The Lucknow Sentinel, 2014-01-22, Page 66 Lucknow Sentinel • Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Policing costs discussed at county commiftee meeting
)Goderich mayor says
costs should be
shared
Dave Flaherty
QM! Agency
The topic of policing costs reared its
head at the Huron County committee of
the whole meeting on Jan. 15.
During the meeting, county CAO
Brenda Orchard asked if there were any
requests for delegations at the com-
bined Rural Ontario Municipal Associa-
tion (ROMA)/Ontario Good Roads
Association (OGRA) conference to be
held in February.
Bluewater councillor Tyler Hessell
queried whether there could be a dele-
gation from the county to attend the
conference to discuss policing costs.
Hessen said policing costs in Bluewa-
ter are estimated at $700,000 in 2014,
going up to $1.2 million in 2015.
Paul Gowing, mayor for Morris -Turn -
berry said policing costs in his town-
ship could double, which he said is "not
acceptable."
Goderich deputy mayor John Grace
suggested, "Maybe we should be look-
ing into county -wide policing."
Grace said the cost of policing per
household in Bayfield is $160, but $460
for Goderich.
"They get the same service as
Goderich, but Goderich pays $460 per
household."
Last year, Ontario Provincial Police
(OPP) announced they would be look-
ing at a new billing model with the
province.
Many municipal politicians have said
there is large inconsistencies with the
per household costs of policing.
Howick Reeve Art Versteeg said the potential new billing
model is "going to be tough on all the smaller municipalities"
and that "a change this radical should be rolled out over a
number of years."
Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan said he gets about 30
documents a week across his desk on the issue of policing
costs.
"It doesn't matter who comes up with a formula, there are
people who will win, and people who will lose."
"Bottom line is, if they (the province)
decide to do this, they will do it,"
MacLellan added.
Warden/Huron East deputy mayor
Joe Staffer said he felt they were "spin-
ning their wheels", and they hadn't
looked into the issue enough to send a
delegation.
Goderich mayor Deb Shewfelt also
spoke on the topic.
"Policing is a local issue. It's just
another service. Every other service we
share the costs. If you want to portion
out roads and bridges, do it, but we
should share in policing as well," Shew-
felt said, also suggesting that the county
should consider amalgamating its sepa-
rate police boards.
County backs efforts to get Great Lakes act passed
%"Debate has grinded to a halt,"
says Nancy Goucher
Dave Flaherty
OMI Agency
Huron County has thrown its support behind efforts to
make sure the Great Lakes Protection Act is passed before
the next provincial election.
Nancy Goucher, water program manager with Environ-
mental Defense Canada, spoke to county councillors at the
Jan. 15 meeting about the importance of the having the bill
passed.
"The Great Lakes need all the help they can get," Goucher
said. "You can see the situation getting worse:'
Goucher said three of Ontario's four Great Lakes are "in
decline" and fish harvests are forecasted to decline 25%
over the next 25 years.
She called all these figures "disturbing", explaining that
80% of Ontarians get their drinking water from the Great
Lakes.
Goucher said the Great Lakes Protection Act, if passed,
would "create greater attitudes towards revitalization" and
"empower local governments and individuals."
It would also allow lower -tier governments to create
frameworks and protocols, and would set targets and pro-
vide an avenue for updates on progress, she added.
The province's standing committee is currently reviewing
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Jan
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the act, but Goucher said, "debate has
grinded to a halt" due to "politics" and
"it might not be able to pass by the next
election."
Goderich mayor Deb Shewfelt said
he believes this to be a very important
issue that has been "bogged down by a
minority government."
"It's time to move ahead," he said,
noting the act "has a lot of good inten-
tions in it."
Bluewater deputy mayor Paul Klopp
asked Goucher to expand on what kind
of "politics" was stopping the act from
being passed.
"Some of it is really just 'politics; the
opposition parties don't want the Lib-
erals to be able to take credit," she
said.
Councillors passed a motion to show
support to the Environmental Defense
Canada's efforts, joining other munici-
palities Kingston, Hamilton, Toronto,
Norfolk County and Owen Sound,
which Goucher said represents 26% of
Ontario's population.
Members of council to meet
with ACW representatives
)Will discuss potential
agreement with Port
to Point Trail
Association
QM! Agency
Goderich and Ashfield-Colborne-
Wawanosh (ACW) have agreed to dis-
cuss a potential partnership in regards
to the proposed Port to Point Trail.
In December, representatives from
the Port to Point Trail Association had
requested that Goderich enter into an
agreement with them and the Minis-
try of Transportation to help ensure
the long-term sustainability of the
trail.
Councillors heard they had also
approached ACW council. They
expressed interest, but wanted to see
more support from other areas.
At the Jan. 13 meeting, councillors
received a letter from ACW stating its
council had passed a motion agreeing
to meet with members of council from
Goderich to discuss the issue.
In December, Coun. Michele
Hansen and Deputy Mayor John
Grace both volunteered to represent
Goderich in the discussions.
Clerk -administrator Larry McCabe
said they are trying to hash out two
dates in February for the meetings.
