The Citizen, 2015-07-09, Page 1CitizenTh
e
$1.25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, July 9, 2015
Volume 31 No. 27
FESTIVAL - Pg. 27
‘The Wilberforce Hotel’
explores local history
GRADUATION - Pg. 11
‘The Citizen’ salutes local
Grade 8 graduates
Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON N0G 1H0
INSIDE
THIS WEEK:
G2G Trail sections to begin opening this month
Flying high
With summer now here to stay, the Walton Raceway is a
busy place, whether it’s hosting groups at the new
Challenge Course, or a mud bog, there is always something
to do in the small community of Walton. On Sunday, the Steel City
Riders from Hamilton were in town making use of the track on a
beautiful sunny day in southwestern Ontario. (Jim Brown photo)
Streetfest
to return
July 25
Portions of the Goderich to
Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail should be
opening to the public soon,
according to a press release issued
by G2G Inc., the organization
behind the repurposing of the former
rail bed.
Meanwhile, resistance to the trail
continues at the Huron County
Council level with a presentation
that was scheduled for council’s July
8 meeting.
An interim lease for portions of
the trail that had been closed and
owned by the Province of Ontario is
now in place (as of July 1) with G2G
Inc., says Chris Lee of Walton, vice-
chair of the independent, non-profit
organization, it is now up to them to
get those portions of the trail in good
working order before they can be
opened to the public.
“The G2G Rail Trail Advisory
Committee has a multi-faceted plan
for opening strategic and safe
sections of the rail bed in early July,”
the press release states. “This will be
followed by two years of additional
development and a major campaign
to replace the large bridges removed
by the previous rail line operator.”
In an interview with The Citizen,
Lee says that the trail assessment is
currently underway, meaning that
members of G2G Inc. are surveying
the trail, identifying areas that need
maintenance prior to opening and
establishing timelines for opening
various portions of the trail.
The organization states that there
have already been two end-to-end
assessments of the trail that have
resulted in both a library of
information, as well as constructive
conversations with a number of
different groups.
“Along with hundreds of megabits
of videos, photos and important data
points, the assessments also
generated dozens of conversations
with representatives of adjacent
landowners, the agriculture
community, local townships
and appropriate county staff,”
the release states. “It is of
great importance to this volunteer-
based group that there continues
to be a transparent integration
between the local government,
stakeholders and user groups.”
Lee says that when fundraising for
the trail first began in 2011, the
concept attracted the attention of
many with an interest in recreation
and the outdoors.
“From the first fundraising
campaign in 2011, with the goal of
raising funds to support and
maintain various sections of the
existing converted rail trail, the
concept of the G2G Rail Trail has
attracted the attention of biking and
hiking enthusiasts both in Ontario
and from surrounding provinces, as
well as the United States,” the
release says. “The primary objective
was to create awareness outside of
the small communities, which, until
now, would have shouldered nearly
all of the development and
maintenance of the trailway. It was
felt that a trailway that connects the
The final draft of North Huron
Township Council’s Cross-Border
Servicing Policy was adopted by
bylaw during council’s July 6
meeting.
The policy, which includes caveats
for cost recovery on behalf of the
township providing the services, is
the result of years of work between
North Huron and Morris-Turnberry
Councils and reflects what North
Huron Chief Administrative Officer
Sharon Chambers says is the new
direction of council.
While the cross-border servicing
policy sets out what North Huron is
looking for when providing
servicing, it is an internal policy for
the township and any agreement
with Morris-Turnberry or any other
municipality will be up to the
involved councils to determine a
final outcome.
That said, the document is
designed for those negotiations on a
case-by-case basis and will allow
both municipalities to make sure
they are giving and receiving their
fair share of services and incomes.
Council members said they felt the
most recent of a series of closed-
door meetings between North Huron
and Morris-Turnberry would see the
new policy being put to good use in
the future. Chambers added that a
press release could be issued as soon
as July 8, announcing the future of
servicing between the two
municipalities.
Chambers was also happy to
announce that a letter from Ian
Koetsier, Engineering Co-ordinator
for Central Huron, was received and
that the policy had received a mostly
positive review.
In the letter, Koetsier refers to the
document as a well-written policy
and states that it provides a “good
base to start negotiations for a cross-
border servicing agreement.”
He does state, however, that there
are some suggested areas of
compensation that Central Huron
may not be interested in pursuing.
They “lettuce” out again, so
“lettuce” share with you some of the
fun. With just weeks to go until the
third annual Blyth Streetfest, things
are looking great. A fun-filled day
for the whole family.
Many businesses have donated
items for the silent auction, which
will be on display in streetfest
headquarters located in the former
home of Sharon’s Cars and
Miniatures. It will be open
periodically during the two weeks
before the event. Bids can be placed
often until 4 p.m. closing time on
July 25, just before the “Kiss the
Pig” event.
Entertainment will be on the main
stage at the corner of Queen and
Dinsley Streets. Many entertainers
will perform beginning with the
Brussels Pipe Band. Also
performing are the East Side Studio
dancers. Dickie Bird, Clinton
Wheeler ‘n Dealers who have been
kicking up their heels for more than
40 years, The Hiller family, Jeff Ball
and more.
New this year, the North Huron
Food Share will be accepting
donations. Please show your
support. Non-perishable goods or
cash is welcome.
A bike rodeo will be held at
the car wash from 1:45 - 3
p.m. hosted by the OPP. Bring your
bike and helmet for safety tips.
The Citizen
Celebrating 30 Years
1985~2015
New CBS agreement finalized
Continued on page 28
Continued on page 10
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
By Denny Scott
The Citizen