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The Citizen, 2008-06-12, Page 6An application for a severance of farm land in Bluewater will proceed despite oppostion from that municipality and the county planning department. Decision authority on consents has been delegated to the planning, agriculture and public works committee pursuant to the Planning Act. Therefore, the consent application for a property in the Stanley West Ward of Bluewater was included for information only in the June 2 agenda of county council. The purpose of this application is to create a new lot under surplus residence policies. The severance would be approximately 3.3 acres with an existing house, shop and older barn. The vacant land, approximately 74 acres would be retained. The severance would allow for the applicant’s son to live on the property and help with the farming operation. Debate began at the committee level when members met May 14. At that time they discussed some of the merits for the severance and the minimum distance separation (MDS) issues. The recommendation from planning was to deny the request as it did not meet the MDS requirements of the provincial policy statement 2005, or either Huron County or Bluewater’s official plans. In a recorded vote, that recommendation was defeated. Another motion was brought forward approving the application with several conditions. Among them was the rezoning of the severed land to prohibit the housing of livestock in the existing structures and recognized a reduce miinimum distance separation. As well the retained land would be rezoned to prohibit the building of a residence. At the county meeting, councillor Jim Fergusson of Bluewater wondered how this happened. “Was there any new information from the planning department that accounted for changing the recommendation to deny? What came to committee to allow them to ignore the official plan.” Director of planning Scott Tousaw said there had been no new information to his knowledge. Committee chair Bert Dykstra of Central Huron, said the committee had looked at the application from a “common sense approach”. Fergusson countered, “Then we need a common sense policy that all understand.” Assuring everyone that his council too had exercised common sense in considering the request, Bluewater councillor Dave Johnston wondered if there was a process to appeal this decision. Tousaw said that as the planning committee has the delegated authority onconsent the only avenue forcouncil to get involved is toappeal. “Then, as this (severance) is not consistent with the official plan, I would like to put forth a motion that the county appeal,” said Johnston. His counterpart, councillor Bill Dowson, however, was not in agreement. “We just passed two others that didn’t meet the official plan. There is always room for moving back and forth.” Johnston said that the other examples were “very minor” by comparison. “This one by no means came close to meeting the criteria.” North Huron’s Neil Vincent worried about what the effects these severances will have on the agricultural industry. “We need to tighten the criteria to say whether we want livestock to be possible. Huron and Perth are really the only places in Ontario where you can build a viable livestock operation now.” Councillor Neil Rintoul of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawa- nosh said a county-wide policy needs to be adopted so every municipality deals with these cases in the same way. “In our’s it would be a flat no.” A-C-W’s Ben Van Diepenbeek said his council has always been opposed to surplus farm residences because they split up farms and restrict agriculture around them. Councillor Bill Siemon of Huron East said a policy might be difficult as each case is different. “Modified severances with surplus farm dwellings are good, but I don’t think you should approve all of them.” Asked about the price to appeal, Tousaw said the cost is $125 to the government, then legal costs for the hearing. A motion was made to support the county planning department decision and appeal the recommendation from committee. A recorded vote was called ending in an 8-8 split. As a result there will be no appeal. Service The Brussels Legion held its annual decoration service on Sunday. The service began with the Legion band and continued with Jo-Ann McDonald of the Legion, left, speaking before the sermon was delivered by Legion Padre Rev. Sandra Yule of Duff’s United Church. (Shawn Loughlin photo) Severance raisesdebate at county 2008 Advance Payments Program Federal Assistance to the Livestock Sector Through the Advance Payments Program (APP), producers can get repayable cash advances to help improve their cash-fl ow. As part of a national action plan to help hog and cattle producers, improvements have been made to the APP for 2008 to give livestock producers easier access to cash advances, including: • Removing the requirement for livestock producers to use a Business Risk Management (BRM) program as security for a cash advance and allowing producers to use only inventory as security. Producers are still required to participate in an eligible BRM program to get a cash advance. • Declaring that a state of severe economic hardship exists for the cattle and hog sectors so that emergency advances of up to $400,000 are available to eligible producers for the 2008-09 production period. To apply for the 2008 APP, contact a participating producer organization by visiting agr.gc.ca/app or call 1-888-346-2511. Growing Forward A vision for a profitable, innovative, competitive, market-oriented agriculture, agri-foods and agri-based products industry. By Bonnie GroppThe Citizen The Ethel euchre was held on Monday, June 2 with 9 1/2 tables in play. Winners were: share the wealth, Neil Hatt, Helen Cullen; high, Myrna Burnett, Helen Cullen; lone hands, Linda Minielly, Jean Dewar, Marion Harrison; low, Verna Crawford, Joan Jacobs. Tally card winners were: Isabelle Bremner, Rod Godden, Franie Somers, Allan Edgar, Helen Dobson, Adrian Verstoep, Joyce Alexander, Frieda D’Arcey, Dorothy Martin, Shirley Verstoep, John Subject. The next euchre will be held on Monday, June 16 at 8 p.m. 91/2 tables at Ethel euchre PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2008.