Clinton News Record, 2016-04-27, Page 11Wednesday, April 27, 2016 • News Record 11
County staff says tree bylaws encourage neighbourhood feuds
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The Ontario Association of Responsible Tree Management asked
county council to consider adopting a new tree management bylaw
Laura Broadley
Postmedia Network
The Huron County council cham-
bers' gallery was filled with a crowd at
the April 20 committee meeting to
hear what council had to say about tree
management in the county.
The Ontario Association of Respon-
sible Tree Management (OARTM)
formed a year ago to explore whether
there were alternatives to tree cutting
bylaws in Huron County.
In her presentation Moyer said the
current tree bylaws encourage neigh-
bourhood feuds. She also said the
current system promotes penalties
and sanctions, whereas it should
encourage rewards and benefits.
People are resorting to desperate
measures, which have an economic
impact on the community when
there are legal costs involved.
The alternative is to look at trees as
a crop. Working together to solve
problems before they develop into
legal proceedings can benefit every-
one, Moyer said.
OARTM produced a sample
bylaw that it says will help create a
system of incentives and coopera-
tion among landowners, contrac-
tors, consultants and the munici-
pality. The bylaw includes the
introduction of a new staff position
whose role would be to play an
advisory role for landowner -based
forest management.
Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn
said that to replace a volunteer
organization, like the woodlot asso-
ciation, with a paid position was mis-
guided. Instead, there are several
resources already at the county level.
The OARTM requested that coun-
cil ask for a staff report that look at its
sample bylaw and see if there it holds
any merit.
A review of the Huron County
Forestry Services Program revealed
that between 2001 and 2015, the
number of property owners using
professional foresters for commer-
cial harvest advice had increase by
30 per cent, a press released stated.
"We're continuing to see an
increase in calls from woodlot
owners who want to get general
advice and information on forest
management," forest conservation
officer, Dave Pullen, said in a press
release. "These numbers demon-
strate the commitment of Huron
County landowners to managing
their woodlots in a sustainable
way„
Huron County council passed
the first tree bylaw in 1947.
Afghanistan Community Monument gets boost from the county
Laura Broadley
Postmedia Network
At the April 13 meeting, county
treasurer, Michael Blumhagen pre-
sented on the report of the Huron
County Afghanistan Community
Monument campaign's request for
in-kind services to build the base the
monument would sit on. Blumhagen
said the services would have to be
outsourced at a cost of $20,000.
MeighanWark, director of Cultural
Services, said the monument would
be the responsibility of the county
and that it was up to council to deter-
mine what the terms of the agree-
ment would be between the
museum and the Legion. She also
pointed out that the Afghanistan
Monument campaign had also
requested a grant of $5,000 from the
heritage committee.
Some councillors voiced concerns
that the campaign was trying to get
funding from the county by going
through two different avenues. CAO
Brenda Orchard said the original
request to county council was for in-
kind services, so it had to come to
county council as no one else can
determine what staff does. The
request to the heritage committee
was for a grant, which is different.
Joe Steffler, Huron East Deputy
Mayor, said he supported the request
because the Legion doesn't ask for
funding very often.
Afghanistan is just like any other
war, it was fought for our freedom, he
said.
Council approved the request to
provide up to $20,000. Orchard said
staff would try to reduce costs
through in-kind services as much as
possible.
Bluewater Mayor Tyler Hessel sug-
gested it was time for the county to
review its grant policy. He said he
was concerned that anyone could
become a delegation before council
and request funding. The county has
strategic plan and a grant policy, and
it's important to make sure they are
aligned, he said.
Council voted in favour of having
the finance policy group review the
grant policy and bring any suggestions
for change back to council.
Paul Thome said a few people have
approached him about the monu-
ment, and the response has been posi-
tive. There has been a lot of commu-
nity support; the Legions in Bruce and
West Perth have all donated to the
campaign.
The county has approved the mon-
ument site at the Huron County
Museum, and so the public campaign
has started.
The monument is living history,
something we are all a part of, Thorne
said.
"We were there, we witnessed it It's
our generation."
The monument is another way for
people to remember our troops. Can-
ada has lost 158 soldiers in Afghani-
stan, and people feel they know the
soldiers. There's a very personal con-
nection, Thome said.
Afghanistan is still on the minds of a
lot of people," he added.
Donations can be made to the Royal
Canadian Legion, Branch 109, care of
the Huron County Afghanistan Com-
munity Monument. Charitable tax
receipts are available.
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