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Clinton News Record, 2016-03-16, Page 5Wednesday, March 16, 2016 • News Record 5 www.clintonnewsrecord.com Bluewater Area Family Health Team presents clinic expansion plans CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 4 Ric Grise, Chairman of the Building Committee indicated that the commit- tee had contacted and interviewed five to six design firms. He stated "It is true that the cream continues to rise to the top." This is how it was with Skinner and Kuhni. Skinner assisted the com- mittee with advice and with choosing and interviewing the contractors.Acall for tenders resulted in K & L Construc- tion of London being awarded the contract. K & L has assured the Build- ing Committee that, as they are doing their construction work, they will do their best to minimize noise, debris and dust. Bill Archibald, Chairman of the Finance Committee, advised that the MOH has granted $1.48 million with 90 percent to be available to begin expansion and the remaining ten per- cent upon completion of the project. Archibald indicated that the commit- tee "wanted to do it right and allow for future growth" which is why they are now asking the community for just over $600 thousand. This will allow adding an extra 1,300 square feet above the recommendations of the MOH. It will also need to cover furni- ture, fixtures and equipment which is not funded by the MOH, therefore will need to be covered by the community. This should give a cushion for the inev- itable cost overruns, including already discovering that there are sewers under the parking lot that must be moved to begin construction. In the discussion period which fol- lowed, the main concerns were for parking spaces and accessibility. The municipal bylaws do not require extra parking for the clinic as it is in the downtown core and requires only one designated handicapped parking spot. The plans are to include three � r E .i. ir1Gt ArTr 1 :711I#r 1-1.2at1h learn s k Pricier Valerie Gillies Photos Clinton News Record An artist's rendering of the completed Bluewater Area Family Health Team clinic shows the existing building married to the proposed expansion. The tall exterior brick wall in the centre of the building facade calls attention to the main entrance. This leads into a foyer which is in the hallway connecting the two building sections, the new addition and the renovated existing clinic. handicapped spaces plus a drop off area along the front of the building. A parking area at the back will be used for staff parking. All other parking will be street parking along the side street and across the main road. Concerns were raised about the dangers of patients having to cross the road with the known heavy and often speedy traffic on the main street. Huron County is looking into installing a pedestrian crosswalk with a lighted sign above to address this issue within the coming year. It will be the same type as the one installed in Exeter near the Royal Bank When asked if it had been consid- ered to create more parking by build- ing the clinic upward instead of on one floor, it was explained that the parking was probably the most discussed issue in the planning stage. In looking into building up to a second story or build- ing down into a basement it was deter- mined that the space required to install elevators and stairs would greatly reduce the amount of extra usable space per floor, as well as interrupting the flow of staff and patients. The clinic is much more efficient and accessible being on one level. The committee was then asked if the green space beside the new clinic could be turned into parking. It was advised that the municipality does not own that property as the property line is 25 feet from the road on that side. Itis hoped that the property can be NLl_a= -i� ... 'e•" arae Farrdp l T5,20 • T Mik 1 skir •:PL.1 Skinner and Skinner Architects displayed a floor plan of the proposed expanded Bluewater Area Family Health Team clinic at the public meeting held March 10 at the Zurich Community Centre. purchased in the future, but more likely would be considered to allow for expansion of the building as needed, ratherthanparking. A pharmacywill not be included in the clinic due to the space and money that would be required to create one. The MOH turned down funding to cre- ate a pharmacy. Archibald concluded the meeting by assuring those in attendance, "The Board does not take the request for funding lightly:' There are still some families in the area without a doctor. The expansion will allow servicing approximately 1,000 more patients. The clinic will act as a health care hub, working together with the population of Grand Bend and other neighbour- ing communities as well as the area hospitals. When asked if there is an actual catchment area to be served, it was explained that the clinic would be available to all who did not have a doc- tor or who needed care. No one would be turned away due to where they live. This was specified as the application for the grant to MOH that the clinic with be a regional facility. The donation levels were explained to those present and the invitation was extended for people to begin donating that night. They were also invited to ask questions of any- one involved during a casual social time after the formal meeting. To make a donation or for more information about the BAFHT expansion project, visit the website at www.bluewaterareafht.ca or email Ann Brabender, Administrator, BAFHT at annbafht@hay.net or call 519-236-4413. BAFHT is now a Canadian recognized charity. A tax receipt will be issued for individual and corporate donations. FROM THE ARCHIVES 15 years ago... • With the rising