The Citizen, 2002-12-11, Page 28New Brownies
New Brownies in Belgrave are, in back, from left: Mary Kate Higgins, Rebecca Guy, Sydney
Jarvis, Laura Higgins, Sarah Cook. Front: Gabriel Carter, Caitlin Daw, Peyton Scott, Caroline
McDowell, Heidi Raynard. Absent: Grace Hildenbraund. (Vicky Bremner photo)
County council briefs
Ross says Howick library
issue notyet resolved
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PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2002.
County warden first from Exeter in 60 years
In an uncontested victory. South
Huron Councillor Dave Urlin
became the first Huron County
warden from Exeter in 60 years.
In assuming his position at a
reception, Dec. 3, Urlin said it was a
tremendous honour to be named
I warden. "Fifteen years ago. never
thought 1 would be here
today."
Urlin told those in attendance that
he wanted the county to be number
one in agriculture, tourism and
industry.
He takes over the role from Ben
Van Diepenbeck of Ashfield-
Colborne-Wawanosh.
He has represented Exeter, and
South Huron after amalgamation, for
14 years.
Urlin, a former bar owner, is now
a consultant and long-time sports
volunteer.
There are many important issues
facing the county in the coming year,
he said, including the anti-smoking
bylaw, nutrient management, landfill
sites and the West Nile virus.
Urlin, who sits on, the Huron
County Health Unit managing board
which is working on the smoking
ban bylaw, sees both sides of the
issue.
As a former smoker, he knows the
statistics regarding illness and death
though he also realizes some bar
owners rely on smokers for a portion
of their income. However, he does
want fairness in the bylaw with
smokers lighting up outside and bar
owners adhering to the new
regulation.
He is aware of the lawsuit by a
waitress with 40-years experience
now dying of lung cancer from
second-hand smoke.
"Where is the responsibility of
council if we allow smoking in a
recreation centre? Are we open to a
lawsuit?" he asked.
Urlin also sits on the Road Watch
committee which has been
successful in its first year.
Other goals for Urlin's tenure are
to keep taxes low and. improve
communications between the
council and county staff.
Deadline for the Dec. 24 paper is Dec. 20
2 pm in Brussels, 4 pm in Blyth.
The Christmas paper will be in the mail on
Tuesday, December 24.
will be closing for holidays
The Brussels Office
will be closed from
Friday, December 20 at 2 p.m.
until Friday. January 3 at 10 a.m.
The Blvth Office
will be closed from
Monday, December 23 at 5 p.m.
until Friday, January 3 at 9 a.m.
Auburn, Bluevale and Centralia
branch libraries will likely be closed
sometime in the next nwmth or so,
County Chief Librarian Beth Ross
told county council, Nov. 27.
-- Ross said permission had been
re6eived from the host municipality
in each case.
The situation with the libraries in
Howick Twp. has still not been
resolved though there was a public
meeting on the situation, she said.
***
County councillors will meet in
closed session, Dec. 17 to interview
short-listed candidates for the
position of chief administrative
officer (CAO) for the county.
The post has been vacant since the
controversial resignation of former
CAO Lynn Murray last spring.
Last month council approved a
salary range of $95,000 to $120,000
for the position.
***
Council voted to disband its
strategic planning committee. The
committee has been in place for
several years to help reorganize the
county council and administrative
structure. Since the acceptance of the
report of consultant Hugh Thomas
the council has mostly' been
occupied implementing his
recommendations.
***
Huron County Housing Services
will ask the province to help pay for
Union Gas's retroactive increase in
gas prices for 1999. At that time
local assisted housing projects were
still operated by the province. Since
then the units have been turned over
to the county. The retroactive
increase would cost Housing
Services $3,108.
***
Huron County's Early Years
Centre in Clinton is becoming a
minor tourist attraction.
"We're getting a reputation for
having a good Early Years Centre
and people are coming in from
across the province to see
how it works," John MacKinnon,
director of social services told
council.
A month ago the visitors included
Brenda Elliott, minister of
Community, Family and Children's
Services who dropped in while
visiting family in the area.
***
There was a 17 per cent increase in
the number of animals vaccinated at
low-cost rabies clinics this year,
reported Pamela Scharfe, public
health manager in a report to the
health and planning committee.
There were 1,191 dogs, 805 cats, one
rabbit and one raccoon vaccinated in
clinics in late September and early
October.
Last year's total had been down 18
per cent from the previous year.
***
The number of staff at Huronlea
getting influenza shots will likely be
down this year, reported Barb
Springall, director of the homes for
the aged, though final figures aren't
in. She expects about the same level
of vaccinations as last year among
workers at Huronview in Clinton.
***
Huron County's ambulance
service will be using a provincial
grant to increase the hours of
paramedics in an effort to reduce
response times.
The funding through a program
designed to reduce response times
will allow for 24-hour staffing of all
four ambulance stations in the
county which will mean less
dependence on "on call" personnel
who come from their residence in
time of emergency. The grant will
also provide some funding toward a
seasonal vehicle for the southwest
section of the county.
** Please note: The first paper of the New Year
will be mailed on January 8/03