The Citizen, 2019-02-07, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2019.
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being covered entirely, but said they
had already been brought to council
during previous meetings. He also
said that some of the issues were
fairly well known to both council
and the community.
He went on to say that he wants to
hear public input and wants to know
if there is another viable solution, if
both the North Street and Gypsy
Lane locations weren’t viable.
Seip said he took exception to the
accusation of the decision already
being made.
“If we had [already made up our
minds] we wouldn’t have had this
open session,” he said. “We thought
it was important to have public
consultation on the issue.”
Bedard also spoke to the safety
issue, saying that the fire department
is aware that there is traffic volume
at the site. He said that the green
lights firefighters use in their
personal vehicles should announce
their presence, while the sirens and
lights of the fire trucks would be
active whenever they leave the hall.
Finally, Bailey said that the fire
department had been involved in the
decision-making process. He said
that, having never been a firefighter
himself, he went to the professionals
and asked about these issues. Those
conversations, Bailey said, included
discussing safety of the sites.
Peter Uyl, a North Street resident,
approached the podium next, saying
that he was speaking on behalf of the
neighbourhood.
“I think we should take this fire
hall out of residential areas,” he said,
citing examples like Clinton’s new
hall. “I know you have private land
and you’re not allowed to talk about
it, but you’re talking about money
you might spend on upgrades. You
might be able to buy that land
cheaper than that.”
Sandra Bos also spoke, asking
what financial situation the sale of
the ESTC had left the municipality
was in. She said if construction of
the building was within budget, it
might be worth spending tax dollars
to make sure safety was addressed.
“You can’t put a price tag on a
child’s life or an adult’s life,” she
said. “The safest location should be
your number one priority.”
She also said that Gypsy Lane was
not a stellar road as far as
maintenance was concerned, and
would “need a lot of attention”.
She also drew attention to the fact
that, sometimes, the green flashing
lights aren’t enough. During a fire
call on Halloween, Bos said she was
out with her family and noticed that
green flashing lights on firefighters’
vehicles just blended in with the
Halloween decorations. She said
that, for public safety, wherever the
hall is, a siren should be installed.
Bedard said that moving the fire
hall wouldn’t eliminate traffic
caused by firefighters responding to
calls because most of the firefighters
live or work in Blyth.
“They would be responding
through the village to get to the
hall,” he said. “Wherever [the hall]
is, there is going to be a safety issue.
He said that firefighters are
reminded they need to abide by the
law and be cognizant of people on
the streets.”
Bedard also said that moving the
fire hall outside of the community
could reduce the response times.
“We know when there is a house
fire, time is of the essence,” he said.
“Whatever decision is made, we are
going to have to face issues.”
Bedard then said that the clearest
resolution would be educating both
the community and firefighters to be
aware of one another.
Seip answered Bos’ budgetary
questions, saying that, after paying
off the remaining debt on the ESTC,
the municipality had $2.5 million to
prepare the new site, run utilities and
other infrastructure and erect the
building. The municipality’s best
estimates could result in $100,000 or
$200,000 additional debt being
taken on, meaning the municipality
was eyeing a total of $2.6 to $2.7
million for the entire project.
Sarah Cherrey of Blyth said the
green lights used by firefighters may
be effective, but, in her experience,
firefighters don’t always follow the
rules of the road.
Cherrey went on to say that the
side streets that feed on to Gypsy
Lane are poorly lit, and Gypsy Lane
is home to a child with low vision
who regularly walks her family dog.
Katie Ansley, a Gypsy Lane
resident, said she felt the suggestion
of replacing the baseball diamond
with a fire hall painted the council
with an unfavourable brush.
“I’m frankly embarrassed that
council would consider [locating the
hall] in a children-safe community,”
she said, pointing to the Blyth and
District Community Centre, the
skate park and Lions Park and its
accompanying pool as attractions
that bring children to that area. “I
live on that street. I am the mother of
the blind child that lives on the
street. You are putting her in danger,
and all the other children in danger.”
Ansley asked council if they
planned on installing street lights
and sidewalks on Gypsy Lane if the
hall was going there and McGhee
explained those changes were part of
a long-term plan for the community.
“On a day like today, children
would have to walk on the streets,”
Ansley said. “Are they supposed to
climb snow hills to avoid emergency
vehicles?”
At that point, Bedard said he had
taken offense to the suggestion that
firefighters, either driving to the hall
or driving fire trucks, would prove a
hazard to pedestrians.
“We’re not here to hit anybody,”
he said. “We’re trying to help
people.”
Ansley said she wasn’t intending
to paint the firefighters in a negative
light, but that they would be put in
an untenable position by having the
fire hall in an area surrounded by
community facilities.
Joanne Hickey also spoke to the
firefighters, saying that no one
would ever insult them.
“No one is saying these things
would be done on purpose,” she said.
“We want to make it easy for the
firefighters to get to the hall and do
their job. Putting the hall in a
residential area, whether it’s Gypsy
Lane or North Street, isn’t good.”
She said she agrees that Gypsy
Lane, before it could be considered,
needs to be built up substantially and
that the very topography of the road
Safety, heritage, youth cited in fight over hall location
The long-form history
Long-time Blyth Lion John Stewart addressed North Huron Council at its special meeting on
Jan. 30 to gauge the public’s feelings on a new fire hall on either Gypsy Lane or North Street
in the village. Stewart, among others, cited numerous reasons why the George Radford
Memorial Diamond on Gypsy Lane shouldn’t be an option for a fire hall. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
All effort
The Blyth Brussels Atom Rep Crusaders took on the Mount
Forest Rams on Saturday at the Brussels, Morris and Grey
Community Centre. Though they worked hard for a result,
the locals lost by a score of 6-2. (Denny Scott photo)
Announce your wedding for the community to
celebrate. A newspaper clipping makes a great
memento for your scrapbook and future
generations. Send in a photo of the wedding
couple plus a maximum 300 word write-up.
Just $25 (including HST) (paid in advance).
Your story will appear along with those of other
couples who were married this past year in The
Citizen’s February 28 Wedding Showcase
feature.
Deadline: February 22
Issue date: February 28
YOU DID IT!
Show off those wedding photos
in our Wedding Showcase to be
featured February 28th
with our special Bridal Section.
413 Queen St., Blyth
519-523-4792
541 Turnberry St., Brussels
519-887-9114
The Citizen
Email: info@northhuron.on.ca
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