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Lakeshore Advance, 2013-03-27, Page 22 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, March 27, 2013 Bluewater Youth Detention Centre to be handed over to Infrastructure Ontario Building sits empty one year after closure Melissa Murray QM! Agency The Bluewater Youth Detention Centre is just days away from being handed over to Infrastructure Ontario after sitting empty for one year. The closure was announced during the provincial budget in March of 2012, and put 200 people out of work. "I'm usually disappointed with how slow the government moves, but this was done in a hurry," said Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn of the closure, adding not a lot has happened in the last year. "We are just waiting to hear. We will see what Infrastructure Ontario's thoughts are. They said they would let us know," he said. The provincial government has per- formed environmental studies on the building, which were to be finished by the end of 2012, but will be completed by May of this year. Ginn said he does know that no other ministry in the federal or provincial branches of government wants the build- ing, the property and facility and the 300 acres property would be too big a project for the municipality. "We would partner with the county to snake sure it becomes something that will create or bring jobs with it rather than make it into a residential subdivision," he said. "It's too valuable for job creation:' Ginn said the taskforce that was created to look into the centre does have a wish list for the facility and ideas being thrown around include changing it into a resort, using it for the wine industry, or using it as a college. Eric Lubbers, an 11 -year employee at the facility, just hopes the building and property isn't sold off for a one-time profit, without any foresight into what the build- ing could be. Lubbers started a petition one year ago, collecting over 5,700 signatures that asked for the province to consider using the building as an adult facility. That retrofit, could have saved the prov- ince jobs and made space in an over- crowded system. The petition did receive an official form letter from the provincial government, The Lakeshore Advance office will be Good Friday, March 29th Deadlines for April 3rd paper Advertising & Editorial will be Thursday March 28th @ 2:00 pm 58 Ontario St. N., P.O. Box 1195 Grand Bend, Ontario NOM ITO 519-238-5383 Email: lakeshore.advance@sunmedia.ca thanking Lubbers for his inter- est, but assuring hint the adult facility wasn't in the plans. Since then, Lubbers has found full-time work as a youth worker and also sells promotional products in Clin- ton for RPM Promotions. I lis wife Kelly is an independent consultant for Steeped Tea and together, they have "made it work", so that their family, including their four sons, could stay in Clinton. "The way the closure hap- pened was very disrespectful to the community," said Lub- bers, who still sees that the facility would be best used for adult offenders. "it's a decent facility and the Ontario government isn't putting it to good use. Instead they are building million dol- lar facilities elsewhere," he said. After the closure, Lubbers said he and his wife toyed with the idea of moving to Windsor, but with Lubbers being from Clinton, friends and support becatne more important than jobs and money, Many employees were pro- vided with training to enter the adult corrections department and took jobs in Milton, Lon- don or Stratford, while others were scattered between Ham- ilton, Lindsay, Penetanguish- ene, Windsor and Brampton. Although Lubbers said he doesn't regret getting out of the Ontario Protections serv- ices, if the government did "do the right thing" and create an adult corrections facility, he said he would consider applying. 13en (,ingerich, also a former employee of the Bluewater Youth Detention Centre, was able to turn his hobby into a career, by creating his own roasted and blended coffees called Coastal Coffee Com- pany. In a year, he has already decided to expand and relo- cate to a location downtown Zurich, where he will work to supply 35 locations. "This was an opportunity to take the leap and move onto something new," said Gingerich. "The closure trampled the local economy, with spinoffs affecting the real estate market and local businesses. It was a big loss and while I'm support- ive of a healthy government, I disagree with what happened. That facility had a lot to offer, from the grounds, to the staff;" he said. Since the closure, he hasn't looked back, and is looking forward to building the econ- omy back up through his com- pany's relocation to downtown Zurich. With all the jobs that were lost and the effects felt by surrounding communities, he and his wife Brianna, who is a stylist, and opening her own studio in the village, are look- ing forward to being a part of revitalizing the community. "We're local. If we aren't willing to do it, then no one FECKITT'S MEN'S WEAR Except 1()llill Easter elle Special Serle Hours cams - 3l)nl F i(Iav March 29tH Suits $199 t() $299 SI)()rt(1oats ,'99 to $19(I 519-238-6165 ii OI11 11'1(1 �(, (ir;iiitI 1it`in1 else will be," he said. Until infrastructure Ontario decides the fate of the building and lands, the municipality is looking at having Ml'AC assess the property, which alight force the government's hand. Right now the municipality is receiving taxes based on the heads and beds tax, which only gives them about $5,500 a year. Ginn feels this could be the hest way to make the gov- ernment hurry up on their decisions lithe building is assessed for its $11 million value. J "We get more tax dollars for someone. garage on their cottage on the Lakeshore," said Ginn. ■ OPP REPORT Break and enter leads to extensive basement flooding I luron OPP officers are investigating a break, enter and theft to an unoccupied residence located on York Crescent in Iiensall. On March 14, at approximately 9:00 p.nl. officers responded to the premise after receiving Bell telephone information of unknown trouble with the phone line. Upon arrival officers located it smashed out basement win- dow. Further investigation revealed the main water line from the water heater had also been damaged causing exten- sive flooding throughout the basement. Officers then detected a carbon monox- ide leak within the residence. 1lensall Fire Department personnel attended the scene to safely shut off the leak and ventilate the residence. '1\vo OPP members were treated and released from South I luron Hospital as a precat, tion for carbon monoxide exposure. Approximately $2,500 in property was' stolen and the flooding caused an esti- mated $15,000 to $20,000 in damage to the residence. Among the stolen items include: 15 bottles of alcohol, 2 cartons of Player's Light cigarettes, 8 gift baskets containing alcohol and a men's gold necklace. Any person with information regard- ing this incident should illlllle'diately contact the l luron OPP at 1-888-310- 1122 or (519) 52,1-831.1. BBQ STOLEN FROM BACKYARD 1luron OPP officers are investigating the theft of a stainless steel barbecue and attached cover stolen from the backyard of a Sanders Street West residence. 'this theft took place sometime between March 11 and March 15. The value of the 1313Q is estimated at $500. 'I he owner was unable to provide further details on the 13BQ. Any person with information regarding this incident should immediately contact the I luron OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or (519) 524- 8314.