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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-01-18, Page 1AT STEPHEN WATER HEARING — A third hearing on a proposed water system for the westerly end of Stephen township received favourable reaction from anOntario Municipal Board hearing held in Crediton, Tuesday. Shown above checking plans are Archibald Forsyth of the Ontario Department of the Environment, Robert Becker of Waterloo, a property owner in a summer subdivision, Stephen clerk Wilmer Wein and Kenn Dunn of the Goderich engineering firm of B. M. Ross Limited. T-A photo. After three OMB hearings Stephen to get water system GETTING DOUBI.E USE — The Community field in Crediton used extensively for baseball in the skimmer is getting plenty of use this winter as a skating rink, T-A photo. Delegation protests sewer water backing into cellar The Hon. -Charles S. MacNaughton in front of the nin warrants coy ing his record number of portfolios. After more than two years of hearings and delays, residents in the westerly end of Stephen township are close to getting a water system. A hearing held by the Ontario Municipal Board in Crediton Tuesday morning was optimistic of the system becoming a reality this summer. Hearing chairman F. G. Blake said at the conclusion of the meeting he would make a recommendation that the ap- pliatiore for a water system by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment on behalf of the township be approved. Tuesday's meeting was ac- tually the third OMB hearing on the matter. The first was held in July of 1970 when the application was turned down because only objectors were in attendance. Township officials did not realize at that time that those in favour needed to attend. A second hearing was called for August 19, 1971 and only an in- terim decision was given because the rate structure was not complete. In his opening statement Tuesday, Mr. Blake said the Board was satisfied in the need for a system and was concerned only with equity in the water rates. The overall estimated cost of the project to supply water from the Lake Huron pipeline to summer property owners on the west side of No. 21 highway, north of Grand Bend and immediate owners on the east side is $252,090. Since the original hearing, a provincial grant of 50 percent has been promised which will cut the actual cost of each owner despite higher costs in construction. W. P. Gregory of Stratford representing Maple Grove Syndicate said his group was not objecting to the project and would put in their own system if they could be treated as a large commercial user. He was assured this would be done, Commercial users will be charged $10 per month for the first 10,000 gallons, 80 cents per thousand gallons for the next ten thousand and 70 cents for each additional 10,000 gallons. The property owner with an aveielgelt4Ontagelif15Teet and a $3,000 assessment will pay $70.59 per year for 30 years. This is based on 46 cents per foot fron- tage, a connection charge of $10, user rate of $20 and 2.03 mills on the assessment for $6,09. These charges for frontage and connections may be paid in full at the time the system is installed for $4.84 per foot frontage and — Please turn to Page 3 An announcement Friday from Ottawa by Huron MP Robert McKinley that a Local Initiatives grant of $23,517 for construction of a Community Centre for the Kirkton-Woodham area sent the project into high gear. A meeting of area residents in early November approved the project and officials were waiting for the grant approval. The building committee met Monday afternoon with officials of Hayman construction of London and architects of the firm are now drawing up plans for the 80 by 100 foot building which will be of masonry construction. The main auditorium will be 50 by 100 feet in dimensions with a tap rock floor suitable for roller skating and dancing. To the original plans is being added a 15 by 30 foot room for use by the Huron County Library. In explaining the reasons for not hiring an architect and in engaging Hayman Construction to complete the project, chair- man Bill Morley of the original committee said, "We would have had to tell an architect what we want, have blueprints drawn and call tenders. This could have cost us about $6,000, The London firm is doing the blueprints for us." Building committee chairman Gerald Brintnell said Wednesday he expected the overall cost would be under $110,000. A large amount of this will be covered in grants, In addition to the federal grant announced Friday of more than $23,000, provincial grants of $10,000 each will be received for the townships of Usborne and Blanshard. The two municipalities have also pledged $5,000 apiece. The Kirkton Community 'Agiocintion has promised $4,000 and the Winter Carnival corn- mittee will contribute another $3,600. Morley, who is also an Usborne