Mechanical bull okayed for Tiverton Reunion
By Liz Dadson

Kincardine  Council

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You'll be able to get your kicks, quite literally, at the Tiverton Reunion.

Organizers are bringing in a mechanical bull to liven things up for the homecoming which runs July 31-Aug. 3 this year.

Deb Cote of the reunion committee told council she had heard there were concerns about this event. She said the equipment is being brought in by Superior Events which has had no complaints or accidents with the machine for 12 years. It will be manned by company staff who will control the speed of the bull.

"I think the mayor and deputy mayor should try it out first," joked councillor Gordon Campbell.
"I'd like to control the speed then," added councillor Guy Anderson.
"If you don't give them (organizers) this, they'll just go get a real bull," added councillor Mike Leggett, with a laugh.

Councillor Marsha Leggett asked councillors if they were concerned and found nobody had a concern. "I think our clerk was just checking to make sure this event wouldn't be a problem with the insurance coverage," she said. "That's her job and it's due diligence for something like this."

Clerk Donna MacDougall said she had contacted organizers at the Barrie Waterfront and was told they are not bringing in the mechanical bull because it is a high risk event. "I wasn't sure if we wanted it at our event," she said.

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26/05/2009 07:25 PM

 In a related matter, council has agreed to allow the emergency access gate in Inverhuron to be opened during the Tiverton Reunion. The reunion committee wants to use buses to transport people during the weekend and one of the routes takes the buses through the Inverhuron area where the gate is located.

Municipal policy states that the access gate is to be opened only upon special request from Bruce Power to allow its buses and/or emergency vehicles to transfer staff.
The committee had asked for the gates to be open during bus operating hours (late afternoon to about 3 a.m.) and Ken Young would be responsible to open and close the gates each day. However, the clerk noted that public reaction to the gate being left open the entire time may be an issue for residents in the immediate area and recommended that the bus driver open and close the gate on each run through the area.

Council granted an exception to the municipal policy, but the gates must be opened and closed during each bus run.

"We're not against the reunion committee," said Marsha Leggett. "This council is in agreement."

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