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Push is on to clean up downtown core
By Liz Dadson

Kincardine council

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Kincardine council has given initial approval to an amendment to the property standards bylaw which will help clean up Kincardine's downtown commercial core.

In committee-of-the-whole Dec. 8, chief building official Michele Barr said a request came forward to review the bylaw, regarding boarding up of windows in vacant buildings in the commercial area, particularly the length of time the boarding-up is allowed.

The bylaw already states that vacant buildings must be boarded up. However, Barr said this amendment means buildings in the downtown core must have windows and doors repaired within 60 days, in order to keep the downtown looking good.

Councillor Jacqueline Faubert said the Kincardine Business Improvement Area (BIA) requested this. "People are upset with the boarded up and dilapidated buildings in our downtown," she said. "This (amendment) is a long-awaited move."

Barr said if downtown merchants fail to comply with the amended bylaw, the municipality will go ahead and fix the building and charge the owner.

The amendment comes to council for final approval at tonight's meeting (Dec. 20).

In other planning news:
  • Council agreed to allow busking all year in the downtown commercial areas, provided the entertainers do not use any sort of amplifier, combustible materials, interfere with pedestrian traffic, impede the entrance and exit of store patrons, or create risk to public health and safety. Barr said five applications were received for busking in the downtown doing the trial period this past summer. The majority were singing with guitar accompaniment, and there were no concerns received. Final approval for this bylaw will come forward in the new year.

 
  • Three council members put their names forward to represent Kincardine on the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority: councillors Mike Leggett, Ron Coristine and Maureen Couture. Since only two representatives are required, their names were put in a hat, and Leggett and Coristine will represent the municipality. The next meeting is Jan. 14, 2011.
  • At the previous council meeting (Dec. 1), councillor Mike Leggett and deputy mayor Anne Eadie put their names in to represent Kincardine at the Bluewater District School Board accommodation review meetings for Kincardine. Their names were put in a hat and Eadie was selected as the representative, with Leggett as the alternate.
  • Council authorized the transfer of $22,473.75 from the equipment replacement reserve fund to purchase Microsoft Office licences, and enter the municipality into the Microsoft Select Enrollment.

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Monday, December 20, 2010