The Rural Voice, 1979-04, Page 53Perth cuts F of A grant from budget
In a 12 -to -one vote after a special 10 -hour
meeting of Perth County Council, March 13,
the 1979 budget was ratified.
The expenditures for the year will
amount to $2,704,578 according to clerk -
treasurer Jim Bell and will result in a
three -and -a -half per cent increase in the levy
to the member municipalities of the county.
The most heated debate came with the
F of A gets credit
for dam review
Perth County Federation of Agriculture
members can be satisfied that its part in
opposing the proposed Glengowan Dam
project has led to a comprehensive terms of
reference for an environmental impact
study, says Federation Director Ron
Christie.
The Staffa area farmer brought the
federation members up to date on the
Glengowan Dam issue at the March
meeting held in Mitchell
The dam was to have been built along the
Upper Thames River in Fullarton Township
for the purpose of low -flow augmentation for
the City of London, downstream. The
preliminary engineering study was
completed in 1975 however it was delayed
after Fullarton Township Council
spearheaded public opposition to the
project. The Federation of Agriculture got
involved when the Organization for the
Protection of the Upper Thames was' formed
in 1977. The organization lobbied for an
environmental assessment on the project
and that has finally lead to a terms of
reference for that study said Christie.
"The terms of reference have been in
circulation for a couple of months now and
they seem quite comprehensive", he said.
"If the study follows all those alternatives
presented in the terms of reference and does
a detailed assessment, then it will be quite
good."
Christie expressed concern that the Upper
Thames Conservation Authority will be
conducting the study. "It's part of the
Ontario Environmental Assessment law,
that he proponent of the project conducts the
study of it..one can't help but question this
part of it." Christie said its only
understandable that the authority has its
own vested interests, "You can't get around
that, its human nature".
Christie concluded that he hoped the
study isn't conducted too hastily because the
city is in such a hurry.
proposed grant expenditures. Hibbert Reeve
Ross McPhail lead the opposition to the
proposed $2,000 grant to the Perth County
Federation of Agriculture.
"As a federation member for many years I
can't see giving them a grant. If they can't
find support at the provincial level then I
can't see why we should support them at the
local level," he said.
Ellice Reeve George Wicke and Warden
Ormond Pirdham of Fullarton Township
favored the grant stating it owuld be easier
for the organization to come to the county
rather than applying to the townships.
McPhail replied that it should be left to
each of the townships to make its own
decision on the matter pointing out that the
strength of an organization, such as the
Federation of Agriculture, lies not in its
grants but in the strength of its membership.
A vote on a motion to delete the grant
from the budget passed by a seven -to -six
decision.
Perth F of A met with MP's Jarvis, Edighoffer
The Perth County Federation of Agri-
culture hadn't scheduled their April
meeting by the time The Rural Voice went
to press. The organization's directors
presented briefs to MP Bill Jarvis and MPP
Hugh Edighoffer at a dinner meeting with
the politicians held in Stratford on
Saturday, March 31.
• •
Order Now for Good Selections
FUNK'S Ft PIONEER
SEED CORN
• Certified Seed Grain
• Grass Seed
• And Fertilizers
At very competitive prices
OPNOTCH
TOPNOTCH FEEDS LIMITED
Brussels
Seaforth
•
887-6011
527-1910
•
THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1979 PG. 51