4 • Editorials 8 • Sports 9 • Commencement 31 • Theatre
The
THIS WEEK
Citizen
Huron County’s most trusted independent news source Volume 40 No. 28
Friday, July 12, 2024
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Amid pool decision, CH to reconsider sports pad option By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen
For dear life The Dungannon Pro Rodeo, which is circled on the calendars of many annually, went ahead over the weekend with shows on both Saturday night and Sunday afternoon. More than just a testament to rural life, the rodeo competition provides some jawdropping visuals and fast-paced action. (John Stephenson photo)
Not all of Central Huron Council is happy with the direction taken regarding the Clinton pool at council’s June 25 special meeting. At that meeting, council decided to not pursue a new pool with an anticipated price tag of more than $5 million and not offer an alternative in its place, such as a smaller, cheaper pool or a sports pad. Council chose to simply decommission the pool, plant grass on the land and use the existing building for municipal seasonal storage. However, at council’s July 2 meeting, Deputy-Mayor Marg Anderson asked about the procedure through which council could have the original motion for a more detailed report on a new pool back on the table for discussion. Clerk Rachel Anstett said it would be tricky, in that one of the dissenting councillors would have to put a motion forward before it could return after council already made a firm decision on the matter. Since that was not an option at the July 2 meeting, Councillor Jennifer Cox asked about revisiting the possibility of building a new sports pad in place of the pool, a motion that was discussed briefly at the June 25 meeting, but never formally voted on by council. Cox said that after the pool vote, she had been approached by a community member who wondered about pursuing a sports pad with the blessing of council, but searching for private funding that wouldn’t tie up tax dollars.
Council didn’t make a formal decision on the prospect of a new sports pad, but did direct staff to return with a report on the possibility for council to consider. *** After changing from the Clinton Business Improvement Area to encompass all of Central Huron several years ago, the local business organization may revert back after a steep drop-off in associate memberships. Central Huron Council discussed the issue at its July 2 meeting with Councillors Michael Russo and Jennifer Cox, the BIA’s liaison to council, telling council that the BIA has expressed interest in returning to its core mandate of keeping Clinton’s downtown core beautiful. When the BIA expanded to include all of the municipality, associate memberships were offered to businesses within the municipality, but outside of Clinton’s downtown core, in communities such as Londesborough, Holmesville and beyond. Treasurer Jeff Boyes told council that the initial draw for businesses to join as associate members was a package deal for radio advertising an offer that has since dried up. As a result, Cox and Boyes said they couldn’t be 100 per cent sure, but they thought no associate members from outside of Clinton’s downtown core remained in the BIA. As a result, council asked for staff to report back on the issue and the possibility of the BIA reverting back to being the Clinton BIA so it can better focus on its goals within Clinton.
Huron County approves bridge housing project By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron County Council has approved a new year-round bridge housing and stability program in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Huron Perth Addiction and Mental Health Services branch, utilizing properties owned by both the association and the county. The 14-month agreement, first presented to council at its June 26 meeting and then presented again, slightly altered, at its July 3 meeting, will run from Nov. 1, 2024 to Dec. 31, 2025. The slight extension - the original contract was slated to run from Nov. 1, 2024 to Oct. 31, 2025, however, feedback
from the association asked to extend the contract to more than 12 months, meaning employees would be afforded benefits, allowing the association to better attract employees. Director of Social and Property Services Barbara Hall told councillors that this program, called the Heart to Home program, is simply a return to the hotel model of bridge housing that was used the previous year, with much success, but in buildings owned by the county and the association. The program is an aid until the county’s large Gibbons Street project is constructed and fully operational. “The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) detached home offers six bedrooms with a
shared kitchen, washrooms and living space, on-site laundry and outdoor space. The Huron County Housing Corporation family units proposed for this model will be two, four-bedroom semi-townhouses that are located side-by-side and connected,” Hall said in her report to council. “Each of the two, fourbedroom townhouses will offer a congregate kitchen, washroom and living spaces, with on-site laundry and outdoor space. This will total 14 bedrooms.” Hall, also in her report, said that the CMHA has the “expertise, experience, facilities, skilled personnel, management and knowledge” to deliver the program in a “competent and professional” manner.
“CMHA has been selected to deliver bridge housing and stability services to help enable program participants who have experienced homelessness to successfully obtain and retain permanent, safe, affordable and adequate housing, as well as improve their quality of life,” Hall said in her report. “The program will include direct program supervision and assist participants with housing, stability and social inclusion on a year-round basis.” She added that the program will be provided in collaboration with community organizations in order to provide a co-ordinated supplemental housing system with flexible approaches that will meet the users’ needs.
The cost to the county for the program will be just under $500,000, with the extra two months adding just under $72,000 to the cost of administering the program. Council narrowly supported the program by way of a recorded vote, with eight councillors voting in favour and seven voting against. Warden Glen McNeil and Councillors Alvin McLellan, Leah Noel, Doug Harding, Bernie MacLellan, George Finch, Jim Ginn and Trevor Bazinet voting in favour and Councillors Paul Klopp, Marg Anderson, Jamie Heffer, Paul Heffer, Bill Vanstone, John Becker and Jim Dietrich voting against it.