HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1994-02-09, Page 1PUBLISHED IN
LUCKNOW, ONTARIO
Wednesday,
February 9, 1994
55g
G.S.T. Included
OMB delivers decision on Grierson
appeal; council seeks legal advice
WEST WAWANOSH - Almost
five months after an appeal by
Beverley Grierson to the Ontario
Municipal Board, to redesignate a
township road with no maintenance
to a road with maintenance, a
decision from board chairman A.B.
Ball has been delivered in favor of
Grierson.
However, this doesn't put an end
to the dispute between West
Wawanosh Township council and
Grierson. Citing lack: of time to
properly consider the contents of
the decision, council, during the
Feb. 1 meeting, deferred the matter
until obtaining legal counsel. A
copy of the OMB's decision was
not received by the municipality
until the morning of the council
meeting.
Beverley and Peter Grierson at-
tended the meeting•seeking an
indication from council as to its
intentions.
Grierson is the owner of 190
acres of. land at Lot 21, Conc. 8,
purchased in Sept. 1990. The north
end of the property fronts on Huron
County Road, 20, which is not ac-
cessible by motor vehicles to the
house because of the pond and
surrounding wetlands. The easterly
side • of the Lot 21 fronts on an
unopened road allowancewhich 'is
heavily wooded. That same road
allowance (between Lots 21 and 22)
extends southerly as an open road
allowance, but the portion of the
road through Conc. 7, immediately
south of the subject lands, was
identified on the Official Plan as
"local road - no winter main-
tenance."
Numerous exhibits were presented
by counsel for both parties during
the OMB hearing on Aug. 31 and
Sept. 1, 1993. Testimony was also
heard from -past and present council
members and employees of the
township.
The OMB's decision reads in
part: "They (Griersons) have made
a strong commitment as ratepayers
in the Township and are entitled to
the consideration normally accorded
to any ratepayer. They consulted. the
proper authorities before finalizing
the purchase of their lands, and
they commenced construction of
their home with a building permit
duly authorized by' the Municipal
Council. '
"They have not demonstrated any
disregard for environmental con-
cerns, but have made a considerable
expenditure to provide vehicular
access to their house from the
southeasterly corner of their lands.
That point of access (the
southeasterly corner of this land)
abuts an established public road•
allowance, that being the side road
between Lots 21 and 22 and exten-
ding from their lands southerly to
the 6th Concession Road.
"The Township held that that road
was not constructed to normal
Township standards and would not
receive -any -winter maintenance. To
that end, Schedule 'C' Roads Plan
in Amendment No: 62 so designates
the road. However, the evidence
shows that in years past including
1991 and 1992,.the Township car-
ried out tninimum improvements to
the road and sometimes ploughed.
snow on the road. The evidence
• also shows that the Township coun-
cil was aware of the problems with
access to County Road 20 and
'therefore the need to have access to
the side road. By the very action of
receiving a building permit for the
house the Griersons were en-
couraged to build their house..
"This Board therefore is of the
opinion that, without destroying any
planning rationale of the Official
Plan, amendments should be made
toensure proper access to the
Grierson lands. •
"The Board is also aware that it is
not uncornmon for ratepayers to
share in die costs of improving road
access for new residential uses,
even on fairly- remote lands.
Therefore the Boaitl will approve
certain modifications to Amendment
•turn to page 2
No injuries in tanker rollover
Total whiteoutconditions were the contributing
factor when ' a transport tanker, owned by Energy
Transportation of Milton, rolled over on Huron Road
1, just north of Belfast.
The accident occurred around 11:30 p.m. on Feb. 2.
Goderich OPP report that Russell Ristau, of Mitchell,
was northbound with a load of propane, travelling at
approximately 30 km/hour, when he caught the right
shoulder of the road and lost control. The vehicle
entered the right ditch and rolled onto its side.
Grant Allen, general manager of operations at
Energy Transportation, says Ristau was not injured in
the accident. Allan reported that the cab of the truck
sustained minor damages, in the $4,000 to $5,000
range. There was no leakage.
Ristau stayed at an area farm house until crews
arrived on Thursday morning to assess the damage
and upright the truck. Three cranes were used to put
the truck back on the road. Allen says it would weigh
in the vicinity of 140,000 lbs.
The Lucknow and District Fire Department was
called out to assist with traffic control on Thursday,
between 11:30 a.m. and 2:3Q p.m., while the cranes
were working. Traffic was detoured at the 12th
concession into Ashfield or West . Wawanosh
Townships.
Allen says once the truck was back on the road it
continued on to its destination, Superior Propane in
Walkerton.