The Port to Point Trail is a proposed
multi -use active transportation trail
that would stretch approximately five
kilometres adjacent to Highway 21
north of Goderich, starting just south
of Airport Road and heading north
towards Point Farms Provincial Park.
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Are you the on
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cysticfibrosis.ca
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41- irr, Canada
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Howick Reeve Art Versteeg said the potential new billing
model is "going to be tough on all the smaller municipalities"
and that "a change this radical should be rolled out over a
number of years."
Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan said he gets about 30
documents a week across his desk on the issue of policing
costs.
"It doesn't matter who comes up with a formula, there are
people who will win, and people who will lose."
"Bottom line is, if they (the province)
decide to do this, they will do it,"
MacLellan added.
Warden/Huron East deputy mayor
Joe Staffer said he felt they were "spin-
ning their wheels", and they hadn't
looked into the issue enough to send a
delegation.
Goderich mayor Deb Shewfelt also
spoke on the topic.
"Policing is a local issue. It's just
another service. Every other service we
share the costs. If you want to portion
out roads and bridges, do it, but we
should share in policing as well," Shew-
felt said, also suggesting that the county
should consider amalgamating its sepa-
rate police boards.
County backs efforts to get Great Lakes act passed
%"Debate has grinded to a halt,"
says Nancy Goucher
Dave Flaherty
OMI Agency
Huron County has thrown its support behind efforts to
make sure the Great Lakes Protection Act is passed before
the next provincial election.
Nancy Goucher, water program manager with Environ-
mental Defense Canada, spoke to county councillors at the
Jan. 15 meeting about the importance of the having the bill
passed.
"The Great Lakes need all the help they can get," Goucher
said. "You can see the situation getting worse:'
Goucher said three of Ontario's four Great Lakes are "in
decline" and fish harvests are forecasted to decline 25%
over the next 25 years.
She called all these figures "disturbing", explaining that
80% of Ontarians get their drinking water from the Great
Lakes.
Goucher said the Great Lakes Protection Act, if passed,
would "create greater attitudes towards revitalization" and
"empower local governments and individuals."
It would also allow lower -tier governments to create
frameworks and protocols, and would set targets and pro-
vide an avenue for updates on progress, she added.
The province's standing committee is currently reviewing
7:30
Nightly
Jan
24 - 30
TRUST NO ONIF
Chris Pisa
Kevin Cashiar
Korner' Erariatb
Kelm linkrhtierr
JACK RUH:
r-zzi,,,,414. SHADOW RECRUIT
4 (14.14111L11.01.1.1.111114.ri
rair Cure EV c, MCA
7:30
Kl•RF Ai • 0.1111 01.1:L4
Des lupperrng ete L‘ri 1
Nightly
iiMmreklaiN
HUSTLE
Mius• : 1•'.•
%•aiN a ^
11
vivffir.rriovie4nks.ca i.0
the act, but Goucher said, "debate has
grinded to a halt" due to "politics" and
"it might not be able to pass by the next
election."
Goderich mayor Deb Shewfelt said
he believes this to be a very important
issue that has been "bogged down by a
minority government."
"It's time to move ahead," he said,
noting the act "has a lot of good inten-
tions in it."
Bluewater deputy mayor Paul Klopp
asked Goucher to expand on what kind
of "politics" was stopping the act from
being passed.
"Some of it is really just 'politics; the
opposition parties don't want the Lib-
erals to be able to take credit," she
said.
Councillors passed a motion to show
support to the Environmental Defense
Canada's efforts, joining other munici-
palities Kingston, Hamilton, Toronto,
Norfolk County and Owen Sound,
which Goucher said represents 26% of
Ontario's population.
Members of council to meet
with ACW representatives
)Will discuss potential
agreement with Port
to Point Trail
Association
QM! Agency
Goderich and Ashfield-Colborne-
Wawanosh (ACW) have agreed to dis-
cuss a potential partnership in regards
to the proposed Port to Point Trail.
In December, representatives from
the Port to Point Trail Association had
requested that Goderich enter into an
agreement with them and the Minis-
try of Transportation to help ensure
the long-term sustainability of the
trail.
Councillors heard they had also
approached ACW council. They
expressed interest, but wanted to see
more support from other areas.
At the Jan. 13 meeting, councillors
received a letter from ACW stating its
council had passed a motion agreeing
to meet with members of council from
Goderich to discuss the issue.
In December, Coun. Michele
Hansen and Deputy Mayor John
Grace both volunteered to represent
Goderich in the discussions.
Clerk -administrator Larry McCabe
said they are trying to hash out two
dates in February for the meetings.
The Port to Point Trail is a proposed
multi -use active transportation trail
that would stretch approximately five
kilometres adjacent to Highway 21
north of Goderich, starting just south
of Airport Road and heading north
towards Point Farms Provincial Park.
THINK CYSTIC FIBROSIS CAN'T TOUCH YOU?
1 in 25 carries the
cystic fibrosis gene.
Are you the on
To learn more and support cystic fibrosis research, visit
cysticfibrosis.ca
f
•.7\ Cystic Fibrosis
41- irr, Canada
BreallinglifeintotheluturC