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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2018-05-10, Page 1INSIDE THIS WEEK: HOME & GARDEN - Pg. 11 The Citizen' presents annual spring home and garden guide HOSPICE - Pg. 32 Huron Residential Hospice opens HEALTH - Pg. 33 Provincial celebrity speaks in Blyth on mental health Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON NOG 1H0 r Citiz Volume 34 No. 19 $1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, May 10, 2018 Who shot first? Hullett Central Public School held its annual school carnival Friday night at the Blyth and District Community Centre. The event benefits the school and features games, auctions, bake sales and face painting for fun and for fundraising. This year's event was Star Wars -themed as it fell on Star Wars Day, May 4, playing on the famous line "May the Force be with you." While there were multiple tables of attended game of deals, pizza and snacks available, some of the best - features were the games, including the laser -gun skill shown above being played by Addison and Aiden Hoekmeijer. The siblings were attempting to score the highest number of hits within a short time period to prove just which of them more deserves the title of deadeye. (Denny Scott photo) N. Huron budget on hold By Denny Scott The Citizen Some confusion regarding the addition of a sergeant to the Wingham Police Service has derailed the passing of North Huron's 2018 budget Monday night. The budget was set for approval during council's Monday night meeting, however several members of council felt that the increase in the Wingham Police Services budget was not received early enough. The Wingham Police Services budget was presented at council's last meeting in April, and, according to estimates from Wingham Councillor and Police Services Board Chair Trevor Seip, the total cost of adding four new officers, a number discussed at the public meeting, as well as a new sergeant to oversee the new officers, will cost $700,000 annually. This year, however, there is an increase of more than $400,000 as new officers would only be there half the year. The remainder of the increase comes from capital costs and a wage increase for existing officers. Some members of council, however, weren't ready to pass the budget, saying the fifth officer was added without enough notice. Councillors said they disagreed that the sergeant or increase was a surprise, but did ask for the budget to be sent back for review. Council approved a motion sending the budget back, however Continued on page 36 Artisans' market funding approved for Blyth By Denny Scott The Citizen The Blyth Business Improvement Area (BIA) is waiting on reports from North Huron staff to proceed with a project partially funded by Regional Tourism Organization 4 (RTO4) that would bring an artisans' market to Blyth. The project, which were part of the animation fund made available after the DestinationBLYTH initiative hosted by RTO4, were presented at council's May 7 meeting. BIA Chair Karen Stewart explained that 15 submissions were made by individuals, organizations and businesses totalling $53,198. Approximately one-half of that dollar amount was approved. The main project that the BIA representatives spoke to council about was an artisans' market to be held in Blyth. The BIA representatives accompanied by Amy Zoethout, who would be in charge of the newly -established market. Zoethout operates a similar business venture in Goderich, making her an ideal partner for the project. BIA Treasurer Deb Sholdice, also part of the market project, said the goal of the initiative would be to bring shoppers downtown and to the Blyth area. It would seek synergies with Blyth Cowbell Brewing Company and the Blyth Festival to better serve customers of both attractions. Sholdice explained the market would run Thursdays from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and feature a curated selection of vendors featuring local produce and locally -crafted items. The market would also be held on several key Sundays to capitalize on Blyth Festival audiences. She said the way to make the site successful was to make it a community gathering spot, and bring locals to the public area, not just visitors to the community. Unfortunately for the organizers, the space for the market, the parking area behind 437 Queen Street, a currently -under -renovation building just north of Blyth Memorial Hall, will not be available when the market opens later this year. Sholdice asked council to close Dinsley Street from the corner of County Road 4 west to the alley that runs north -to -south from Wellington Continued on page 35 Morris-Turnberry passes budget Morris-Turnberry Council officially approved its 2018 budget during its May 1 council meeting. Staff brought the budget, which was presented in late March, to council for adoption by bylaw during the meeting. Due to substantially increased assessment across the municipality, Morris-Turnberry was able to present a $11,853,472 budget that represents reduced property tax rates across all sectors. Residential and residential farmland, farmland and managed forest all saw reductions of 6.4 per cent in tax rate. Pipeline land tax rates were reduced by 3.5 per cent, while commercial and industrial land tax rates were reduced by 4.4 and 5.6 per cent, respectively. At 52.5 per cent, slightly more than half of the taxes collected by the municipality stay in Morris- Turnberry, while 31.6 will go to Huron County and 15.9 per cent go to local school boards. As far as major expenses go, $1.18 million is scheduled to be spent on road construction, a significant increase over 2017. Listed projects include Arthur Street in Lower Town, Huron Bruce Road, asphalt paving on B Line Road, tar and chip projects and a culvert replacement on Clyde Line. In the same meeting, however, those municipal tar and chip projects, originally budgeted to cost $210,000, came in nearly $60,000 lower than anticipated and another tender for a pick-up truck came in nearly $8,000 under budget, which may result in surpluses at the end of 2018.