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The Huron Expositor, 1975-03-27, Page 1Tuckersmith _Township wants to meet again with the 160 residents of Egmondville on a proposed sewage system and treatment facilities for the hamlet before a plebicite is taken. A report on the costs of the project is now being prepared by the Ministry of the Environment, and will be ready in four to six weeks. Reeve • Elgin Th ompson Tuesday night balked at having a plebicite for the Egmondville residents when he was informed by Clerk James McIntosh that the cost of the vote would run between $100 to $500. "All we need is an expression of opinion from the residents," Mr. Th ompson said. "We don't need to -spend all this money to find out if they want the system of "All we need is an expression of opinion from the residents," Mr. Thompson said. "We don't need to spend all this money to find out if they want the system or not." No date was set for another meeting with residents. Harpurhey will have to wait a little longer before any street lights are installed in the hamlet, council decided, until some better cost estimates can be found on lighting the three intersections into the hamlet. The cost of lighting the rest of Harpurhey would run close to $5,000 which council said would add 33 mills to resident's tax bills. In other business, Tuckersmith learned that their County assessment •for this year has jumped nearly 31 per cent, and although council wouldn't give any firm commitment, taxes in Tuckersmith are likely to rise this, year. The township has the fifth largest assessment in Huron. Tuckersmith was told that the wall." Reeve Elgin Thompson said. "We can't let people move in after, everyone thought Vanastra could expand. The people have been misled by the developers," Mr. Thompson added. The sewage treatment questions were revealed during discussion of the waterworks and sewage treatment budget with four officials of the Ministry of the Environment, who run these facilities at Vanastra. The only way that more expansion could be allowed at the Base is if .a costly lagoon system was set up nearby, and the treated effluent sprayed as irrigation water on nearby land. Tuckersmith has already 'given permission to a developer to build an additional 36 houses, but in January ordered a .halt to the conversion of the former officers' quarters into apartments because they would overload the present sewage system. .The water system at Vanastra is also antiquated and is costing Tuckersmith taxpayers $2,000 per month to supply the 600 residents with water, because the system is full of leaks. Tuckersmith Telephone, names two more directors Tuckersmith Municipal Tele- phone System named two additional commissioners at their annual meeting, Wednesday night, March 19. The strength of the commission was increased from three to five members. Names to three , year terms were W.D. Wilson, RR 1 Bruce- field and Perce Johnston of 'Bayfield. Elmer Hayter was reappointed, to a two-year term. The other commissioners are Bill Rowcliffe. and Vern Alderdice. The five commissioners are elected at large from the area served by the system. Formerly, one commissioner was from Tuckersmith, one from Stanley and one from any other munici- pality. Revenue in the Telephone System was up. in 1974 from 1973 from $129,923 to $156,611 but expenses were also up, from $118,711 to $155,800. In 1973 the company had a surplus of $11,212 In 1974 this was reduced to $811. Tuckersmith Telephone secre- tary-treasurer, Mel Graham attri- buted the decline in surplus to inflation and greatly increased wage and material costs. The number of phones in the system was increased from 1878 to 2002. Mr. Graham said that.. the largest number of new phones were installed in Bayfield, both in the village and along the lake front. Tuckersmith is one of 40 independent phone companies left in the province and operates with a staff of four. JUST PLAYING — Jaqui Megeri.s, ihiee, was concentrating hard on some of the developmental teststhat children registering for Kindergarten at St. 10 Patrick's School, Dublin tried. Jaqui is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bert Megens, R.R.2, Mitchell. (Staff Photo) THE FACES BEHIND THE PUPPET SHOW — Seaforth Public Library staff member Sybil Miller, left, organized the puppet show that the Holiday Happenin_gs kids enjoyed so much. Mrs. Miller's helper is her sister-in-law, Patty Miller. Mrs. Miller made all'the puppets and' will be presenting the same show at the