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Essex Free Press (Essex, ON), 27 Sep 2006, p. 6

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RE-ELECT BRAD STEVENSON STOP! LOOK! LISTEN! and use the Rule of COMMON Brad's motto for Decision-Making: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 · Page 6 Council reviews design proposals, sees St. Thomas as model BY SARAH FISHER The steering committee for the Essex arena project is moving forward with plans to research building a twin-pad ice facility using the St. Thomas Community Complex as a model. The committee took a trip to St. Thomas Sept. 21 and concluded that the building could serve as an example for Essex with moderate costs. During a special meeting Sept. 25 the committee told town councillors the project's architects, Rounthwait, Dick and Hadley, estimated costs at $16.9 million and $15.7 million in two separate concept drawings submitted in the past month. The committee felt those costs were unreasonable. "The committee saw this and right away we said, `We can't afford this,'" Parks and Recreation Director Doug Sweet said. `It looks great, but we can't afford this.'" The town had scheduled open house meetings on Sept. 19 to gather input from the public on two design options. When the first design concept estimated the total cost at over $16 million, the committee asked for a second plan hoping to offer a lower overall price. The town cancelled the open houses saying, "the drawings were incomplete." The meetings will be rescheduled when a final plan is identified. "We said the drawings were not complete because that was not acceptable," Deputy Mayor Percy Dufour said. "There's no use showing the public a design we can't build," Chief Administrative Officer Wayne Miller added. Councillors and steering committee members briefly looked over RDH's first two proposals. The $16.9 million facility was 9,600 square feet and included a twin-pad concept with one rink having bowl seating. The plans included office rooms, a pro shop and a community room. The second option had a similar design in 8,600 square feet of space, but had grandstand seating in the building's main rink. Option three is to build an arena similar to the St. Thomas Community Complex. It was built in 2004 and cost $11.5 million. It includes 2,300 seats, is 8,400 square feet and has bowl seating for its main ice rink. Sweet described the facility as a "mini Sherk Centre." RDH has proposed a draft SENSE! VOTE BRAD STEVENSON based on the St. Thomas ice facility. The architects estimate that a 7,900-squarefoot facility with 1,000 seats based on that design model would cost around $12.5 million. 2 Councillor Ward Richard Meloche and Ward 4 Councillor Peter Timmins revisited the idea of twinning the existing arena. Ultimately council unanimously passed a motion allowing the committee to research the St. Thomasbased plan. "I think we should take a stand, pick a plan and move forward with the next step," Councillor Randy Voakes said. KINGSVILLE COUNCIL NOTICE OF PUBLIC MEETING TOWN OF ESSEX PROPOSED ZONING BY-LAW AMENDMENT TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Essex will hold a public meeting on Monday, October 16, 2006 at 5:45 p.m. at the Town Hall at 33 Talbot Street South to consider a proposed temporary use by-law amendment under the provisions of the Planning Act, R.S.O. 1990. The proposed temporary use by-law would apply to a portion of a 6.1 hectare property located on the west side of the Pinkerton Sideroad approximately 320 metres south of its intersection with County Road No. 8 (see map below for location). The subject property is currently the site of a trucking establishment (J & N Trucking). The temporary use by-law would permit the storage of wrecked vehicles awaiting transfer to an existing auto wrecker site in the Essex urban area. The vehicles are proposed to be contained within a 1340 square metre, fenced area adjacent to the existing southerly storage building on the subject property. Council is being asked to consider allowing this use to continue for a period of one year from the date of adoption of the by-law while the proponents search for a permanent site for their operation. ANY PERSON may attend the public meeting and/or make written or verbal representation either in support of or in opposition to the proposed amendment. If a person or public body that files an appeal of a decision of the Town of Essex in respect of the proposed temporary use by-law does not make oral submissions at a public meeting or make written submissions to the Town of Essex before the proposed temporary use by-law is adopted, the Ontario Municipal Board may dismiss all or part of the appeal. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION relating to the proposed by-law is available for review at the Town Hall at 33 Talbot Street South (former Town of Essex Town Hall) during regular office hours.

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