The Citizen, 2007-11-29, Page 26While the decision to build a newlibrary in Brussels has now beenmade, debate seems to continue.
Remarks made regarding
discussion about a move to single-
tier government at county council’s
committee of the whole meeting
raised concerns with Huron East
council.
At council’s Nov. 20 meeting, a
recommendation came from clerk-
administrator Jack McLachlan that
council contact local builders to
present a design and build for the
new library. This came as a result of
the public meeting earlier this
month, where the public voted to
build a new library, but said they
wanted to see some designs before
they turned the soil.
However, councillor Alvin
MacLellan asked whether putting
$600,000 into a new library would
be smart, considering that the money
is going to meet the county’s
standards. He questioned how safe
an investment it would be if the
county were to go to one tier across
the whole area.
“They’re making us jump through
hoops to suit their needs, not ours.
Who’s to say that on a whim, they’ll
decide not to fund it anymore,”
MacLellan said.
Seili, although he was clearly
against the county’s intentions, said
that it would be tough to close the
library, even if this single-tier system
were to be implemented.
“For them to close it either way,there would be a hell of a backlash.They’d have to cut back the staffthen, which they’re not known fordoing. If I had a crystal ball, Icouldn’t say no, but I have a strong
feeling that it wouldn’t happen,”
Seili said. “There are local
representatives on the board. It
would be pretty hard, because the
county would have to boot them out
first.”
The will of Brussels residents to
raise the money that council has
asked of them was also discussed.
Councillor David Blaney spoke of
an incentive proposed by the
Brussels Trust. The Trust has said
that it will match all fundraising on a
50 cents for each dollar basis up to
$50,000, hopefully spurring the
community on to the $100,000 mark.
While most of the councillors had
decided that they would begin
fundraising before they started
building, McLachlan defended the
recommendation, saying that he was
just doing what he thought the public
wanted.
“It was my impression from the
meeting that the public was a little
disappointed that there were no
designs,” he said. “We should get
some designs, have another meeting
and then tender it out.”
In addition to cost and the final
look of the building’s exterior, the
floorplan was still being discussed
by council.
Councillor Bob Fisher asked
whether the meeting room was still a
necessity in the library, considering
the amount of meeting rooms thatBrussels currently has to offerbetween all of its churches, theOptimist Clubhouse and theBrussels, Morris and GreyCommunity Centre.
McLachlan assured Fisher that the
floorplan is far from finalized, but
that the meeting room was a popular
idea at the public meetings.
When the motion to contact local
builders for designs and estimates
was being written, it included an
upset limit of $600,000, something
councillors had already discussed
was their cost ceiling for this project.
However, Fisher, also questioned
whether the motion should include
an upset limit.
Fisher argued that if council tells
prospective builders they’re willing
to pay up to $600,000, why would
they submit estimates that are much
lower than that.
McLachlan said it’s only fair that
council gives the builders an idea of
what they are willing to spend. He
said that it isn’t fair to builders who
will submit $1 million projects,
when council has no intentions of
looking at quotations that high. He
also said he’s confident that local
builders won’t try to take advantage
of council.
“I think that the local builders will
come in at a fair price or they’ll lose
themselves a job,” he said.
McLachlan also said that having a
final cost will make fundraising
easier, thus, giving citizens a target
amount.
For the most part, councillors
representing the southern end ofHuron East stayed silent on thedebate, however, Larry McGrathsaid that he has had some of hiscitizens come to him with concernsabout council’s plans for the future with their tax dollars.“Six people have come to me inthe last week and a half and they’veall asked me if all we want to do isbuild,” he said. “How much morecan we stand?”PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2007.
LAURIAN TOP
I stepped into the room on my first
day of co-op and I could already
envision working as a
physiotherapist in the future.
I am in my fifth year at F.E. Madill
Secondary School. I decided to take
co-op because I had a career in mind
and wanted to see if this career was
for me.
I have to apply to university soon,
so the pressure is on when it comes
to making a career choice. Co-op
allows you to see what it’s really like
being employed at a full-time job,
which can help you with your career
decision.
You may love the career
you picked or you may hate it.
Either way, it helps you with your
decision.
I’m completing my co-op at
Glassier’s Physiotherapy Clinic in
Wingham. It is a great place to work
with wonderful people. Those of
you who have been there before
know, of course, that it is a great
place to get help.
I’ve learned what a
physiotherapist does on a day-to-day
basis.
I went from watching to actually
leading clients through exercises,
using ultrasound treatment and
stimulating muscles by using
electrodes.
After these five weeks, I have
definitely made up my mind. I want
to be able to help people who are in
pain. I want to make them feel better
and help them to be able to do the
things they want to be doing.
I feel that if I make others feel
better, I will be happier. You might
ask why I don’t choose to be a
doctor or nurse, however, I’m
interested in the way the body
works, how it moves and the
structure.
Physiotherapy seems like the
perfect career for me.
Brussels Library debates not over yet
COMMEMORATE THE NEWEST
FAMILY MEMBER'S 1ST NEW YEAR
Join the gallery of faces in The Citizen's
baby photo display January 3, 2008
Send or bring a picture of your little one born in
2007 along with a writeup which includes full name,
birth date and parents' names, to be featured in The
Citizen's Gallery of Faces on January 3, 2008, for
only $20.00 (GST included).
Please send picture (with name on back), along
with a cheque, to The Citizen prior to December 17.
Photos may be picked up after January 3.
THIS MUST BE PRE-PAID.
- Sample -
Please Complete
Baby's Full Name______________________
Birth Date_____________________________
Parents' Names________________________
$20.00 Enclosed
DEADLINE - December 17
2 pm in Brussels • 4 pm in Blyth
❑
Alex John Smith
May 18
son of
Mike & Laura
Smith
BB aa bb ii ee ss oo ff tt hh ee
YY ee aa rr 22 00 00 77
Horne/Gross
Donald and Lois Horne of Stratford are pleased to
announce the forthcoming marriage of their daughter
Mary Ellen Elizabeth
to
Bryan Gordon
son of Gordon and Bernice Gross of Auburn.
The wedding will take place on Saturday, December 1, 2007
at Knox North Easthope Presbyterian Church.
We’re Married
Julie Roberts and Curtis Graber exchanged vows in
Holguin, Cuba on October 24, 2007. Drop in at mom’s
on Saturday afternoon to meet Julie and say hello.
By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen
Student learns physio in co-op