local- library's Easter Party on Saturday for children three to six. (Staff Photo) a. THE HURON'ExPQmon, rivieco,O, MARCH 27, 1975 — 20 PAGES Tuckersmith decides tl 0 Whole No. 5585 116th Year ' Seaforth's Recreation Committee recommended imposing a $15 per year tit surcharage on outside residents who are involved in organized activities at the local arena at their meeting last Wednesday. Lloyd Rowat heads Rec. • committee Lloyd R owat was' named chairman of Seaforth's Recreation Committee at their meeting last Wednesday night when their 1975 budget was approved. The 1975 budget .totals $20,585.00. Expenses included $12,250 for salaries, $1,110 for office expenses, $3,000 for grants ..to existing and new programs, 'T $3,335 ° for program and instruction and $400 for equipment. Revenue from government grants, registration fees and recoverable wages is budgeted at $7,844.44 for 1975, leaving a cost to' the town of $12,740.85. Members of this year's Recreation Committee are town • couneillors Charlie Campbell and 01 Bill Bennett •and Jean, HilcArand, Father H.J.Laragh, Don Bodie, Stewart Coupland, Dave Robb, Jim Parkinson, Georgina ReynoldS and George Ring. Town Clerk Treasurer Robert Franklin acts as the committee's secretary. On the recommendation of their building and property committee, the Huron Perth Roman Catholic School Board set priorities for renovations and "construction for 1975 at their meeting Monday night in Seaforth. First on the list is a general purpose room and' change rooms of St. Patrick's , Kinkora, at an approximate cost of $90,000. Next the board plans a library resource room, change rooms, a health room and making an adminis- trative area out of the existing resource centre at St. Boniface, Zurich, at a cost of about $102,000. If there is a sufficient surplus left. after these two projects are Merabers'of the Rec Committee made the move they said, because one area Tuckersmith council, had not agreed to contribute towards arena' capitol costs on a per usage basis. Tuckersmith's share of costs, on a usage basis, was„,,,ealculated,, at. $2,330 by Seaforth The three other townships whom the town asked • for assistance have contributed towards support of the arena and their residents will be able to use the arena on the same basis as Seaforth people. McKillop Township has paid $1,075, Hibbert, $450 and Hullett $200. A Rec Committee spokesman said they felt it was unfair that residents of municipalities which had not contributed would -be treated the same as those who had. . The surcharge will apply to any one from outside Seaforth and the three contributing municipalities who's involved in organized sports at the arena for example, figure and power skating,' hockey, broomball or ringette. The $15 fee will cover each resident in all activities at the arena for %year. Rec Committee member 'Jean Hildebrand said she thought that the Stratford arena charged a higher fee than that to non residents for each sport they took part in at the arena there. If Council agrees with the •Rec Committee proposal, there will be no family rate and each person in a family would have to pay the (Continued on Page ) The worry that farm drainage in Hullett would suffer when the Hullett Wildlife Management Area goes ahead with their plan -to. flood 2000 acres of their reserve in Hullett Township was the main concern expressed by members of the community who attended a meeting to discuss the plan for the Area on Thursday. The Ministry of Natural Resources plans to flood the 2,000 acres and construct a dam _in the north west corner of the area and control the water by a series, of dykes. The flooded area will provide a habitat for wild fowl and a hunting site. In Some areas water will be as shallow. ,>as two inches, but in , deeper areas limited canoeing and row ,boating will be permitted. • • Hullett Reeve-John Jewitt first raised concern about the effect of flooding on farm drainage. Ministry spokesmen said that they shared his concern and said that aquisition or compensation could be considered, if damage Board has $21,763 over levy The Huron Perth Separate School Board had an overlevy of $21,9763 for 1974, according to the financial statement for that year which was adopted at the board's bi-monthly meeting in Seaforth Monday night. HPRCSS Business Administrator JackLane said that some municipalities ' were underlevied but to a' total of only $4,400 with no one municipality over $1,000. He said thi s compares very favourably to the board's first year of operation in 