township councillor said he ex- pected a $2,000 provincial Winter Works grant could be used in the project. If Fullerton township also backs the project another $5,000 in provincial grants is available. Brintnell said about $15,000 had already been pledged during a canvass of a small area and he expected much more could be raised. In making his announcement, R. E. McKinley said 21 persons would be employed under the federal grant. Most of this is to be used for labour. Construction is expected to start by March 1 and the building could be ready for use by early July. At their annual meeting Monday, the Kirkton-Woodham Farmers' club decided to hold next year's meeting in the form of a banquet in the new hall. Several parcels of land ad- joining the Kirkton fairgrounds property have been purchased to allow construction of the hall. Tenders will be called next week for demolition or removal of the existing fair buildings arid an adjoining house and barn. The new hall will be used in the future for the Kirkton Fair. In addition to the main auditorium and library, the new building will include a 400 square foot kitchen, a small meeting room which will be joined to the auditorium by portable doors. A resolution was approved by Exeter council this week that the press is to be notified of all special meetings, unless the clerk is otherwise instructed by the Mayor and or council. The action was taken after Councillor Tom MacMillan noted that "our past„ sins eye catching up to us”. He made the comment in regard to the fact a delegation of Carling St. residents had ap- parently been unaware of the situation council has been facing in their attempt to have the local sewer project completed. "They wouldn't have been here if we'd had proper com- munication," he said, adding that About a dozen residents of Carling St. attended Monday night's meeting of Exeter council to register complaints about the fact they are getting sewage water backing up into their basements. Frank Huff, spokesman for the group, said they have "sewage running out our ears" and said there would be an even bigger problem if nothing was done before the spring runoff. He emphasized it was not storm water entering the basements. "It's sewer water," he said, adding it was pretty rough when you had to pump sewer water out of a basement. All members of the delegation council had conducted several meetings pertaining to the subject without notifying the press or without providing the press with any information following such meetings. "We should smarten up a bit," he concluded. Councillor Bruce Shaw said the pre'es"elladTb'efietifideley the clerk just as members of council are. In a statement on the situation, Councillor Ted Wright said council members were, in theory, hired by the ratepayers and should give an accounting to the ratepayers. He said no em- ployees of big companies could spend money without indicating what they were doing, nodded their heads in the af- firmative when asked if their problem had only started since the Carling St, sewer was in- stalled. One member said that neigh- bors not hooked into the sewer were thankful they had not hooked to the facility. Works superintendent Glenn Kells said the main cause was the fact that the pumps at the John St. pumping station were not large enough and he explained that bigger pumps and a larger force main were planned in the next stage of the sewer project. Councillor Tom MacMillan then told the ratepayers that council had been undertaking steps to correct the situation since December 13, 1971 when engineer B. M. Ross submitted plans for the sewer system. He outlined some of the delays council had encountered, noting that in one instance, they had waited from June 26 to Sep- tember 12 just to get a reply to a letter from Toronto. "I can assure you council has not been inactive," he stated, adding that most of the delays were being created in Toronto. MacMillan said council members realized the urgency of the situation, but this was not shared by some people sitting in plush chairs in Toronto. Deputy-Reeve Helen Jermyn told the delegation that council had become impatient over the delays in the project and had started to make phone calls rather than write letters in an effort to speed things up. She said it was particularly discouraging to hear that citizens had problems after hooking up to sewers when in fact they had none when using septic tanks. Reeve Boyle said he was hopeful the project would get underway this year and said the Carling St. problem would be the first tackled and corrected. Huff opined that part of the problem stems from the fact a lot of water that shouldn't gets into the sanitary sewer. Kells agreed with him, noting that a number of people are hooked up directly or indirectly with eaves pipes, which he ex- plained, was unlawful. At the suggestion of Councillor Bruce