Lakeshore Advance, 2012-08-29, Page 131
Wednesday, September 21, 2011 • Lakeshore Advance 11
County web site to promote hard-hit businesses
Cheryl Heath
OMI Agency
'the County of 1 [mon is prepar-
ing to step up efforts to promote
ocal businesses thanks to a
motion approved by Intron
County councillors at their Sept.
14 committee -of -the -whole ses-
sion held at the 1 iuron County
!Width Unit in Clinton.
In unveiling the beefed up cata
paign, county planning director
Scott 'Tousaw says the goal is to
spend $15,000 in a specialized
marketing campaign that will
include regular update's about
Goderich, Ash field Colborne
1Vawanosh and Central Huron
businesses that liave relocated of
are reopening in the aftermath of
the Aug. 21 E3 tornado.
Mike Pullen, the county's eco-
nomic development officer, says
the county will be doing every-
thing in its power to help county
businesses promote the'insl'lves at
the newly unveiled Shop in 1 luron
web site, www.shopinhuron.ca.
Further, notes Pullen, footage of
area businesses and services will
be uploaded onto the site to coun-
teract the "negative footage" of
The Square as seen on sites like
Yott'I'lbe,
"We want to promote Goderich
as a safe to place to visit luld shop,"
says Pullen. "'there are still lots of
businesses in tete affected area
that are open for business,'
In supporting the plan, Colin.
Bernie MacLellan (1luron East)
suggests any funding shortfall
should he taken out of next year's
county budget rather than through
the planning department's in -year
savings as originally proposed,
"Let's spend the $15,000," says
MacLellan.
County documents show the
overall marketing campaign \vitt
have a significantly higher value
than $15,000 as media outlets are
making in-kind contributions.
Helping Lands
Ihr
county oft Homo is ready to
rut a deal with Sifto Canada Inc.
so that it has a place to store its salt
in the months to come.
At the behest of the l'l)ittIht!ty,
which is still grappling to find
ways to hest meet salt demands
following an Aug. 21 1'3 tornado
that devastated much of its opera-
tions, county public works direc-
tor Dave Laurie asked county
council to (•onsider leasing the
company 1v'halt is known as the
Grand Bend patrol yard, though
the site was about to hit tht' auc-
tion block.
While some concern was
expressed about the conde'mne'd
storage dome on site, Laurie con-
firmed the company would not
require that building.
"'They really need storage or
they will have to lay miners off,"
said (:nun. Deb ShewleIt
(Goderich), who supported the
request. "It would be good if you
can help thein oft."
When Laurie noted truck traffic
in the impacted area might he
heavier than usual for the "short
term," Colin. Jim Dietrich (South
Huron) says it is quite likely the
impacted residents will under-
stand the ne'r'd.
Beware of Timber
Though the financial extent of
the county's woodlot damage due
to the Aug. 21 tornado is not yet
estimated, at least one county
councillor is urging caution dur-
ing ongoing clean-up campaigns.
Cour. lames Ginn (Central
i luron) says tree removal can he
an "extremely dangerous" job and
that landowners should consult
professionals before moving
ahead.
Ginn adds it is unfortunate
some ratepayers will ht' losing sig-
nificant income in the years to
conte as the impacted lvoodlots
will not be replacers in this life-
time. lie is also encouraging
county residents who Inst trees to
apply for Ontario Disaster Relief
Assistance Program (01)RAP)
funding prior to the deadline.
Half to Full
Councillors learned the Town
of Goderich will he utilizing a
1 iuron County planner on a full-
time rather than part-time basis
for a minimum period of six
months.
County planning director Scott
l'ousaw unveiled the request for
the service, which received the
committee's hacking.
Severance OK'd
'two 1 luron East residents were
given the thumbs up on it surplus
CEMC manager reflects on twister
Cheryl Heath
OMI Agency
A sound emergency plan did its
part to ensure all available hands
were on deck shortly after an Aug.
11 13 tornado ripped through the
)Fun of Goderich and cut an
approximate 20 -kilometre stretch
crisscrossing the Municipalities of
Ashfield Colborne Wawanosh and
Central Huron.
'I hough much is known, reports
Council on Emergency Medical
Care (CEMC) manager Gary
Wood, there is a lot of debriefing,
tallying and groundwork to he
completed before the extent of the
damage can he fully understood).
"A lot of the county staff worked
together following the tornado,"
says Wood, noting each county
department will be submitting
comprehensive reports. "We need
to know what we did, how we did
it, and the lessons learned."
What is known, says Wood, is
that between 3:51 and 3:55 p.m.
on Aug. 21, ail P3 tornado, featur-
ing winds of 254 to 332 kilometres
an hour, left a damage path rang-
ing from 200 to 500 metres,
uprooting trees, ripping the walls
and roofs off houses and build-
ings, and lifting vehicles front the
ground.