1969 when the net underlevy was $40;000. The $4,400 is the accumulated underlevy since 1969. The, financial statement showed an actual revenue of $2,900,0005, $42,951 under the budgeted figure for , 1974. Actual expenditure per pupil was $694.75 and the board was under provincial Ministry of Education ceilings by $69,325. Dublin trustee Joe Looby said he thought the financial statement should be printed in local newspapers and questioned the present policy of handing copies of the statement out through the schools and. churches. "A lot of people don't get them." Mr. Lane said it would be quite expensive to advertise in all the papers in the two counties. Trustee Michael Connolly •suggested mailing a copy of the statement to every ratepayer. The board decided to look into alternative forms of distribution. Trustee Looby said Mr. Lane should be congratulated on such a good financial statement. "It's too bad it didn't give dividends", he said. occurred. Wildlife biologist Rene Jones said that the area to be flooded was very ' low, and flooded naturally every spring and some- times in the Fall. He said farming in the area had been a risk. Reeve Jewitt disputed this saying "People down there made more. money from just farming than anybody in the county of Huron." Hullett Township' farmer Nick Whyte also expressed concern about drains. Reeve Jewitt said that it was difficult for farmers-to plan - drainage without knowing what the ministry's plans are. "Drainage is the first, priority for Hullett residents" he said, Farmers, at the meeting were also concerned about wildlife overflowing from the area unto neighbouring farms and possible damage to farm lands from hunters. Natural Resources personnel at the meeting promised that hunting would be strictly controlled, Farmers should be reimbursed by hunters .for the privilege of going on their land, some at the meeting thought. Elmer Trick, speaking from the farmers' point of view, -said that he didn't think farmers should have to pay any of the costs of additional drains across their land which might be required when flooding is completed. The meeting discussed whether or not roads leading to the Management area should' eventually be paved to handle the crowds who are 'expected to visit. Reeve Jewitt said paving would be Hullett Township's decision, unless a government department would pay for it. Others said that they didn't think the public would expect paved roads in the country. "There are good roads there now", Reeve Jewitt pointed out. Canoes race on Sunday There is a lot of water flowing in the Bayfield River so there should be no trouble with canoe race contestants being stranded on sand bars when the Optimists annual race gets underway Sunday. The , Seaforth Optimists are sponsoring their third annual canoe race with proceeds for the" Bunny Bun -1 'e, the Van Egmond Fuundation and Optimist Youth work. The race ctarts at 11 Sunday morning at the Egmondville Bridge. The route continues along the Bayfield River to Tyndall 's Bridge. Bill Campbell , Alio is heading the Optimist committee in charge said a large number of canoes will be entered in the race, continuing last year's outstanding participation. The course totals 18 miles and crests will be awarded to all who participate.There are seven classes , with prizes awarded in all, 6-,000 Acres The Hullett Wildlife Manage- ment Area will eventually cover 6,000 acres in the township - perhaps one tenth of the total area. About 5,000 have *been aquired now at a cost of about $1.5 million. Ministry of Natural. Resources planner Wendy Mc- Nab said•that the plan proposal is the first attempt to look at how to deiteloi the- area and that public input is required. She said that written and phone comments are' welcome at the Ministry's Wing- ham Office. After a draft master plan is prepared financing' will be investigated and then detailed site and management plans will be done, she said. In a booklet outlining proposed plans for the area, the Ministry mentioned the possibility of moving power lines that run through the area and present a hazard to wildlife. Reeve Jewitt questioned this. "The lines will go on farmers' land if they are moved. If it's worth $24,000 to the Ministry to get rid of the lines, it's worth that to the fellow who gets stuck with them." (Continued on Page 8) There can be no more growth or industrial expansion at Vanastra unless a major expenditure is made on a new sewage system at the former base, Tuckersmith Township council learned at their