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Clinton News Record, 2016-06-29, Page 7Wednesday, June 29, 2016 • News Record 7 Get to know your local town councillor Justine Alkema Clinton News Record This eight-week column features a different Central Huron councillor each week. This week's interview was with Councillor Marg Anderson. Where did you grow up? When and why did you move to Huron County? I grew up in Blyth, so I've lived in Huron County all my life. We live on a farm now just outside of Londesborough. When and how did your interest in municipal poli- tics originate? When my children were younger,I went back to school and was taking a course so I was attending some municipal meetings in Blyth, and I just wasn't sure how and why some of the decisions were being made. I didn't understand the pro- cess. So when I completed the course I was taking, I took a course for municipal clerks and treasures, so then I understood the process more. I enjoyed taking those courses so much. Then there was an issue I was unsure about [in the com- munity] so I decided to put to my name in the hat for council. That was just after amalgamation in approxi- mately 1997. What's your favourite thing about the position? The thing I like the best is the people you meet. You meet all kinds of different people. It's nice to get know the different people in the community. What's the most chal- lenging thing about the position? What the province does and trying to get people involved. When we have budget meetings very rarely does anybody comes out. People usually only call you when they have a problem; otherwise you don't hear from them. Sometimes people come to us wanting us to do things and its out of our control even though we are the closest level of government to the people. Splash pad for Clinton Community Park a possibility 1kLinda Renkema, founder and director of Room2Grow, has proposed to council that there be a new splash pad at Clinton Park. Clinton Community Park Justine Alkema Clinton News Record On June 20's council meeting, a new proposition was brought forward regard- ing how to develop Clinton's Park. In the last year, Clinton has heard about plans for a skate park, and this time plans were brought forward for a splash pad. Linda Renkema, founder and director of Room- 2Grow in Clinton, brought the idea forward. Room- 2Grow is a local non-profit which is a pregnancy and parenting support centre for young woman and young families Renkema attended the meeting with a young local mother named Cassandra. They brought a petition signed by 582 residents who supported the idea. "Over the past five and a half years I have worked with hundreds of young families struggling to make ends meet," said Renkema. "I would like to see a need met [...] to build a child -friendly splash pad. Currently, [these families] don't have access to a vehicle, they don't have a lawn, they don't have access to a sprinkler system." She said that when they can get a ride, they are going to Goderich. She noted that when people go to Goderich for the splash pad, they end up supporting businesses there by buying ice cream, coffee, etc., instead of sup- porting business in Clinton. Renkema said that she is aware of the plans for a skate park, but she believes the lot is big enough for both. She also addressed that council recently hired a community improvement co-ordinator and expressed her desire to work with her. "We don't want to take away from the skate park," said Renkema. "We want to enhance it:' Deputy Mayor Jewitt sits on the skate park committee, and he said that the ultimate goal of the skate park com- mittee was to revitalize the entire park not just build a skate park. The total cost presented for just the materials for the park was around $69,000. To engineer the park and install it would be an extra cost. This esti- mate comes from a com- pany in Mississauga that • ' ~COD R:GH 519 ti2z .19 FOR MOVIE INFORMATfON... www,moviEliriks.ce bit; thr.l 71-AOO-215-343F Renkema had consulted with and it includes 14 items for the pad on 2000 square feet. The cost of the pad also depends on how compre- hensive it is. Renkema noted that Hensall's pad cost around $128,000 whereas Exeter's was almost $250,000. So costs can varied according to how much a community wants to spend. There is little to no main- tenance with a splash park if you use recycled water, as the water keeps going through the system over and over. The only work required would be for someone to check the system and water quality once a day or so to make sure everything is working as it should. Councillor Anderson suggested that Renkema attend the next skate park meeting, and said maybe the two groups could work and fundraise together. Deputy Mayor Jewitt noted that although a coun- cillor sits on the skate park committee, the committee is the one driving the project. The municipality did give some funds to the cause, but other than that, it is volun- teer driven. Renkema agreed with this and said that what they are really looking for is council's permission to go ahead with it and to work with the com- munity improvement co -coordinator. The discussion ultimately led to a discussion between council about how to move forward with requests like Photo taken from centralhuron.com Central Huron Councillor Marg Anderson Clinton Community Park this. They decided to plan a strategic planning session regarding how to support these kinds of endeavours. Generally council sup- ported the idea of having a Jusime Amnia willies news Kecoro splash pad, but how they practically will support them will be determined after their strategic planning meetings which they set for July 5 and 25. nwmo NUCLEAR WASTE MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION SOCIETE DE GESTION DES DECHETS NUCLEAIRES NWMO Learn More Centre The Municipality of Central Huron is one of nine communities involved in a process of learning about Adaptive Phased Management (APM), Canada's plan for the safe, long-term management of used nuclear fuel. The Nuclear Waste Management Organization is working collaboratively with the community to advance preliminary assessment studies. Learn about APM, meet NWMO staff, ask questions and offer your thoughts. Drop in to the NWMO community office and Learn More Centre in Clinton. Everyone is welcome. NWMO Learn More Centre (Central Huron) 38 Albert Street, Clinton ON 519.386.6711 Monday Tuesday Wednesday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.