Loading...
The Citizen, 2013-02-21, Page 7THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2013. PAGE 7.Huron County Council is just steps away from approving a recommendation to hold a lease on the Goderich to Guelph (G2G) Rail Trail as the project continues to pick up steam. Paul VanderMolen, director of the G2G Trail Advisory Committee, appeared before council at its Feb. 13 Committee of the Whole meeting, telling council that there would be no financial implications to holding the lease, just that somebody has to do it. He said that the county would enter into an agreement with the advisory committee where the county would hold the lease, but local service clubs and organizations would be tapped to maintain the trail through their particular portion of real estate. VanderMolen said the agreements with various community groups would be made through the Kissing Bridge Trail Association. Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan asked if there would be any sort of financial investment in the project on the county’s behalf, which VanderMolen said there would not be. VanderMolen said that if the county was to take over the lease, there would likely be a legal land transfer where the lease would change hands for a “nominal fee” or even more likely, $1.“The trail would be operated withno cost to the county,” VanderMolenassured councillors. MacLellan’s second concern was with liability to the county and who exactly would be using the trail going forward. VanderMolen said that the intention for the warm weather months is that all travel would be non-motorized, at least for the time being. He said that the advisory committee anticipates that the traffic would be for walking and biking in the warm weather months and for skiing and snowmobiling in the winter months. If that was to change, he said, it wouldn’t be that difficult. VanderMolen told councillors that, with very few exceptions (like crossing the Maitland and Grand Rivers), the trail is 75 feet wide, which is plenty of room for several people to travel the same portion of the trail at the same time. He said that the prospect of ATVs travelling the trail has already been discussed, and that if it came to pass, ATVs travelling the trail would have to follow similar rules to snowmobile clubs where riders would have to belong to an accredited group that is insured and that the ATV portion of the trail would run adjacent to the regular trail and be roped off. “There’s a lot of room,” VanderMolen said. Director of Planning and Development Scott Tousawrecommended that council approvethe plan in principle, but that it thenbe referred to the planning department, which would prepare a report on what the county’s role inthe agreement would be, as well asaddress other concerns thatcouncillors might have. Tousaw said that clearly the big question with the trail is liability.One of the main concerns that willhave to be addressed, he said, issignage. He also said that usage and Council approves G2G trail lease in principle Singing to the heavens The 11th annual Faith-in-Song concert was held on Friday night at the Blyth Christian Reformed Church. Emceed by Steve Cook, the evening featured performances by the Snell Family Singers (not pictured) and the Heading Home Trio. The evening was sponsored by the ABC Women’s Ministry. (Shawn Loughlin photo) By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen Continued on page 19 209 Drummond Street, Blyth Howson & Howson Ltd. • Seeds • Fertilizer • Crop Protection • Custom Application Crop Inputs Elevators . . . . . . . . . . 519-523-9624 Toll Free. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-663-3653 Flour Mill. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 519-523-4241 Optimist Club of Brussels F r i end o f Y outh Open 7 Days A Week. Tel: 519-523-4551 Municipality of Morris- Turnberry 519-887-6137 Supporting our Scouts & Guides The Municipality of Central Huron 519-482-3997 ELLIOTT NIXON INSURANCE BROKERS INC. 5 Generations Since 1910 Blyth 519-523-4481 A member of the Huron Insurance managers group Brussels Lions Club Blyth Lions Club1ST BRUSSELS PATHFINDERS — From left: Leader Janet Mitchell, Julia Van Nes, Leader Wendy Marks. A big thank you to all the Leaders and Community Businesses who support our youth! 440 Turnberry St., Brussels 519-887-6851 Huron Country Hardware 1ST BRUSSELS BROWNIES — Back row, from left: Junior Leader Morgan Sheppard, Junior Leader Kelsey Rathwell. Front row: Rose Van Nes, Benetta Van Nes, Erin Overholt. Absent: Junior Leader Sarah Marks, Leader Becky Cullen, Leader Leanne Powell, Leader Maddy Deitner. 1ST BRUSSELS GUIDES — Back row, from left: Leader Wendy Marks, Paige Bull, Candace Burnham, Amanda Morrison, Leader Janet Mitchell. Middle row: Alicia Van Veen, Taylor Daw, Tess Perrier, Tory Daw. Front row: Grace Van Nes, Megan den Dekker.