value of family farms and the rising age of farmers at an average of 55, it's becoming more impor- tant to plan ahead for intergenerational farm transfers, local junior farmers were told at a Young Farmers Forum at the Seaforth Agriplex. Most of the problems with farm suc- cession is emotional, said Ed Danen, of Danensview Farms, a dairy, veal and cash crop operation near Tavis- tock. "There can be different philosophies of management between father and son and other siblings that may or may not want to get involved. It depends on the generation gap and how big it is," he said. Danen said many farms will be passed from one generation to the next soon since the average age of farmers is 55. And, because the value of farms is so much larger than it was 25 years ago while the yearly farm income is low, Danen says more planning is involved in farm succession these days. • Mary Wolfe opened The Village Bookshop on Catherine Street in Bayfield in February, realizing her lifelong dream which she thought she would never see come true. A for- mer grade school teacher, who taught French to all grades, Wolfe also has retail background and has worked in the financial industry. However, with the opening of The Village Bookshop, she knows she has found her preferred line of work. A lover of reading, who said, "I am a book freak," Wolfe moved to Bayfield from London with her husband over two years ago, and after getting settled in the village, and getting to know the village a little better, they realized there was a gap in the business community they could fill with "something unique", she said. 25 years ago... • Parking overnight on town streets during the early morn- ing hours is now illegal year round. Prior to the passing of a new bylaw by Clinton Council on March 3, overnight parking was illegal between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. on town streets and Highways 8 and 4 between October 1 and April 30. While the hours remain the same, the ban has been expanded to include the whole year. According to public works superintendent Harold Gibbings, until recently the bylaw was in effect year round. He noted that the ban is important for both street maintenance, in clearing snow and street cleaning, and for safety, adding that the change will help people get in the habit of parking in their drive- ways, and keeping the streets clear. He added, "In most municipalities it is year round, and for the same purpose. And the cooperation of the Clinton people has been very good." • The Toronto Drama Bench Award for distinguished con- tribution to Canadian theatre was presented recently to the Blyth Centre for the Arts for their annual Blyth Festival. The Blyth Festival's artistic director, Peter Smith, and president Carol Irwin accepted the award on behalf of everyone con- nected with the Festival over the past 16 years. The award was presented at the Young People's Theatre, where win- ners of the Chalmers Canadian Play Awards, and the Chalmers Children's Play Awards were also announced. The presentation to the Blyth Festival marks the first year in which the recipient of the Toronto Drama Bench Award has been an organization, rather than an individual. This break with tradition arose when the Bench's membership agreed that the accomplishments of the Blyth Festival were those of collective effort. Blyth Festival was founded on a shoestring in 1975 and has since become a grass- roots success. 35 years ago... • In an attempt to improve the quality of education, to reinstate the dropped courses in the local high schools and to havemore voice in the administration, the Citizens Action Group for Education (CAGE) was formed in Clinton on March 9. Over 70 people attending the open meeting at the Clinton Public School unanimously agreed to form CAGE as the public's voice for education in Huron County. Headed by Moira Couper of Bayfield, CAGE aims to study education in the county and monitor action which is taken to reduce the standards of education. As was most peo- ple's concern, CAGE plans to research and obtain informa- tion in an attempt to reopen the machine shop at Central Huron Secondary School (CHSS) and 20 other courses that were recently dropped in Huron's high schools. CAGE will also encourage co-operation btwen elected officials of the board of education, teachers, students and parents. Many of the 70 in attendance agreed that the taxpayers and the parents had been silent for too long and they supported Mike Falconer of Clinton when he stated, "Stand up and fight for your rights and your children's." • A crowd of 36 Clinton business people endorsed a $67,000 plan by the Business Improvement Association (BIA) to spruce up the town core area, but the association decided to keep their own organization. The business people decided to back the scheme after seeing a presentation by architects Hill and Borgal at a packed dinner meeting at Bartliff's. The plan will see the cenotaph area, the fire hall, a section of Ontario Street at the Main corner, and part of Isaac Street at the Triangle Dis- count landscaped. The plan would be funded by the province with a 10 year loan at one percent interest, with half the loan being paid back by the town, and half by the business people in the core area through an extra assessment on their taxes. After the downtown renovation scheme is completed, then the BIA would become a promotional body for the town, doing what the business association once did. They also heard a report from industrial committee chairman Mike Falconer, who outlined a proposal to set up an industrial park in Clinton. Town council has already put in an offer to purchase on some land and will then service it, and sell lots.