Shaw, council agreed to apply to the Ontario Municipal Board for an advance in funds to undertake the changes required in the problem area. — Please turn to Page 3 Their loss was taxpayers' gain People working for nothing! It's hard to believe in this materialistic age, but that's just what members of Exeter council may have been doing at times last year. In 1972, council approved payment of $10 for each com- mittee meeting, with the provision that written reports be submitted monday night, tochot in t was indicated that many committees may have met, but because the clerk was not informed, members did not receive their allotted stipend. It was decided that to correct the situation, the chairman is to list all those attending when he gives committee reports in the future. One Hundred and First Year EXETER,. ONTARIO, JANUARY 18, 1973 Price Per Copy 20 Cents More federal aid for district, K-W hall receives $23,517 Sins etching up, will open meetings e..:RO,'&744.Mieeeee.T.:liFOKSERNMAgieee"M: Charlie resigns: 'Mom *M.:;•'EVAEVARZINEt*:',UNEWNSWAOMMYSMAMIMMEMi:vam.,Amlw!vomgnromMagMi:QESM,:.. .":''AMSARTNanritalnag nd I are going to relax' "His impact on public life, on our institutions and on the face of the province will be acknowledged for years to come." Those were the words of Premier William Davis as he paid tribute to the Hon. C. S. MacNaughton who retired Friday from public office. Mr. MacNaughton resigned both his cabinet position and his seat in the Legislature, where he Councils of Hay, Stephen, Usborne and Exeter will be asked to give serious consideration towards the purchase of a new fire truck for the Exeter area fire board. Deputy-Reeve Helen Jermyn outlined the need to Exeter council this week, saying that members of the fire board would be asking for consideration from their respective councils. Mrs. Jermyn explained that it takes a year to get a new fire truck after it is ordered. She and Reeve Derry Boyle, members of the fire area board, estimated the total cost at around $35,000, of which Exeter's share would be approxithately $18,000. Mrs. Jermyn said the present truck was 12 years old and of- ficials of the Pire Marshal's office listed the life expectancy of most fire trucks at 10 years. The Deputy-Reeve also noted that more area industries are installing automatic sprinkler systerne and the present pumper did not have the capacity to operate with them. "We'd hate to be let down some time," commented Councillor Ted Wright, a member of the fire brigade. He said the brigade Was un- dertaking more responsibility. has represented Huron Riding for the Progressive Conservative Party since winning a by-election on May 12, 1958. In paying tribute to the retiring treasurer of Ontario and minister of economics and inter- government affairs, Mr. Davis noted that Mr. MacNaughton had held more cabinet posts than any other minister in the history of Ontario and "has left a lasting imprint on the province." For the next couple of weeks, the Exeter firemen will be acting as standby for the Ontario Development Corporation at Huron Park. The ODC equipment is going in for repairs. At Monday night's meeting, Mrs. Jermyn said the four area councils would have to give consideration to giving the Fire Chief more time at that job. She said that eventually it will become a full-time Ob. Councillor Wright advised council the firemen are "a pretty happy bunch" now that they have their new fire hall, adding that he was asked by the brigade to extend thanks to council. He said the firemen have been "busy as beavers" making renovations to the former Sunoco station at the Omer Of Main and Victoria St. The firemen are donating their time to the project arid have also been donating equipment or seeking donations. "It's great to see people working so hard on a voluntary basis," Mrs. Jermyn remarked. A discussion was held regar- ding expenditures on the renovations and the property committee was asked to bring in a report as well as being given power to act on immediate needs. He said the date for a by- election in Huron will be an- nounced shortly. Mr. MacNaughton said the time had come to retire "since I now feel I have completed the major objectives I set for myself in provincial affairs and I want more time to spend with my wife and family." In a letter to Huron PC association president William Dale, he said the decision was reached only after careful and prolonged consideration. "As you will know, a variety of circumstances have changed for me since the general election of October 1971. With these changes, and considering the length of service I have given to the riding, the additional responsibilities I have carried for the government, and the obligations I owe to my wife and family, as well as to my constituents, I believe on balance that my resignation at this time serves the best interests of all concerned." At