The Citizen, 2019-06-13, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 13, 2019.
Morris-Turnberry Council has
given the go-ahead to make
significant investments into
efficiency-improving initiatives for
the municipality.
After giving staff direction to
pursue nine different initiatives with
a goal of having demonstrable
efficiency improvements, Morris-
Turnberry Staff brought back a
comprehensive plan to use
$273,686.53 of the $364,473.00
granted by the province. The
remaining $90,787 will be placed in
reserves.
Starting the list are three new
computers and seven monitors at
$4,953 to replace aging information
technology infrastructure in the
office. A new digital telephone
system for the office has also been
proposed at $10,000.
Council also approved a new,
more accessible website, though
staff only had an estimate of $30,000
for that project, and were looking for
council’s approval to proceed to
request proposals for the project.
Next was computer software at
$2,800 that will help with animal
control, specifically dog tags. The
software boasts, among other
efficiencies, streamlining payments
for those looking to register dog tags.
The plan-size printer/scanner
came in more than $3,500 higher
than anticipated, costing
$15,579.88. Staff originally
anticipated a cost of $12,000,
however after speaking to MicroAge
Basics, the company that provides
equipment and support for
Morris-Turnberry’s office, it
became apparent that estimate was
off.
Staff suggested that an $8,000
investment be made to continue with
the digitization of the municipality’s
record system.
Recording equipment for
municipal chambers, is expected to
cost $10,000 and staff will be
conducting a request for proposal for
the project.
A truck, at a cost of $41,203.65,
for the building department was also
on the list.
Finally, a proposed transfer depot
for the municipality’s landfill was
approved at $151,150.
That project generated the most
discussion among councillors who
wanted the project clarified.
Director of Public Works Mike
Alcock explained that the bulk of the
project’s budget was for a new truck
that would be replacing an aging
truck at the landfill site.
“This will eliminate the need to
replace a $75,000 truck,” he said.
“The cost of construction, because
we won’t be digging anything, is not
going to exceed the $30,000
budgeted.”
The project calls for concrete
blocks to be used to build up a hill
just behind the weigh station at the
landfill site, allowing residents using
small trucks and other passenger
vehicles to dump refuse into the
appropriate bins.
Those bins will be designed to be
picked up by the new truck, allowing
them to be dumped at the face, or
currently active dumping space, of
the landfill site.
By eliminating the majority of
private users of the landfill going to
the face of the site, Alcock said, it
will reduce the municipality’s
liability.
Deputy-Mayor Sharen Zinn asked
if there could be savings found by
researching other designs, however
Alcock said he felt that the price
may be misleading as he anticipates
it will all come in lower than
expected.
He said the bins are $4,000 each
and should last for a very long time
because they’re steel. If something
happens to them, they can be
patched or fixed. “They should last
at least 10 years, if not 20,” he said.
Councillor Jim Nelemans asked if
tendering out the plan-size
scanner/printer would lower the
price and Administrator Clerk-
Treasurer Nancy Michie said staff
could do that, but reminded council
that MicroAge Basics knows the
municipality’s network
infrastructure, and knows what will
work with existing computer
systems.
Council approved a motion to
proceed with the purchase or
tendering of all projects.
Continued from page 1
economic development advantage.”
He said that every chance he gets
he talks to other lower-tier council
heads about the project, and has
talked to Huron County staff about
it, but those discussions are closed-
to-the-public at this point.
“Having said all that, no decision
is made about where it’s going to
be,” he said. “It’s going to cost $25
million and we’re investigating
where it should go. There has been
no decision made, and there is a lot
of information coming back.”
Bailey said he is being the
“squeaky wheel” in the process,
making sure his belief that the
structure should be more central is
heard. He also regularly points to the
Ontario Provincial Police relocating
its local detachment to a more
central location at the north end of
Clinton from its previous location
just south of Goderich.
Being the squeaky wheel,
however, won’t be enough he said.
“I’m not going to be able to drive
this home myself,” he said. “I need
support from North Huron and its
neighbours.”
He said that organizations like the
North Huron Economic
Development Committee and local
Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)
should be supporting the move, and
he will be reaching out to those
groups in the near future.
“I truly believe we’ll pull this off
with support,” he said, “but this is a
community-driven project. We need
people behind to push it forward.”
Bailey said moving the project
forward isn’t even a once-in-a-
lifetime opportunity, because the
building will likely be in the same
place for 150 years, if not longer.
“They don’t build these every
day,” he said. “Even the move alone
is looking to run into $35-$40
million. This building will be there
for a long time.”
Bailey pushes for central office
Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area and Brussels and area
communities to receive an award for contribution to the community. If you know someone you think should be
honoured, please fill in the form and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee
should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and they didn't win, we encourage you to submit again.
Emailed submissions can be sent to Shawn Loughlin at editor@northhuron.on.ca
I nominate ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
as Citizen of the year for
I feel she/he deserves this award because______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nomination Deadline July 31, 2019.
Name and phone number of nominator
info@northhuron.on.ca Fax: 519-523-9140 Box 429, Blyth, ON N0M 1H0 or Box 152 Brussels, ON N0G 1H0
Blyth
& area ❑Brussels
& area
There are so many people out there who
do so much to improve their community.
This is your opportunity to show your
appreciation for all they do.
34th Annual
Citizen of the Year Award
Nominations Open
Looking for local heroes
By Denny Scott
The Citizen
M-T landfill depot going ahead
Toe-tapping
The Wingham Legion was the place to be Sunday
afternoon as musicians took to the stage as part of the Old
Tyme Jamboree. Above, Murray Smith opened the event
with some fiddle tunes. (Denny Scott photo)
Drop by our office in
Blyth or Brussels and
check out our wonderful
selection of books. We
have books for all ages.
541 Turnberry St., Brussels
519-887-9114
413 Queen St., Blyth
519-523-4792
Got Married...
Call for pricing & details
519-523-4792
or 519-887-9114
Share your news
by placing your
announcement in
The Citizen