As a Canadian citizen and a
Christian, I have the right to my
opinion that all human life is sacred
and should be protected. So do
churches, religious charities and
employers, and they are not breaking
any law in Canada. But since they do
not hold the same views as the
current Liberal government, they are
being denied federal government
funding. The summer job grants are
created from taxpayer money —
yours and mine.
Many churches offer day camps,
provide shelters for the homeless,
and provide food at soup kitchens
and food banks. Many religious
charities provide meaningful
leadership opportunities for
university and high school students.
These churches and religious -based
charities will be denied funding for
summer job grants. What
discrimination! Where is our right to
freedom from discrimination based
on religion, conscience, and speech?
In a pluralistic society such as ours,
never take your rights for granted.
Kathy Waechter,
Wingham.
World Record holder
Illusionist Lucas Wilson, right, holds several world records for the speed from which he can
escape from straitjackets. That was just one of the tricks he performed at two shows in
Wingham on Saturday with his assistant Kelly Defilla. (Hannah Dickie photo)
Councillor Ray Hallahan asked
why the open waterway wasn't part
of the drain, and Livingston said he
didn't know as no mention was made
of it in previous reports, including a
2001 engineer's review.
Livingston said the review was
never followed up on and
landowners didn't want to continue
with the project.
Deputy -Reeve James Campbell
asked if the developer could be
encouraged to seek out the drainage
improvements, however, Livingston
explained the new development has
no stake in the drain.
"My understanding... is the storm
sewer catch basins in the proposed
development will not be using any
part of the Whitfield Drain," he said.
"They are going to outlet into that
[open ditch] and follow the storm
water."
Livingston said any repair or work
would be assessed to the properties
currently tied into the drain, up-
stream of where the municipal drain
becomes an open ditch.
Campbell said he would like to
rehire the engineer who looked at the
drain in 2001, the last time it was
assessed, to look at the drain again.
Councillor Bill Knott, however,
said he didn't want to see a specific
engineer named. Council received
Livingston's report on the issue and
gave direction to follow up on the
project.
Solo act
Emily Bieman was one of the performers at the Wingham
Skating Club's annual performance evening on March 7,
held at the North Huron Wescast Community Complex.
(Shawn Loughlin photo)
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