HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1975-10-16, Page 14THEATRE SOLD — Ye Old Theatre building has been acquired by new owners and will be known as
Ausable Centre. It will be transformed into an entertainment and banquet centre. T-A photo
GRAND BEND
AND DISTRICT NEWS
THE EXETER-TIMES ADVOCATE
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THE
TENDER SPOT
Phone 238-2512 Grand Bend
Ye Olde Theatre
now Ausable Ctr
An Ontario Municipal Board
hearing into the proposed sewage
system for the village of Grand
Bend drew a good crowd on
Tuesday but very few of the
estimated 100 people involved
had anything to say.
Apart from the witnesses
supporting the installation of the
3,1 million dollar sewers such as
representatives of the village
council, Chamber of Commerce,
Ministry of the Environment and
an engineering firm, the most
vocal members of the audience
were the residents of Southcott
Pines who were there to complain
because they weren't being in-
cluded in the sewage system.
Politicians and taxpayers alike
had expected a "hot and heavy"
encounter at the hearing and
thought a fair number of the
village property owners, par-
ticularly among the cottage
owners who make up 75 percent
of the voters list, would be on
hand to oppose the system.
Council sent out letters to all
property owners in August
regarding the sewers and then
again in September informing all
and sundry of the date, time and
place of the Ontario Municipal
Board hearing.
There were some cottagers
present to voice objection to the
system along with a few others
challenging certain technical
aspects of the system but it was
relatively quiet session, stret-
ching only four hours, much less
than originally estimated when
the size of the audience and slow
but steady pace of the hearings
were considered.
The outcome of the four hours
of testimony, questions and
debate will not be known for some
time, Hearing chairman Barry
Smith of the OMB said simply at
the end of the hearing that the
decision would be reserved and
that he and Colin Charron, the
two OMF members present,
would make every effort to have
an early decision. It is expected
to take about three weeks.
Key witnesses for the village
were Michael Latta of the
Ministry of the Environment and
Grand Bend Reeve Robert
Sharen.
While Mr. Latta explained the
technical aspect of the system,
the events in connection with the
system which have taken place
and other details such as
estimated cost, Reeve Sharen
t, offered testimony more easily
understood by the general public.
Mr. Sharen testified that the
Grand Bend councillors had run
their election campaigns based
on 1.00 percent support of the
sewers and their positions had
remained unchanged.
"The smell of sewage in the
storm sewers is so bad
sometimes that merchants have
covered the catch basins in front
of their places of business to keep
the offensive odors down," said
Reeve Sharen. He said that when
a storm drain bad been cleaned
out, human feces or intestinal
waste had been evident in the
pipes.
The only negative aspect of the
reeve's testimony was when he
called the province's policy of not
including Southcott Pines in the
sewer system "costly and
divisive". He also commented on
the co-operation "or rather lack
of it" from neighbouring town-
ships which was causing con-
siderable delay.
The reeve explained that once
the storm sewers are installed, a
target date of November 1977 has
been set, the village intended to
install storm sewers and pave
many of the roads. In order to do
this with no further immediate
cost to the village ratepayers, the
council has initiated a reserve
fund to finance the storm drains
and paving. This year council set
aside $15,000 and similar
amounts are scheduled to be
earmarked for these purposes
from the 1976 and 1977 taxes.
Ted Constantine, an engineer
with the firm of M.M. Dillon of
London testified that various
sites for the treatment plant or
lagoon had been studied but the
site included in the plan had been
chosen as the most suitable. He
also said a seasonal discharge
stabilization pond, one that is
discharged into the river only
twice a year, in spring and fall,
had been deemed best for the
village's needs.
This was chosen over constant
discharge due to the high water
use during the summer months.
He said the lagoon would hold
sewage for 200 days before
discharge during which time
treatment would take place.
Dr. Leslie Hatch of London and
Gibbs Park, Grand Bend,
challenged some of the
statements made by Mr. Con-
stantine including the possibility
of an overflow due to a natural
phenomena or human error and
also the amount of bacteria and
solid which will be contained in
the effluent from the lagoon when
it is drained in the spring and the
fall.
