HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-01-10, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2013.North Huron says no to septic inspection program
OPP will remain
vigilant with R.I.D.E.
Hitting the road
The snow flew over the weekend, but it was clear enough
on Sunday for a little game of road hockey in Blyth. Brett
Bromley, right, watches while Phillip Marks, left, takes a
slap shot on net, being tended by Chris Bromley, not
pictured. (Jim Brown photo)
During the Jan. 7 meeting, North
Huron Township Council became
one of many municipalities in the
area to turn down the proposed
Mandatory Septic Tank inspection
program proposed by the County of
Huron.
The program, which will cost
individuals with tanks, regardless of
their proximity to vulnerable
aquifers, $31 per year, plus the cost
of having their septic tanks emptied,
once per five-year cycle to have it
inspected.
Reeve Neil Vincent stated that,
while the plan was meeting
resistance from nearly all lower tier
municipalities in the area, it wasn’t
because it was a bad idea.
“The program has met resistance
due to the timeline,” he said, adding
it would likely have been approved if
it was done as a one-time trial.
The plan would require a triple
majority of county residents to pass
meaning that the number of
municipalities supporting it is
secondary to the number of residents
they represent.
Don Nicholson, Chief Operator of
the township’s Water and Sewer
Department, explained that North
Huron doesn’t have many areas
where municipal wells are close to
septic systems, save approximately
six systems in Belgrave.
“As far as the number of tanks in
the vulnerable areas, we’re looking
at a pretty minimal presence,” hesaid.He added that he was surprisedwith some of the municipalities
turning down the plan, however, as
every municipality needs to show
their due diligence in both
vulnerable areas and the outskirts of
it.
“The cost isn’t unreasonable for
that,” he said.
Councillor Bernie Bailey asked
Nicholson if that meant that the
municipality could be held
responsible if something did go
wrong, to which he said it could but,
in North Huron’s situation, the
chances of that are “pretty slim.”
Bailey explained that he has been
through a similar program with a
cottage in Huron-Kinloss and he
didn’t see it “as that big of a deal”,
but admitted that his knowledge
of septic systems wasn’t as extensive
as some of his fellow council
members.
While the $31 annually may not
seem expensive, councillor James
Campbell said, that the problem is
the people who may have issues with
their septic system.
“If something’s wrong, the farmer
has to pay for whatever is needed to
fix that and they don’t get
compensation,” he said. “They are
worried that this is a tax.”
Campbell said he has been
contacted by many farmers and has
asked the same question of all of
them; when was the last time your
septic tank was emptied? The
answer from each one, he said, iswithin the last five years.Vincent echoed that sentimentsaying that farmers aren’t likely the
largest contributors to problems.
“I know of very few people on
farms that have a problem that they
wouldn’t want to know about and
have it remedied,” he said. “One of
the problems is that, along the lake,
the size of the lots wasn’t designed
for the people using them.”
Vincent explained that two-
bedroom cottages that once servedtwo parents and their children nowhouse two grandparents, theirchildren and their children’s
children.
“The amount of water going
through is one of the bigger
problems as far as I’m concerned,”
he said. “I know that one
municipality’s building inspector
had eight cottages on stop work
orders at one time because they were
putting in extra bathrooms without
building permits.”Vincent said that the idea behindthe program is a valid one and that,if it’s turned down now, a more
palatable option will be brought
back to the municipalities.
A motion to oppose the program
was made by Campbell, and
seconded by Councillor Ray
Hallahan. Campbell, Hallahan,
Deputy-Reeve David Riach and
Councillor Brock Vodden passed the
motion.
Continued from page 20
disappointing that we still have
Ontario drivers who feel entitled to
place other road users at risk of
losing their lives to an impaired
driver,” Lewis added.
“In light of these Festive R.I.D.E.
statistics, we will be as committed
as ever in 2013 to incorporating the
high visibility, professional traffic
stops, public education and
measurable outcomes supported by
our Provincial Traffic Safety
Program, in our ongoing effort to
reduce impaired driving on Ontario
roads,” said Chief Superintendent
Don Bell, Commander of the OPP
Highway Safety Divison.
The OPP is reminding the public
that they will continue to conduct
R.I.D.E. stops throughout the year
on Ontario roads.
The OPP would also like to thank
and recognize Ontario drivers who
kept everyone safe over the holidays
by driving sober, as well as those
who arranged for designated drivers
and made alternate arrangements for
getting home during their holiday
celebrations.
Continued from page 1
breaking out on odd-man rushes,
they probably had half a dozen to 10
odd-man rushes, but thank God for
the defence and goalie to keep us in
it, but we just didn’t have that step,
or weren’t thinking in the second,”
said Sutton.
According to the coach the
penalty kill was offensive in the
game resulting in two shorthanded
goals.
“When we do take penalties we
have made sure we shut the door and
the guys did a good job at that and
that resulted in a couple of offensive
opportunities,” he aid.
Armstrong eclipsed the 100-point
plateau during the game and he said
he was really happy to achieve the
mark.
“All the guys in the room are
pretty excited about it and I really
owe it all to them,” he said. “They’re
the best group of guys in there and
it’s really just a total team effort.”
Armstrong said it was a good
game with the Ironmen coming out
hard in the first period.
“We then had a bit of a sloppy
second, but the team played good in
the third and (netminder) Keegan
Woodman had a great time,” he said.
“It was just a good team effort in the
third period.”
With defenceman Brett Brophy
blocking shots and Derek
Elliott making some good passes it
was easy to score shorthanded
goals.
“Derek Elliott had a nice
shorthanded goal,” he said. “He
played really well.”
Elliott had two goals for the
Ironmen on Saturday and added an
assist. Scoring single goals were
Greg Scott, Ducharme and
Donaldson. Donaldson picked up
two assists and receiving single
helpers were Brayden Pellett, Cole
Pellett, Matt Baker and Steve
Kerr.
Wingham held a 3-1 advantage
after the first period and were ahead
5-2 going into the third period.
Mount Forest outshot the Ironmen
32-29 and the Ironmen were 0-3 on
the power play.
The Ironmen travel to Kincardine
on Friday for an 8:30 p.m. contest
against the Bulldogs at the Davidson
Centre. The Ironmen play host to the
Hanover Barons on Saturday
beginning at 7:30 p.m. at the North
Huron Wescast Community
Complex.
Blyth ~ 519-523-4792 • Brussels ~ 519-887-9114
The Citizen
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Ironmen play twice this weekend
By Denny ScottThe Citizen