It seems only to make sense that both sides of a road have the same name.
However, that apparently is not the case for a road at the northern edge of Clifford.
Community Emergency Management Coordinator Linda Dickson presented a report to council supporting a move to rename County Road 1 as West Heritage Street in order to conform with the name already in use in Huron County.
Dickson was approached by the 9-1-1 [civic addressing] coordinator from Huron about the boundary road between Clifford and Huron.
“There’s some confusion with a resident in Huron County, regarding proper addressing information.”
In Wellington County, it is known as Wellington County Road 1, but in Huron it is called West Heritage Road. The road runs from Highway 9 to Grey Road 10.
Dickson said, “It actually is West Heritage Street from Elora Street North, west in Clifford.”
A number of photos were submitted noting a variety of signs. Dickson said in 9-1-1 addressing, boundary roads between municipalities do not have to have the same name. She said the system in place is able to distinguish roads based upon municipal jurisdictions.
“They can be and are very very confusing for landowners, travelling public, emergency services and provincial licensing officer.”
In 2008, the county’s roads committee recommended that if local road names were submitted, they would be given due consideration provided there was a written request.
Dickson said the change would eliminate confusion in the road name and provide a consistent name along the entire boundary of Clifford and the western boundary of Wellington County with Huron County.
She added that currently, only one property on County Road 1 would be affected by the name change. That property is currently vacant.
Dickson added that Minto Fire Chief Chris Harrow supports the change, providing the actual numbering of the properties remains unaffected.
Property numbers in Wellington have four digits, compared to the six digit numbers used in Huron.
Such a move would affect signs at the intersections of Elora Street and Highway 9 and County Road 1 and at the intersection of the road at Huron Road 35, and Grey Road 10.
Dickson said “It is a county road, so the final authority is with county council.”
She said the move would provide the same name for the entire length of the road along the boundary.
Dickson added that it might also be able to reduce the amount of signs at the various intersections.
“I think it will allow us to clean up some of the intersections which are very confusing as well.”
Deputy-mayor Judy Dirksen asked if it would really cut down on the number signs.
Dickson believes there is potential – to at least some degree. The cost to change the county road signs would be the responsibility of the county.
She had talked with the Ministry of Transportation and the indication from its officials is that if the sign remains the same size, the MTO?would consider covering the cost of it, but the municipality would still bear the cost of installation.
Council supported Dickson’s recommendation.