Mr. Constantine refuted the
doctor's challenges but added
that if it were to become a
problem, chlorination would
solve the bacteria problem and
the application of allum before
draining would lower the amount
of solids in the discharge.
Representing 119 homeowners
in the Grand Bend portion of the
Southcott Pines Subdivision,
Spence Meecham said they were
in favour of sewers but felt the
Southcott Pines area should have
been included.
Chairman Barry Smith ex-
plained that the Ontario
Municipal Board would have no
authority to tell the Ministry of
Environment to include the
Southcott Pines area. He said the
objectors could request that the
project not be allowed unless the
Southcott Pines area was in-
cluded but Mr. Meecham
refused, stating he thought the
sewers were a necessary facility
in Grand Bend but that Southcott
Pines should be included.
Bill Lloyd, chief health in-
spector for Lambton county,
testified that his department had
been "bending over backwards"
with the businesses in Grand
Bend since most of them do not
have sufficient lot size to install
proper septic tanks. He said he
had received many complaints
about raw sewage going into
storm drains and into the river.
Neil McMullen of the Ministry
of the Environment presented
reports of water testing done on
September 2, 1975 which showed
considerable pollution in the
Ausable River within the village.
Tests of drains flowing into the
river showed extemely high
bacteria counts, particularly in
the Walker drain and Legion
Road drain,
Mr. McMullen said the bacteria
readings indicated raw sewage
was flowing into the drains from
developed areas and there has
been a substantial deterioration
of the quality of water in the
Ausable River. He said it would
be unsafe for human con-
sumption or contact.
Questionned by John Walsh,
president of the Southcott Pines
Association, as to why the South-
cott Pines area had not been
included in the sewage system,
Mr. McMullen replied that soils
in the area are sandy and con-
ducive to septic tanks. He said no
reports of any sewage problem
had been received by the
Ministry from the Southcott
Pines area.
Mr. Walsh contended that
many residents of the area with
wells have been forced to
chlorinate in order to keep
bacteria levels down and
suggested that more intensive
testing should have been done in
the Southcott Pines area.
President of the Grand Bend
and Area Chamber of Commerce,
George Kadlecik presented a
brief supporting the sewers.
"I'm representing 72
businesses in Grand Bend who
feel that the sewers must be
installed as quickly as possible
and believe that the lagoon
system is the only feasible way,"
said Mr. Kadlecik.
Most vocal of the cottagers
opposing the system as presented
was Harold Skinner, He stated
that 75 percent of the taxpayers
in Grand Bend were cottagers
and they were being short-
changed in many ways. Mr.
Skinner complained on the
method of advertising the fact
that complaints for the Ontario
Municipal Board could be filed as
many cottagers do not subscribe
to the Exeter Times-Advocate,
the publichation in which the
notice appeared.
"I think we should have a
plebiscite on the sewer question
and it should be held on a Friday
Please turn to page 22
As the large crowd filed into the
Grand Bend village hall on
Tuesday for the Ontario
Municipal Board hearing into the
proposed $3.1 million sewage
system for the village, you could
almost smell blood in the air.
Almost five hours later, as the
same crowd filed out of the hall,
there was a strange quiet.
Whether they had been snowed
under with facts and figures or
simply bored with some of the
material for which the system is
designed, the estimated 75
spectators in the crowd had very
little to say. Only about a half
dozen members of the audience
took advantage of the op-
portunity to speak at the
hearing and half of them were in
favour of the sewer system but
wanted it extended to include
Southcott Pines.
No decision was reached at the
hearing and, based on past
performance, it will likely be
about a month or even longer
before there is any word from the
Ontario Municipal Board.
For those who did not attend, it
should be explained that the
hearings are conducted much the
same as a legal trial. Witnesses
for the system were called and
testified, Questions were allowed
but during the questionning no
opinions could be expressed by
those posing the questions.