A transport tanker hauling propane roiled over on 'the east side of Huron County Road 1,
just north of Belfast on Wednesday night. Total whiteout conditions were present at the
time. The driver caught the right shoulder of the road resulting In the truck rolling onto Its
side. No Injuries were sustained by the driver. Estimate of damage to the cab of the truck
is the $4,000 to $5,000 range. (Pat Livingston photo)
Instabank Machine
coming to Lucknow
The perseverance of the executive of the Lucknow and District
Chamber of Commerce has paid 'off. ,
On Monday, the Bank of Montreal announced' that it will install an
Instabank automated banking machine at its Lucknow branch to provide
added convenience for its customers throughout the area. Branch
manager John Pollard says the machine will be installed by Apr. 30.
The Chamber of Commerce began efforts in .earnest last spring to
Obtain a banking machine. At a meeting on Sept. 22, Bank of Montreal
officials indicated that Lucknow was getting closer to the top of a list,
but wouldn't say exactly what position the village was in. Indications
at that time were that the no banking machine, either an automated or
cash dispensing, would be forthcoming.
In Monday's press release,, Pollard says, "Our customers, including the
local business community, made a very persuasive case, and we're
paying attention to what our.. customers say."
Using an Instabank machine, Bank of Montreal customers can conduct •
their banking 24 hours a day,seven days a week. For no additional
charge, customers can make withdrawals and deposits, transfer funds
between accounts, pay certain bills including, phone and utility • bills,
and get account balances. .
Customers of any financial institution belonging to the Interac network
can also use the Instabank• for cash withdrawal$..
Pollard added, "The Bank of Montreal is committed to providing
convenience of access to its customers. That's why we are so pleased
to be adding this machine to Bank of Montreal's nationwide network of
more than 1,500 Instabanks."
•
Greenway Project eet gears
up for spring activities
Although the weather •is not con-
ducive to thinking spring, plans are
underway for 1994 activities for the
Lucknow Community Greenway
Project.
The Project encompasses three
components: the possible develop-
ment of recreational facilities
including a scenic walk with
boardwalks and bridges; the plan-
ting of trees, shrubs and
wildflowers along the rivers; and
improvements to fish habitat. -
The partners in the. Greenway
Project include the Village of Luck -
now, Maitland Valley Conservation
Authority, Ministry of ' Natural
Resources, Environmental Partners
Fund, the Lucknow and District
Lions Club, and the Lucknow and
District Horticultural Society.
Paul. Weitendorf, communications
co-ordinator for MVCA, says about
600 trees; shrubs and wildflowers
were planted on public lands, as
part of the Project, in 1993. Eight
landowners took part by having
about 180 trees and shrubs planted
on their properties.
Inaddition, a public planting day
was held on May 8, and in the fall,
students , from Lticknow Central
Public. School's nature club planted •
trees and shrubs on the school
property.
The tree and shrub plantings are
being co-ordinated by the MVCA.
In October, service club represen-
tatives and village council members
met to decide. which recreation
projects each would be willing to
undertake in 1994.
The Lions Club, Legion, Horticul-
tural Society, Kinsmen and Lions
Ladies were represented..
The Lions Club will be under-
taking fund-raising to construct a
stone dust path at Waterworks Park.
The Legion will provide a second
.bridge at the park to cross over
Dickie's Creek.
The Horticultural Society will
consider donating funds to repair or
replace the other existing, bridge.
Lucknow council indicated that it
would be responsible for arranging
for the construction of picnic tables
and benches for the park. Funding
for these items has been donated by
the Junior Women's Institute and
St. Peter's Anglican ' Church
Women.
As part of the scenic walk
through the village, a boardwalk has
been ,;planned, to be located on the
Elgin Street road allowance leading
aura to page 2 '
ow COC
elect' new
executive
This premises ises to bean
inmadng year l'ar.,the uck«
now and> .' yet Cham of
?unnerve with Many n
fps and stet ideas .
to pate; mow the
surroundingCommunity.
At the Feb, 2 meeting Irene
Dickie waselected as
Presidents with Vicky Mor-
rison as vice, 'Wayne
McDonagh as treasurer,' and
Karen: Siegfried as secretary.
kat Livingston and Richard.
Askes will co-chair the
publication relations commit-
tee, and Tom Thompson is
chairman of the fund-raising
committee. Pat McKillop
heads up the advertising
committee.
Various business matters
were dealt with along with a
quick review of the Ctristmas
promotion:.
Chit. going president Ben
lfogervorst and his executive
were thanked for an excellent
Year.
"tire . COC meets the first
Wednesday of each month, at
8' a.m. sharp at the Mayfair
Restaurant. The next meeting
is Marr. 2. All members of the
COC. or those who would be
interested in becoming mem-
bers, are welcome to attend.