HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1986-07-16, Page 1Support strong for possible industry
BY KATHLEEN CARTER
Support seemed strong among
Brussels area residents for the
possible location of a new industry
in the village when Astra Pyro
technics Canada Ltd. held a
VOL. 2 NO. 29
Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel,
Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 16, 1986.40 CENTS
Blyth Reeve
unhappy
with waste
study
Blyth Reeve Albert Wasson at
the July meeting of Blyth village
council expressed unhappiness
about the Waste Management
Master Plan study recently ap
proved by Huron County Council.
The study, which will cost from
$150-200,000 will be funded at a 50
per cent level by the Ministry of the
Environment but will still penalize
those municipalitiesthatareal-
Related stories on page 5
ready in good shape in waste
management, he said. Reeve
Wasson said he was one of about
seven councillors who opposed the
move.
The Reeve said he had support
ed formation of a Waste Manage
ment Committee at the county
level because he thought it would
be a place for municipalities to
come with their problems and seek
solutions. “Instead they went to
the phone and called the Ministry
of the Environment (for advice)’’,
he said.
Reeve Wasson said waste man
agement is a very,very,controver
sial subject at the county level
because many of the municipalities
are in real trouble trying to find
new disposal sites that meet strict
new environmental restrictions,
“it costs so much to solve a single
problem,’’ he said.
Councillor Bill Manning said
that Blyth, with a shared disposal
site it shares with Hullett town
ship, will be penalized in the end.
Councillor Tom Cronin agreed:
“We’ve already paid (for its site)
and now we’ll pay again.’’
Reeve Wasson said he was
trying to keep an open mind on the
subject but he was still disappoint
ed. “Tome, $200,000 seems like a
lot of study.’’
Company rents Morris garage for factory
AsofAugustl, Morris Town
shipwill have a new business, with
Bob Harkness and Monty Des
Roches of R. Harkness Victorian
Millwork near Listowel as owners.
At its meeting on July 7, Morris
township council accepted an offer
from the company to rent the
township works garage and hall
which is located at the north half of
Lot 15, on Concession six, for a two
year period.
The company will have a custom
wood products business, and
currently manage a saw mill and
demonstration at the farm of Frank
Rutledge and a subsequent public
meeting, Thursday night.
The company, currently located
in Guelph, is looking at Brussels as
one of a number of possible sites for
While the adults were busy playing baseball at the fourth annual Hullett Days held July 11 and 12, these
young people took time out from watching the game to play on the equipment near Hullett Central School.
Hullett Days featured a children’s tractor pull, a pork barbeque and variety show along with other events.
Jack Armstrong was also given the award of Citizen of the Year during the two day event. -- photo by
Kathleen Carter
manufacture wooden molding.
In the agreement the tenant will
pay the owner $200 per month for
the first year and $300 per month in
the second year, adding $50 per
month for the hall rental.
The tenant is also responsible for
utilities, liability insurance, water
supply, maintenance, and will be
eligible for rent renewal August 1,
1988.
The new business will be
operated by the two current
owners, Mr. Harkness and Mr.
Des Roches, who hope to hire
relocation. It has taken an option on
64 acres on the outskirts of
Brussels as a possible site. The
plant, if built, would cost $400,000
and employ 80 people.
The demonstration and public
another two people to help with
operations.
In other business, Deputy Reeve
Clem McLellan asked council who
would be paying him for his role on
the Industrial Committee. He will
be meeting with the other mem
bers of the committee to discuss
whether he is paid by committee or
the township council.
Clerk Nancy Michie presented
council with a draft of the waste
disposal agreement with the Vil
lage of Brussels. The draft will be
finalized and presented to the
meeting were held to give the
public a chance to get first hand
information on the company and
give company officials a chance to
judge public reaction to the
location of the factory in Brussels.
council for discussion.
Road superintendent, Lloyd
Michie told council that the pit run
gravel has been completed for
1986. Councillor Bert Elliot advis
ed council of his meeting at the
Laidlaw Drain with Manfred
Loserit of Canadian Agra and Dave
Johnston of Johnston Engineering
Consultants, who will discuss the
changes of the catch basins at the
Laidlaw Drain.
Council advised that Mr. John
son should know that the contrac
tor should repair the said catch
basins.
The company makes flares and
other signals used for search and
rescue operations.
Pyrotechnics is a word that
means the mixing of certain
substances and according to the
company president, Dave Why-
san, pyrotechnics does not mean
explosives. “Explosives are sub
stances in their single form,
pyrotechnics is the mixture of
substances.’’
The demonstration included the
burning of one product, lasting
approximately 15 minutes, burn
ing off a white smoke. It also
included setting off “noise
makers,” and various coloured
smokes.
The noisemakers seemed to
have the people convinced that the
bang given was considerably loud.
Mr. Whysall explained that at the
plant in Guelph, a bunker is used
and this reduces the noise level
considerably. A similar bunker
would be used at the new plant and
would be shielded from populated
areas by woods.
The products made at the plant
are used for search and rescue
purposes, by both the Canadian
and American military forces. The
demonstration also gave the peo-
pleachancetosee “therocket”
which is hand held and is set off by
something similar to an ignition
switch. The rocket shoots several
hundred feet into the air and within
six seconds, a bright light illumi
nates the area.
At one point in the demonstra
tion, various coloured smokes were
set off which looked like very thick
coloured fog. These smokes are
also used for search and rescue,
but some people seemed concern
ed about what chemicals were
contained in the smoke and
worried about whether or not it was
dangerous.
A further presentation and
question period followed at the
Brussels, Morris and Grey Com
munity Centre.
After about a 15-minute convoy
down Turnberry Street, people
found their places, listened to
another presentation and then
asked questions. Showing concern
for the excessive smoke, the first
question was “what are we
breathing?” Mr. Whysall explain-
Continued on page 6
Blyth postpones
decision
on truck
purchase
Blyth village council postponed
a decision on whether or not to
purchase a new truck for the village
works department and Public
Utilities Commission at its meeting
July 8.
Townforeman Merv Ritchie told
councillors that he had approached
a local body shop about the
possibility of repairing the old
truck but was told they wouldn’t
even consider fixing it.
He brought two quotes for new
trucks to council both in the
neighbourhood of $14,000. In
addition, he said that a new box for
the truck would likely cost about
$4,500. The old box needs a new
floor and new steel sides he said,
and there was 11 years wear on the
hoist. He wondered if it might not
make more sense to go with a new
box.
Reeve Wasson and Councillor
Tom Cronin spoke of a new box
they had seen which could be
tipped either forward or back or to
the sides. Council decided to
investigate this and other possibili
ties before making a decision at its
next meeting.
Council voted to send Mr.
Ritchie to a special seminar being
held by the Ministry of Transporta
tion and Communications on the
transportation of dangerous
goods.