The Citizen, 1999-12-08, Page 1News
Family gets M.Blyth Legion,
re-acquainted g/ .‘a Auxiliary elect
with home executive HBU^H
See page 11 See page 15
Special
a Santa Claus came
to town this past
weekend
See page 16
Morris, Turnberry
get county approval
Northern Huron moved another
step toward restructuring when one
amalgamation plan was approved by
county council last week but another
was sent back for clarification.
In a surprise move, Morris and
Tumberry Twps., which earlier had
called off their marriage, presented
an amalgamation plan and received
approval from county council.
Meanwhile, however, the Wingham
policing situation resulted in the plan
for Blyth. East Wawanosh and
Wingham being rejected by council.
Council was also told the plan for
Brussels, Grey, McKillop. Seaforth
and Tuckersmith may be presented
for approval at the January meeting
of county council.
Both the approval of the
Moms/Tumberry plan and the rejec
tion of the North Huron group
proved controversial.
Grey Twp. Reeve Robin Dunbar
opposed the Morris/Tumberry plan,
saying it didn't meet the county’s
criteria of 6,000 electors and, since it
sits in the middle of the northern part
of the county, would prevent other
municipalities from reaching the
6,000 target as well
“I feel we're going backward at
this point,” he said. He also pointed
out some Morris residents on the
outskirts of Brussels who wanted to
be annexed to the village had been
turned down. He felt the people of
the township had not been fully
involved in the decision.
Brian McBurney, reeve of
Tumberry, said he had understood
the county’s 6,000 figure was just a
target. “We understood a local solu
tion meant Morns and Tumberry, not
Grey too,” he shot back.
In a recorded vote, which is
weighted by population, the plan
passed 57-6 with Brussels Reeve
Ralph Watson and Tuckersmith
Reeve Bob Broadfoot, along with
Dunbar, among those opposing the
amalgamation.
Meanwhile the North Huron
group’s plan was defeated 44-19 in a
recorded vote. The plan only came to
a vote because Bruce Machan, reeve
of Wingham, put forward a motion
to accept it, despite a recommenda
tion from the strategic planning com
mittee that the proposal be returned
to the municipalities involved.
The sticking point for those oppos
ing the plan was a complicated sec
tion regarding policing. Machan said
the four-part clause was designed to
cover every eventuality of the out
come of Wingham's dispute with the
county over policing. The intent was
to protect East Wawanosh and Blyth
while letting the amalgamation
process go forward, he said.
Wingham is currently challenging
the legality of Bylaw 9, 1999 by
which the county took over policing
for the entire county but delegated
policing of Wingham back to the
town. The solicitor general’s office
has said that isn't allowed and
Wingham argues that its police board
no longer had any authority because
the county assumed policing. (See
additional story in this issue.)
Mason Bailey, reeve of Blyth, sup
ported passing the amalgamation
plan saying right from the beginning
Wingham council had been clear in
its desire that the police issue was
that of Wingham’s alone.
Pointing out that two months ago
the Central Huron plan had been
approved over the objections of
Goderich that its request to extend its
borders into Goderich Twp. be dealt
with before the plan was accepted.
Bailey said the North Huron plan
shouldn’t be held up because of the
policing issue. Every town and vil
lage in the county has not solved the
issue of the future of its public utili
ties commission, he said, but no
plans have been held up.
- But Dunbar argued the situation
wasn’t that straightforward. The
county could get stuck with covering
the costs of disbanding the Wingham
force if it accepted the clauses in the
agreement, he said.
Gary Davidson, county director of
planning, said the clauses included
supported Wingham’s position
against the county.
Laurie Cox, reeve of Goderich
Twp. said he was bothered by one of
the clauses that said if the Wingham
police force was not disbanded by
January 2001, a police board for the
new North Huron municipality
would be set up. Since Blyth and
East Wawanosh are already getting
their police service from the OPP
that would go against county-wide
policing, he said.
Davidson said Wingham, Blyth
and East Wawanosh could clarify the
clauses and bring the plan back
Continued on page 6
CitizenTheNorthHuron
Just checking
Drivers in Blyth last Wednesday afternoon were reminded that the police are watching. Const.
Craig Soldan and Sr. Const. Paul Graf, as well as Sr. Const. Don Shropshall were, in addition
to checking for impaired drivers, increasing public awareness of the campaign and rewarding
sober drivers with donations from Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and Goderich District
Collegiate Institute’s Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving chapter. In its first week, from
Nov. 29 to Dec. 5, 2,403 vehicles were checked with three drivers charged with over 80. There
was also one 12-hour suspension and five charges laid under the criminal code, highway traf
fic act and liquor license act.
Seaforth area prepares
4 men Citizens of the Year
For their positive impact on the
lives of many young people, for their
sensitivity during a difficult time, the
coaches of last season’s Blyth
Bantam Bulldog hockey team have
been named the Blyth and area 1999
Citizens of the Year
Dave Cook, Brent Scrimgeour,
Rob Finch and Doug Walker were
nominated by the team and parents.
The letter states that the four over the
course of the hockey season went
beyond coaching duties, “es
pecially during the month of
February.”
During this time the team experi
enced two tragedies, the loss of a
player’s mother by car accident and
just one week later, the death of a
teammate in a snowboarding acci
dent.
The letter notes that the coaches
were concerned and did a phenome
nal job helping the team cope.
“Because of their caring and concern
the boys are dealing with this situa
tion. They have become even closer
friends and (we) know if these boys
had a problem they would not think
twice of going to any one of (the
coaches) for advice.”
The letter also states, “They have
helped mold these boys into young
gentlemen and this will affect their
lives and the community over the
course of many years to come.”
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
When members of the community
and parents of students in Seaforth-
area schools attend the Dec. 7 meet
ing of the Avon Maitland School
Board, they will be well-armed and
ready to begin their fight against clo
sure.
Walton parents attended a meeting
of the school council last Tuesday to
discuss the future of the school and
voice their opinion on the closure.
School Council Chair Dianne Van
Vliet said Monday that parents want
to see Walton Public School remain
and the board to look at ways to
increase enrollment. One suggestion
was to return the Grade 5 students to
the facility, thereby meeting the
board’s numbers for capacity.
Many Walton parents expressed
concern about the possible closure of
two of the three schools (Walton.
Seaforth Public or Seaforth High
School) in the area as they have chil
dren in all three, said Van Vliet.
She will attend the Dec. 7 meeting
to present trustees with a back
ground of Walton Public School,
stressing the impact of the school on
the community and the community
on the school.
Seaforth parents and community
members gathered Wednesday
evening to allow those working for
no school closures to bring residents
up-to-date.
With approximately 300 people in
attendance. Seaforth District High
School Council Chair Maureen Agar
said the working ■ group tried to
explain what they are doing and
where they are going with the
board's proposal for the school clo
sure study.
“It is a frustrating time for every
one,” she said. "People had a chance
to air their views and suggest other
choices.”
It is the group’s contention that
closures are not needed and that
there is money to keep all schools
open if funds were shifted to other
areas.
“We are working for the communi
ty. It will be hard to get rural kids to
come back (after university) if there
are no schools. Will wze lose our hos
pital and post office too?” Agar
questioned.
"It is a real shame areas are being
pitted against each other on this
issue. I am thinking about the com
munity, trying to find what is best for
the area.”
Though many other suggestions
for using excess spaces, such as leas
ing rooms or including a daycare
facility for the Seaforth school, were
discussed at the meeting, those gath
ered were asked to indicate which of
three options would be preferred.
Continued on page 6