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The Rural Voice, 1979-08, Page 21Rural news in brief Hanover farmer wins right to keep farming After a two year battle, Orland Magwood of Bentinck Township on the outskirts of Hanover, has won the right to continue farming. Mr. Magwood, a livestock and cash crop producer, has been fighting a bid by the town of Hanover to annex 62 acres of his 125 -acre home farm. During the two years of debate on the issue, the farmer has gone before two Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) hearings to save the farm. The land, southeast of Hanover, con- tained the farmer's barns, silos, grain bins and home. While the farmer owns more acreage in the area, all his crops are processed on the home farm. At the first OMB hearing, the decision seemed to be in the farmer's favour when the town was directed to annex a different parcel of land. However, the town appealed the decision to the Ontario cabinet which overruled the OMB on a technicality and ordered a new hearing June 9. At this hearing, the OMB approved an alternate annexation proposal presented by the town which was agreed upon by all parties. Hanover will be allowed to annex 336 acres of land, but only a 250 -foot strip at the front of the Magwood property is involved. The farmer was quoted as saying while he wasn't completely satisfied with the alternate plan, he was pleased the land on which his barns, grain bins and house stand won't be annexed. He said a S0 -foot buffer of trees to be planted on the west side of his farm and Hanover's promise that houses won't be built within 600 feet of his barns will act as a permanent boundary between urban and rural land. The farmer was quoted as saying he decided to negotiate with Hanover and Bentinck Township, where the land is located. for an alternate annexation plan, due to thelegal costs he was incurring. The farmer doesn't know how much his Ieeal "WESTEEL-ROSCO" GRAIN BINS Independent steel frame. Simple to erect. Complete with roof, roof man hole, ladder and heavy duty 20" diam. roof cap opening to accom- modate spouting or top -filling way includes door boards to pre- vent spillage while allowing visual inspection or auger entry. The auger. The walk-in door or hatch - walk -in door when applicable has a clear opening — allows bin to be used for easy storage during the off-season. Rope caulking in seams ensures weather tightness. Rodent proof integral washer bolt with locked -in non -spreading neoprene washer. WESTEEL - ROSCO GRAINBINS FARMATIC MILLS AND FEED SET-UP LOWRY FARM SYSTEMS R. R. 1, Kincardine, Phone Ontario 395-5286 fees for the two hearings will be. The town of Hanover claimed during the hearings that the media had distorted the issue, picturing it as a David and Goliath battle with the farmer in the role of underdog. The annexation conflict was featured on the CBC's program Fifth Estate, and the town officials labelled this coverage "biased and inaccurate." The Hanover Chamber of Commerce ran advertisements twice in the local paper, the Hanover Post, which outlined problems facing the town if it didn't find land for annexation. The area which the town will annex includes about 152 acres northeast of Highway 4 and 20 -acre site southeast of the town along the highway which will be used for commercial use. Another 66 acres southeast of Hanover and approximately 98 acres east of County Road 10 are to be used for residential purposes. H v - TEST READY MIX LTD. READY MIX CONCRETE QUALITY CONTROLLED CONCRETE Specializing in Commercial, Residential 8 Farm Service All Concrete Products Arrangements for concrete forming & finishing READY MIXED 420 BAYFIELD RD., CLINTON, ONT. 482-3431 RADIO EQUIPPED TO SERVE YOU THE RURAL VOICE/AUGUST 1979 PG. 19