'the first 911 call was registered
at 3:52 p.ni., when a bout owner
reported a lost sail. Within that
shine minute, it t'itll calla' in from
the salt aline.
Though Environment Canada
Funs at first pinpointing "straight
lin' winds" as the rause of dam-
age, 1Vood says the county Funs
quickly able to clear that miscon-
ception as one of its supervisors
had a video of the tornado. In the
next few hours, reports Wood,
there were nearly 100 91 1 calls
logged.
There likely would have been
more if not for the widespread
power and Internet outages In the
region, says Wood, who reports,
"Blackberries saved our butts. It
was the communication tool that
allowed us to communicate."
Wlxxi also shared radar imagery
from the moment the tornado
struck, showing a red dot where
the twister was, along with its
trademark hooked shape.
Following the presentation,
Goderich Mayor Deb Shewfelt
tipped his hat to both the EMS
crews and lower and upper tier
workers who responded to the call
for help.
"We couldn't have gotten
through it without you," ht' says.
"Each and every community from
1Vindsor to London to ()wen
Sound has stepped up. 1t was such
a good feeling, it is unbelievable:"
Shewfelt adds what "really
impressed me the most" was how
independent bodies, including
the Red Cross, Knights of Colum-
bus, Victim Services and the Sal-
vation Army, "totally worked as
one. 'That was amazing. l just want
to express my thanks. It has been
an interesting two weeks,"
farm dwelling application for their Brus-
sels -area farm.
In appearing before county council-
lors, Don and Yvonne Martin said the
goal is to sever 3.8 acres and retain 135
acre's ()Claud at their Newry (toad tarns.
"It twill be a tax benefit to the munici-
patlity and a commercial benefit w the
area," said Don Martin, which proved to
he it sentiment councillors agreed with
as they approved the request, %vital con-
ditions as Irrommended by the planning
department.
A Real Gas
whether to allow a private company to
install it non-0(0)rized gas line nearby a
county intersection proved to stoke some
debate.
The request, put forth by Reef
Resources, prompted Goan. Dill Simon
(1luron East) to inquire as to whether
such a stove would elicit any safety con-
cerns from county staff -that evert. recom-
mending approval of the application.
""There is always risk," replied Mike
Alcock, the county's senior civil engi-
neering technologist. "If you break it, you
don't smell anything:'
While Coun. 1)e'h Shetvfelt (Goderich)
suggested anything that promotes the
possibility of economic devt'lopnu'iit in
1 luron County should be welcomed, eco-
nomic development officer Nlike Pullen
confirmed the company in question does
have expansion plans that will lead to a
growing workforce.
The committee ultimately agreed to
approve the move in a 16-1 recorded vote
with only Sienwn opposed. Public works
director Dave Laurie said he would
address the non-odorized inspect of the
proposal with the company.
Light Up
M least one county ratepayer is inter-
ested in seeing things light up along the
1 lighway 21 corridor.
On reporting on a recent complaint
lodged by a Central Huron ratepayer,
(:our. )antes Ginn ((ventral I luron) says
tete resident would like to see light posts
erected at the intersection of County
Road No. 13 and 1 lighway 21.
Ginn says while he understand the
province is responsible for the highway,
it is nonetheless a "safety issue" that
deserves addressing.
Ocsjordine ;• ,
SIMON t)1?SJARI)INE
('FP, ('1.1', IOW, EI'('
r'rrtllird Imam, Ful Planner.
1'hartrrrd 1 O 1 ndrr%ruer
519-23S-6399
55 Ontario St. N. (;rand Bend
• Investment Funds • KRtiP's
• Insurance • Mortgages
"In Nu ,n. lin, r )i',u PM. Our lu„ion it your ,ui, r,,."
STERLING
JAH OPEN LETTER TO
OUR FRIENDS AND CUSTOMERS
OUR FRIENDS AND
Yes it's true we are closing
On September 27th : However it is only for RENOVATIONS. We will be
OPEN AGAIN October 20th with a brand new format.
We will be open Thursdays 4pm - 9pm for our famous WING NIGHT
and also Fridays 4pm - 9pm for our very popular PERCH FRY.
We have decided on a new format which we believe will be very
welcomed in this area. SIV's will now be available as a BANQUET
and CATERING FACILITY. We encourage you to think of us for your
private party, office party, birthday parties, Christmas party, wedding
or any other special occasion. We can accommodate up to 100 people
comfortably with Tots of parking.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our friends and
customers for your loyal support and patience. We have thought long
and hard about this decision and have come to the conclusion that it is
best for our family.
Sincerely,
The Glazier Family
Hwy 83 at Birch Bark Trailer Park And Estates 238-8256