his Exeter home, Saturday, the former Huron MPP said he would take an active part and interest in politics, "That stuff can't rub off," he mused. For some time now, Mr. MacNaughton has been con- sidered the number two man in Council plaudits among the many Exeter council, at the suggestion of Deputy,Reeve Helen Jermyn, will send a letter of appreciation to the Hon. C. S. MacNaughton, who retired last week as Huron MPP and a member of the Davis cabinet. "We have been most fortunate to have had the services -of such a Man," she stated. "He has been a tremendous representative," added Court- cillor Bruce Shaw in lending support to her suggestion. Ontario politics behind former Premier John Robarts and subsequently Premier William Davis, for whom he acted as campaign manager in the leadership contest. Mr. MacNaughton was ap- pointed a minister without portfolio in 1961 and since then has been minister of highways, treasurer, minister of economics, minister of revenue, minister of highways and minister of tran- sport, minister of transportation and communications, chairman of the management board of cabinet and most recently treasurer and minister of economics and in - tergovernrnental affairs. In his tribute Mr. Davis noted "your record of public service is long and distinguished but that is not the great dimension of Charles MacNaughton. You will be remembered for your humanity and your humility, your sense of honor and of honesty, your vision and your loyalty." When asked about his future plans on Saturday, Mr. Mac- Naughton said "mom and I are going to relax." He said he would then consider things of lesser intensity. Mr. MacNaughton's first political win was considered somewhat of an upset when he won the PC nomination in 1958. The late Dr. E. A. McMaster had been considered the favorite of the five candidates to succeed the late Tom Pryde, but Mr. Mac- Naughton won the nomination on the first ballot and went on to defeat the Liberal standard bearer, Dr. Addison of Clinton. Recalling that election and those following, he said he had never faced any candidates in the local riding who didn't play the game fair and square. "There are no dirty politics in this area," he explained. He termed the development of Huron Industrial Park and the establishment of the Centralia College of Agriculture at the former CFB Centralia as the greatest achievement for the riding during his tenure. However, he said the greatest satisfaction came in helping the constituents whom he served throughout the riding. "It all starts and stops in your riding, and you can't sit behind a fat desk in Toronto without their ( constituents) support ," he explained. "I gained great satisfaction from helping people over hum-, Ps," he recalled, adding that no Huron constituent had ever approached him with anything frivolous. His wife, Addle, entered the discussion to point out that people in rural ridings communicate more with their MPPs than those in urban centres. "Yes, we know them more intimately," her husband agreed. Mrs. MacNaughton admitted to enjoying the political discussions which had been entered into at the IVIacNaughton home over the years, although she said her husband tried not to bring his problems home. "She developed a sympathetic understanding to the problems," her husband remarked. "The children are delighted," Mrs, MacNaughton said in reference to the retirement, noting that their children, Heather and John, hadn't seen much of their dad for the past 15 years. However, Mr. MacNaughton paid tribute to his children in "keeping me contemporary." He said it was difficult for a politician and a government to be contemporary over a sustained period of time as they are apt to become less innovative. He said this was one of the reasons he felt it important "to move along and give others an opportunity to serve." Two of the major issues in which he was involved were cited as the universal medicare scheme and the financial debates he had with the former federal minister of finance, Edgar Benson. He recalled that universal medicare was forced on Ontario despite the provincial govern- ment's suggestion that Costs would escalate. He said this was now proven to be true and he was always of the — Please turn to Page 3 Bell will ring one more year The Exeter town hall bell will continue to ring this year, but indications are that the tradition may be halted in the future, The matter was debated by council this week, and while Reeve Derry Boyle called it an antiquated thing that he Would discontinue, others thought it should be continued in view of the fact this is Exeter's centennial year. In fact, some wanted It heralded at other than 12:00 and CO, However, this was said tobe impractical and the suggestion was dropped. Nelson Wells will again be hired as bell ringer at a monthly stipend Of $25, Councils consider another fire truck