Loading...
The Citizen, 2019-09-12, Page 11THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2019. PAGE 11. LTE Internet and unlimited data with a new, lower price? That’s the plan! Call now and get a FREE installation!3 1-866-953-2099 1Speed online may vary based on Internet traffic, servers, computer/router configurations and other factors. Internet Traffic Manag ement Policies apply, see xplornet.com/legal. 2Offer is available until October 31, 2019 for new customers only where available. Limited time offer. Taxes apply. Monthly service fee includes rental cost of equipment, except Xplornet Wi-Fi router, if desired. 3Plans are subject to network availability at your location. Site check fee may apply. If installation requirements go beyond the scope of a basic installation, additional fees apply. See dealer for details. Xplornet® is a trade-mark of Xplornet Communications Inc. © 2019 Xplornet Communications Inc. LTE Internet with UNLIMITED DATA and download speed up to 25 Mbps!1 $69 99 month2 xplornet.com 1 year term required. Tree-planting program scrapped While a tree-planting policy may be implemented in North Huron in the future, the old tree-buying program, which was on hiatus last year, has officially been discontinued by council. A previous session of council temporarily suspended the program, which allowed residents to buy trees through North Huron. Director of Public Works and Facilities Sean McGhee brought the issue back to council during its Sept. 3 meeting, asking council how it wanted to proceed with the in-limbo program. He explained that, if council wanted to bring the program back, the deadline to order trees for the 2020 season was fast approaching. The previous council, according to McGhee, was concerned with the program because of both its upfront cost and the costs associated with implementing it. He explained that residents who ordered the trees, who are responsible for picking them up from the municipality and planting them, wouldn’t be able to come during business hours, requiring overtime for employees. Beyond that, some people ordered trees without having a means to transport the trees at all. “It became a Public Works function to deliver the trees,” McGhee said. “The final issue, at the time, was that in 2016, 31 of the 117 trees weren’t claimed.” McGhee said that, with the program on hiatus, the municipality received approximately one dozen calls about the program, adding he didn’t consider that “a significant outcry” in response to the program’s suspension. Reeve Bernie Bailey said that, during his last term of council, from 2010 to 2014, then-Councillor Ray Hallahan pushed to have excess trees planted in East Wawanosh as the municipality had to remove trees from the roadside. Bailey asked the current East Wawanosh Councillors Chris Palmer and Anita van Hittersum what they thought of the issue. Palmer said he felt it was a good idea to plant the trees on the roadside, and said that, in comparison, the program costs far less than aesthetic projects the municipality undertakes in Wingham and Blyth, specifically planters and flowers. Van Hittersum said she felt that, as the issue was focused on environmental stewardship, the municipality should continue to support it. Deputy-Reeve Trevor Seip drew attention to the fact that this was separate from rural-roadside tree-planting initiatives in North Huron, and said he would prefer to see a policy put in place to replace trees removed by the municipality. He said that, for an average of 100 people in the municipality, North Huron is paying more than $3,000 for the program as a hard cost, plus staff time and other costs. He said the municipality should re-allocate that money for tree- planting projects for the municipality and not offered to the public. To help move the discussion forward, Seip suggested council adopt a policy that, for every tree removed, the municipality plants two. “We would get the same benefit that offering it to the public provides, but with less administration,” he said, adding the administration costs were hotly contested by the previous session of council. Bailey wasn’t against Seip’s plan, but said that there needs to be a more detailed plan than just planting two trees for each one removed. McGhee agreed, saying that staff could bring forward plans for the 2020 budget process to implement a tree-planting policy. Council decided to repeal the existing tree program and direct staff to draft a new policy for upcoming budget deliberations, however the decision wasn’t unanimous as Palmer said he would still like rural residents to have a chance to order trees. By Denny Scott The Citizen Getting ready With the grand opening of the Brussels Fairy Door Trail set to take place later this month, the pressure was on to produce one of the over 75 stops for the trail. That included workshops at the Brussels Library and the Brussels Farmers’ Market, the latter of which Hayden Benedict took part in late last month. (Denny Scott photo) Have A New Addition? Call for prices and details 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 Let everyone know about your new bundle of joy!