The Citizen, 2015-02-19, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015. PAGE 7.
M-T Council commits to building renovations
Warming up
While some students were contending with the frigid
temperatures at recess, others, like Jason Wilts, above,
were able to practise their volleyball skills at Hullett Central
Public School on Friday. Wilts and his fellow teammates are
preparing for an inter-school volleyball tournament held
later this month. (Denny Scott photo)
Morris-Turnberry Council
approved a $22,000 contribution to
the Brussels Medical Dental Centre
for upcoming renovations during its
budget meeting on Feb. 10.
The meeting started with a
presentation made by Huron East
Mayor Bernie MacLellan and Huron
East Chief Administrative Officer
and Clerk-Administrator Brad
Knight explaining the proposed
construction for the centre and what
Morris-Turnberry would see as a
return for its $22,000 share of the
$150,000 construction budget.
Currently the centre has one
physician and support staff.
MacLellan explained with the
completion of the construction that
was being considered, ‘pods’ would
be created in the existing medical
centre space which is what new
doctors, especially those coming out
of medical school, are looking for.
With the new layout, a new doctor
would be available every other
Tuesday MacLellan said, in addition
to the current physician who is on
site every Tuesday.
“We’re looking to set up a full
healthcare suite there if we can,”
Knight said. “This will be a huge
benefit to the area. It will help with
downtown and the surrounding
community.”
Knight went on to say the biggest
issue the facility currently has is the
dated layout of the ground floor,
which impedes the flow of patients.
“This will be a more efficient use
of the space,” he said.
The renovations will not affect the
second floor that houses a dental
office. Phase two of the project,
however, will see a lift or elevator
installed connecting the two floors.
The majority of the cost of the
renovations will be covered through
a reserve the committee that
manages the medical centre has
accrued over the years. In total,
$84,000 will come from those
reserves and $66,000 will come
from the municipalities, one third
from Morris-Turnberry ($22,000)
and the remaining $44,000 from
Huron East.
“The committee has accumulated
a surplus of $130,000,” Knight
explained. “They have done well and
been very frugal and have also kept
the building maintained very well.”
Morris-Turnberry Councillor John
Smuck asked if these renovations
would help generate more income
for the building and Knight
explained that, since the services of
the new doctor would simply add to
the existing physician, that wasn’t
likely. He added the surplus came
from renting out the space in the
building to the dentist on the second
floor of the building and the OPP on
the ground floor.
Morris-Turnberry Mayor Paul
Gowing sang the praises of the
building, stating it was a boon to the
area.
“The building has serve the
community well,” he said. “The
renovations will make it very
accessible but further renovations
will be required to make the [second
floor] accessible. This isn’t the end
of the renovations.”
He went on to say that, since
Morris-Turnberry doesn’t have
facilities like the centre, the
municipality is very lucky to have
neighbours they can work with to
provide them. He also said Brussels
was faring well lately with the
renovations to the library, a new
pharmacy and the proposed medical
centre upgrades.
Smuck asked the Huron East
representatives when the elevator or
lift was set to be installed, however
MacLellan said there was no set date
for the construction.
“If the opportunities come along
with grants or funding, we would
rather go sooner than later, but it
would probably be at least two
years,” he said. “If we’re going to
put an elevator for the second floor,
it’s going to be a substantial
investment.”
Knight agreed, saying the
committee would need time to do
grant applications.
Gowing said any kind of lift will
be expensive and, since it’s a public
building and must be held to fairly
high standards, it would cost “more
than you think it should”.
Currently, the building’s two
floors are accessible independently
with the basement opening into the
parking lot behind the building and
the main floor fronting on to main
street.
Following the presentation,
Morris-Turnberry Council began
discussing its budget, including the
grants which is where the funds for
the $22,000 donation would come
from. While the rest of the budget is
still undetermined, council did
approve a motion to have the
$22,000 available so Huron East and
the committee could move forward
with the renovations.
BRUSSELS CEMETERY
Morris-Turnberry Council also
agreed during its budget discussion
to cover a portion of cemetery
expenses for the Brussels Cemetery.
In 2014, Morris-Turnberry had
received a bill for $1,750 from
Huron East to cover expenses related
to the maintenance of the Brussels
Cemetery, a cost council had
previously paid but had no
agreement to provide. Gowing said
he felt the municipality should be
involved.
“I feel we have an obligation, but
we’re doing this the wrong way,” he
said of the bill received. “We need to
do it in a more structured way so
everyone involved knows what it’s
going to be. It may not be a dollar
figure but a percentage of a
shortfall.”
Councillor Dorothy Kelly asked if
a similar payment was made to
Wingham for its cemetery, which,
like the Brussels cemetery, is
actually in Morris-Turnberry but on
land owned by the neighbouring
municipality.
Gowing said Morris-Turnberry did
not make such a payment, however
through discussion it was stated
North Huron charges more for
interment.
“So, basically, if you get buried in
Brussels, you pay less because
The Township of North Huron will have 110 trees available on a first-
come, first-serve basis, limited to one (1) tree per urban property and
two (2) trees per rural property. Residents are responsible for picking
up trees from the Wingham Public Work Shed, planting and
maintenance of these trees. Trees available include Sugar Maple,
Native Red Maple, Red Oak, which are bare root trees and Colorado
Blue Spruce which are bagged. Specify type of tree when placing
order. Place your order early as supplies are limited.
To order your free tree or for further information,
please call the Municipal Office,
at 519-357-3550 Ext. 21 by March 25, 2015.
TREE PLANTING PROGRAM
for
RESIDENTS OF THE
TOWNSHIP OF NORTH HURON
The Maitland Valley Conservation Authority
(MVCA) has drafted new administrative policies for
implementing Ontario Regulation 164/06.
The public is invited to review and comment on the
policies prior to approval by the MVCA Board of
Directors.
Visit www.mvca.on.ca to view the policies and for
information on submitting comments. Copies of
the policies are also available at the MVCA office,
1093 Marietta St., Wroxeter.
Administrative Policies for Implementing
Ontario Regulation 164/06
TOWNSHIP OF
NORTH HURON
MEETING NOTICE
The Township of North Huron 2015 Budget Discussion
Meeting #2 will be held on Thursday, February 26, 2015 from
5:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the North Huron Council Chambers,
274 Josephine Street, Wingham, ON. For further information,
please contact the municipal office at 519-357-3550 X26.
Donna M. White
Treasurer
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
Continued on page 9