"I know it's frustrating but you
will have a chance to give
evidence later,” commented
chairman Barry Smith when a
few of the locals opposing the
system got carried away.
Whether they were shy or simply
resigned to the bureaucratic
maze, few took advantage of the
offer,
Based on the evidence as
presented, I can't see how the
OMB will come up with anything
but approval for the system. Not
being an expert in sewage, my
opinions carry little weight but
the village, aided by the Ministry
of the Environment and the
County of Lambton, certainly had
the most impressive arguments,
Testimony that raw sewage is
flowing into the storm drains and
the river was certain to have an
effect on the OMB members.
The question of whether or not
the Grand Bend portion of South-
cott Pines should be included will
probably not be answered by the
OMB decision. As chairman
Smith pointed out, the OMB can
only approve or reject the system
as presented. It is highly unlikely
the whole system will go down the
amateur theatre on Sunday af-
ternoons, puppet theatre,
.children's movies, variety shows,
crafts, hobbies, horticultural
shows., guest speakers and
Provincial cultural and.
educational travelling displays.
.The company expects that
Ausable Centre will become the
focus of the community's social
activities in Grand Bend and
encourage further suggestions
from interested individuals and
groups.
Secretary of Ausabld Holdings
John Brock commented on the
acquisition of the property, "The
Centre can serve as. a much
needed asset to the village.
Mr. & Mrs. Lorne Devine
visited Sunday at Point Clarke,
with Mr. & Mrs. Ervin Latta and
family.
Mr. & Mrs. Dick Zielman,
Debbie and Angela spent the
weekend at Vineland attending
the 25th anniversary of Mr. &
Mrs. Peter Paetkau.
Mr. James Snyder spent the
weekend in Chicago,
Page 14
Times-Advocate, October 16, 1975
Sewer hearing quiet,
decision in 21 days Ownership of the ye Old
Theatre in .Grand Bend has
changed and the. building will be
converted to an entertainment
and banquet facility,
The property /has been pur-
chased by Ausable Holdings of
Grand Bend. Owners of Ausable
Holdings are a group of in-
terested local businessmen who
were concerned with a lack of
facilities for off-season
recreation and entertainment in
Grand Bend.
The company intends to open
the building within the next
month under the name of Ausable
Centre.
Ausable Centre will be
refurbished and will consist of a
large hall, dance floor and stage
with a licensed capacity of about
250 people. Included will be a
service bar which can be licensed
for special occasions and a
modern fully equipped kitchen
suitable for catering to large
banquets.
Newly appointed manager Al
Best will arrange bookings for
private and club banquets and
other functions.
Suggested uses for members in
the community include bad-
minton, bingo, euchre nights,
A safe bet
I m lllllll m llllll I 11111111111111111 III 111 1111 llllllllllllllllllllll llllllllllll !............111111111111111111IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII II IIIII IIIV ....... m ..... mmimuumn
drain because the Southcott
Pines was not included.
This area can be added to the
system in the future if it is found
necessary, The cost, based on
todays inflation rates and barring
any miracles from Mr. Trudeau's
guidelines, will no doubt be much
higher.
+. + +
In last week's T-A, a report on a
proposal regarding planning
made to Lambton county council
was in error. The report was
presented by the Southcott Pines
Association and not the
development firm of Southcott
Pines Limited as reported, Our
apologies! • ' • ,
"It's been very encouraging."
Benson Tuckey, fund raising
chairman for the Huron Country
Playhouse, is pleased about the
results of the fund raising
campaign so far.
For the first time, the Huron
Country Playhouse has appealed
to local municipalities for
financial help and have met with
a good reception so far. Mr.
Tuckey explained that the reason
for this move was due to the
provincial government.
Please turn to page 24
Ausable Holdings Ltd.
wish to announce
the opening of
AUSABLE
CENTRE
(Previously known as Ye Olde Theatre Hall)
Main St. Grand Bend
FOR BOOKINGS CALL —
238-8006 or 238-2303
The hail will be available for dances, wedding
receptions, anniversaries, banquets and most other
social events.
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Grand Bend
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