WINGHAM – It was standing room only at the North Huron all-candidates meeting hosted by the Huron County Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 29 at the Wingham Town Hall Theatre.
The stage was also filled with those who have stepped up to run in the 2022 municipal election, although some were not in attendance.
Incumbents councillors Kevin Falconer and Ric McBurney, both of the Blyth Ward, have been acclaimed to their positions on council for another term and did not participate in the meeting. Also absent were Amy Shiestel and Tanya Williams, both running for councillor in the Wingham Ward.
The 11 remaining candidates answered questions regarding their volunteer experience, plans to keep residents local, plans to improve tax rates, plans to attract new business, and support existing businesses. The meeting was moderated by Jodi Snell of Royal LePage Heartland Realty.
When asked if they were in favour of continuing the project to relocate the North Huron Museum from its present site in the old post office to the old CNR Train Station, nearly all candidates said they would support the project as it moves forward.
Stacey Boyd, running in the Wingham Ward, said she was caught off guard by the question.
“I’m not sure I am in favour or opposed because I hadn’t really thought about it,” she said honestly. “I have been in both buildings and I can totally respect the character of the current space…from what I can recall, I think the train station would be a more suitable building in that aspect.”
Incumbent Coun. Chris Palmer, running in the East Wawanosh Ward, said he is still in favour of the museum relocation.
“The building is a little bit small but then they can rotate the artifacts so it could work…I do see it as a good thing. The old building was going to cost way too much to refurbish and put an elevator in, so it is basically out of the question.”
Mitch Wright, running in the Wingham Ward, said he thinks the train station will be a fantastic spot for a museum, but he would like to foster volunteerism in the community.
“I know there’s a great body of volunteers that are giving a lot of their time to make this museum a great place and a draw for people to come to Wingham,” he said. “I think that’s really an important aspect council needs to embrace and encourage volunteerism. There are all kinds of great people who want to help out and council needs to encourage that.”
Incumbent Coun. Anita van Hittersum, running in the East Wawanosh Ward, said she supports the museum move and recognizes the importance of preserving local history.
“Last week I visited the Elementary School Fair and it taught me that it is absolutely necessary to keep our youth informed of the past and our history,” she said. “If we can make it work, without raising taxes and with a lot of volunteers, with all possible grants that we can get, then I support moving the museum.”
Lonnie Whitfield, running in the Wingham Ward, called the train station a decent location.
“Lots of volunteers have gotten involved in this and as it has been said before, people need to see what has happened and see all the artifacts.”
Paul Heffer, a current councillor who is seeking the reeve’s chair, said he absolutely supports the museum move.
“Being on the museum committee, it is going to be done with no tax dollars involved and the building being donated, it’s just a win-win,” he said. “With the volunteer base, we have people who have put hours into the plan that we brought before council and I think it is one of the best plans we have ever had in Wingham.”
Current Deputy Reeve Trevor Seip, also running for the position of reeve, said he was in support of the relocation of the museum and will continue to.
“If elected, I will continue to advocate for that museum building basically because of the accessibility that it will bring,” he said.
“All demographics of people should be able to enter that building and see our history and our treasured artifacts.”
Ranko Markeljevic, running for reeve, said he thought this should have been done a long time ago.
“I thought this was already done as it was talked about a long time ago,” he said. “Yes, it should be done; it should have been done already.”
Incumbent Reeve Bernie Bailey, seeking his second term as reeve, said he is a big supporter of local history.
“Anyone who comes to stay at my house knows they will be delving into history for hours,” he said. “I am in favour 100 per cent.”
Kelly Tiffin, running for councillor in the East Wawanosh Ward, said she was on the fence.
“Although I’m not familiar with the expenses, I can say I love the character of the old post office and I have fond memories of visiting the museum as a kid,” she said. “It is sad that it wasn’t visited more often. Sure, accessibility is likely a large issue and, unfortunately, I have not been in the train station so I don’t know if that’s a better option… but if elected I would review all of the information and determine what is the best for the entire community.”
Stephen Hill, running for a councillor position in the Wingham Ward, was the lone candidate who did not support the museum move.
“I believe that deal should be re-examined,” he said. “The estimate of $4 or $5 million to bring the old building up to code should be reviewed as well because I think that is astronomical.”
Howson Dam refurbishment
The candidates were more divided when asked if they would support replacing the Howson Dam with money fundraised by volunteers.
Palmer was first to answer the question, in the randomly selected order for councillor candidates.