meeting last Tuesday night. The current sewage plant is running a near full capacity, of , 100,000 gallons per day, and Neil McMullen, an official with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, said the Bayfield River, near Clinton could not handle any more treated sewage. Re said that the river down stream from Clinton was a very important trout spawning bed and even treated sewage- during the spring runoff would be detremental to the delicate ecological system, ' "We're up against a stone SDHS will canvas for Cancer Society Plans for the annual Seaforth Area Cancer Campaign are well advanced according to R. J. Spittal, chairman of the -local committee. Publicity material is ready for the mails and details have been worked out with SDHS students who again this year will carry out a blitz of Seaforth and Egmondville. The blitz is scheduled for Monday April, 7 with a clean up on the next Responsibility for the campaign in Tuckersmith rests with the Seaforth committee, . Mr. Spittal said and sub committees are planning details of canvasses which will be undertaken in Brucefield and Vanastra. 10 .004YOqiitiAOMNe SinglenopyX5renta- Ministry of Natural Resources are not going to reinstate the Wolf bounty in ;the province bee/1140.0 has "not solved the problem," • Tuckersmith last month' bad backed a resolution from the Township of Hullett asking that the bounties be reinstated. Seaforth has doubled its dump rental charge to the township from $600 to $1,200 and the Ministry of Transportation and Communications will continence work on traffic control signs in the township in June. There will be no tax sale in the township this year as all overdue tax bills for 1972 have been paid, and council was told that the assessment review court will be held in Exeter on April 10 at 1:30 p.m. The next regular Tuckersmith meeting will be held next Tuesday, April 1 at Brucefield Public School. Vanastra presently 'buys its water from Clinton at the rate of 50' cents per thousand gallons of water, and Vanastra goes through about 140,000 gallons per day. Because there are no water meters on many of the users homes, the Environment Ministry has no idea where all the water is going. Reeve Thompson wondered if it would be cheaper to drill a couple of wells at Vanastra because of the high cost of the Clinton water, which is caused he said because Clinton needed to break even on the cost to pump it the three miles to Vanastra. Council also discussed the possibilities of installing water meters in the homes and industries and billing the users for what they used rather than a flat rate. Tuckersmith tentatively accepted a sewage control budget of $35,360 up from $30,062 of last year, and a water' budget of $22,340 up from $15,360 of last year. That. doesn't include a . $24,000 expenditure for water. The Environment Ministry will also attempt to collect $42,000 owing to them from the Base developers for repairs to the sewage system. In other business, council* learned that they have received approval for grant applications of $21,726.95 for the Vanastia Community • Centre from the Ministry of Community and Social Services. Building permits were approved to Robert Vatr den Neucter for a spw 'barn, and to Peter Jansen for a new house in Egmondville.' WHAT ARE THEY LOOKING AT? Amusement and Interest is written all over the faces of these children who were participants in the Recreation Department's. Holiday Happenings. What they were watching so intently was a puppet show, presented by the Seaforth Public Library. The suspense filled shows, included The Three Bears, Three Billy Goats Gruff, Three Little Pigs and Little'Red Riding Hood. (Staff Photo) At Hullett Wildlife Area Effect of flooding on drainage worries farmers .RecCommiliee .0want$ $15 surcharge ,AHPRCSS sets• • 1975 priorities completed, renovations will be made to the existing main entrarree at St. Patrick's, Dublin, to provide a library resource area. Priorities were 'based on five year enrolment forecasts which show a declining„enrolment in all the board's schools. At St. Patrick's, Kinkora, the forecast shows enrolment going down from 203 in 1974 to 140 in 1979. At St. 13oniface, enrolment may decline from 243 to 181. At St. Patrick's, Dublin, the drop may be from 19.1 to 141 pupils. At St. J•ames' ,Seaforth, enrolment may decline from 191 to 125 over five years while at St. Columban School it may go ‘from 100 to 68. o- To postpone sew vote, Harpurhey Ii Environment tells Vanastra No growth without new sewage system