“Council has voted to take the dam out and that is where we are standing today,” he explained. “This question is perhaps a future question that has not come to us. Would I be in favour of it? I question that $2 million because unless they could fundraise it in a couple of months the cost will change. We know the cost of construction is going up. If it is two or three years or whatever their request would be, I doubt that would be enough to replace it.”
Wright said he doesn’t understand the current council’s dismissal of the ability to fundraise.
“One thing I don’t understand about this council is they’re dismissing the ability to fundraise from this community without even trying it, without even doing a fundraising feasibility study in order to see if the community would be willing to do that fundraising,” he said. “I sat on the Howson Dam committee of council, we received an engineering presentation … the engineering report says that one option is $2 million. So yes, I say give the community a chance.”
Van Hitttersum said the $2 million engineering report was only one of many reports received over the course of 20 years.
“I am not in favour of rebuilding the Howson Dam. It is proven that it is a breached foundation, so it will never be enough,” she said. “I think if the community wants to fundraise it should be done for the hospital for a new CT scanner, for example, because that will benefit the whole community.”
She added that she encourages everyone to look at the Gorrie Dam refurbishment.
“The Gorrie Dam was owned by Maitland Conservation and it had to be taken out because it was breached. How they repurposed the area is just beautiful to see.”
Hill said he is in favour.
“If the public wants to raise $2 million, or whatever the price is, absolutely,” he said. “It is a shame that so much money was spent – there was over $150,000 set aside at one point to maintain the dam, but it was spent on deciding whether they should maintain the dam instead. I am certainly in favour, it is one of the few recreation (amenities) around here that is of no cost and it always used to be popular. It is a shame that it is gone and not being utilized.”
Whitfield said if the cost is correct he is in favour.
“I would be in favour if the $2 million is the correct number because it does beautify the town when the water is higher,” he said. “It would look much better and I would really appreciate that.”
Heffer said he could not support this.
“It has been condemned for over 30 years,” he said. “It seems like each council over the years has turned a blind eye to it, but we made a decision and it was a five to one decision to decommission it and I stand by that.”
Seip said his opinion has not changed.
“I was an advocate during this past council term, to allow the citizens of North Huron to fundraise if they so choose to bring that dam back to reality and to bring the pond back to the Maitland River. That has not changed and it will not change,” he said. “As long as it is a community-driven effort and the tax base is not affected… I have no concern with supporting that infrastructure being replaced.”
Markeljevic said this is more of a theoretical question.
“In theory, anything that can be done for free to the taxpayer, go for it,” he said.
Bailey said he is and has been in favour of bringing the water levels up for many years.
“This has been a 40-year journey,” he said. “This has dragged on and on and it is something I hoped I could do a proper job of. Whether the dam is kept or not it is a liability. If somebody gets hurt there we know it is a liability, therefore, it has to be taken down. As far as what is put there … whatever you want to put there so that we can use that and see that beautiful river. I am all for that.”
He added that this township does not have the tax dollars to rebuild it.
“I am all for anything to do with volunteers working to bring those water levels back up, whether I am on or off council.”
Tiffin said she is open to discussing this in the future.
“I miss the river. I can remember fishing, swimming, and waterskiing at one time,” she said. “I know that is something that is probably not going to happen again, but I do agree with Mitch – if there is an opportunity to repair the dam with fundraising, the option should be examined.”
She added that she agreed with van Hittersum regarding the beautification of the Gorrie Dam.
“I would like to see something happen there,” she said.
Boyd said although she understands the attraction, it is not something she can support.
“I can’t see our tax base putting us in a position to save the dam,” she said. “I’ve been involved in a lot of fundraising and $2 million for saving the dam is a pretty challenging target. I’m sure the hospital could tell you that it is just not that easy and I would prefer to see the fundraising dollars directed there for healthcare.”
Neighbour relations
Although it was directed solely at Heffer, all reeve candidates answered a question about mending the working relationship between Morris-Turnberry and North Huron.
Heffer said he “is only one vote, but with a council behind him he believes it could be fixed quickly for the betterment of our communities.”
Seip said his advocacy for that relationship comes down to respect for different opinions.
“Morris-Turnberry council and Morris-Turnberry residents have an opinion, and the council makes their decisions based on their ratepayers,” he said. “We need to respect those opinions; we may not accept them, but we need to respect them. We need to advocate for unity and collaboration. And that’s where I see my leadership to be different.”
Bailey said North Huron and Morris-Turnberry have been able to work together at the county level.
“In the last year, Paul’s brother and I have been able to put forward five motions… we have worked together on five motions at the county level. I’m not sure what everybody is saying about this terrible relationship.”
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The entire event was live streamed on the Huron Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page and the video will be available online until after the 2022 municipal election on Oct. 24
