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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-02-15, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1989. The weather has been so changeable lately that Alison Rapson of Brussels was obviously prepared for anything when she went for a skating outing on the Rapson pond south of Brussels Sunday. The cold of the weekend had once again turned to rain by midweek. County Council briefs Study accuracy questioned Brussels Council changes building permit fee Continued from page 2 $500 per year per machine licence fee.***** Council adopted a new commer­ cial building permit rate that will be the same as the residential rate. Council had earlier established a new building permit rate for reno­ vations of a straight $30. But Chief Building Official Alex MacDonald had objected saying the fee was not enough to cover his costs. So council, after some discussion vot­ ed to impose a fee of $10 for the first $1,000 and $4 for each additional $1,000.***** Council voted not to send the final $900 of its two-part fee to the Associated Municipalities of On­ tario (A.M.O.) for a pay equity study. “They’re cross with us,” Hugh Hanly, clerk-treasurer told Conservatory theory results announced Theory results from examina­ tions conducted by the Royal Conservatory of Music at Blyth United Church in December have been released. Jennifer Procter received first class honours with distinction in Grade 2 Rudiments. Sherri Lynn Lavis received honours. At the Stratford examinations Cindy Lou Bernard received First Class Hon­ ours in Grade 2 Rudiments. In the Preliminary Rudiments test at Blyth, Heather Wheeler received first class honours with distinction. council. The village had become displeased with the study when it appeared they’d have to pay an $1,800 fee and have to do most of the work themselves. “We made a mistake in the first place,” Reeve Workman said. “We got hosed,” Mr. Hanly agreed. “They weren’t doing any­ thing. We were doing everything.” Council voted to send a letter to A.M.O. saying it was opting out of the final part of the program and A.M.O. could keep the original $900 payment. Reeve Workman wondered, how­ ever, if it was worth belonging to A.M.O. at all.***** Council agreed to support the 911 emergency call system as proposed by the Huron and Perth Emergency Health Services Study. ***** Council was not in a giving mood when it came to requests for donations. Turned down were the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Belgrave, Blyth and Brussels School Fair and Town and Country Homemakers, the latter two of which were supported in past years. Road subsidies announced Three Huron County municipali­ ties will get special grants totalling $232,000 to improve Provincial Highways running through their towns, Jack Riddell MPP for Huron announced recently. Speaking on behalf of the Honor­ able Ed Fulton, Minister of Trans­ portation, Mr. Riddell said the grant, under the connecting link subsidies program, includes Huron County councillors com­ plained at their Feb. 1 meeting about the accuracy of the lifetime projections for their municipal landfill sites contained in the Stage 1 report of the county’s Waste Management Master Plan. Lionel Wilder of Hay township said the study had stated the life expectancy for the Hay and Zurich landfill site was 1995 while the township itself expected the site to last until 2019 and wondered how the 1995 date had been chosen. Howard Armstrong, Reeve of Stanley said his township figured its site would last until 2035 but the study says 1995. Lossy Fuller, deputy reeve of Exeter said Exeter has two more phases planned for its landfill site that don’t show up in the report. But Tom Tomes of Stephen township joked the study gave’ his township’s facility a long life than expected so his council was happy that the others had been cut back to average out of a longer life for Stephen’s site. Dr. Gary Davidson, director of Planning and Development and a member of the Waste Management Steering Committee, explained that the consultants had contacted several sources in making the estimates including the Ministry of the Environment, the municipali­ ties’ own engineers and the munici­ pality itself. In many cases, he said, the MOE thinks the life expectancy of the facility is less than the engineers and the munici­ pal clerk thinks the site will last longer than the engineers. Bill Hanly, county administrator pointed out that if the MOE keeps changing the rules of site opera­ tions as it has in the past the life expectancy might be even shorter than any of these estimates. That brought concerns from Bill Mickle, Reeve of Exeter who said that with the MOE changing the rules, “it makes you wonder if the consultants’ reports mean any­ thing.” He said the study could be a waste of money and said there is a question of what route the county should be going unless there is some clear definition from the MOE. Robert Fisher, Reeve of Zurich said it’s time that somebody set down some guidelines to let the municipalities know if they should be spending money on sites they have. Warden Dave Johnston said the study doesn’t commit council to any course of action and if the study suggests a solution it will be up to the council to vote on whether or not to accept it.***** A good deal of concern was expressed over the ramifications of the Ministry of Transport’s ruling that all drivers of vehicles with air brakes must have a “Z” air Brake Endorsement on the licences. All drivers must taken an examination to get the “Z” endorsement when their current licence expires. Dennis Merrall, County Engi­ neer told councillors that the examination is difficult and he had talked to people who doubted too many truckers would be able to pass the test the first time. If private truckers begin losing $91,000 to Wingham tor tne High­ way 4, Hanna Bridge rehabilita­ tion; $117,000 to Clinton to repave Highway 8 from the main intersec­ tion easterly to the town limits; and $24,000 to Zurich to improve drainage along Highway 84. “1 think this shows the provincial government’s commitment to im­ proving the infrastructure in our municipalities,” Mr. Riddell said. drivers because they can’t pass the test they may start raiding fleets like the county’s he said. He warned the township reeves that if private truckers lose their licences “who is going to haul your gravel”. The intent of the legislation is good, he said, but he didn’t think truckers needed to be mechanics \vhen it came to their air brakes, just have a good knowledge of how they worked. There is also a Commercial Operator Registration programme whereby operators will be assigned points for their trucking fleet and if too many infractions occur the licence for the entire fleet may be lifted. Reeve Mickle worried about the effect the regulation could have on volunteer fire departments. “If vehicles can be pulled off the road it could be very serious,” he said. He said he would hope Mr. Merrall would take the time to put his concerns down on paper and circu­ late it to the municipalities. ***** Dr. Maarten Bokhout reported that the move of the Health Unit offices to Huronview had been completed. He said the Health Unit would still operate an office in the Court House at least part time for Goderich needs. Home care staff such as the Physiotherapist, Occupational Therapist and Speech Pathologist working for Home Care have been notified by the Canadian Union of Public Employees that they are expected to be members of the union even though they have never been included. The news has caused some concern and led to a Ralston Purina Ralston Purina TOWNSEND FARM SUPPLY 887-9044 wishes to announce The Opening of our Bag Depot and Store operating out of Nelson Mark’s Garage in Walton. COME IN & SEE THE FULL LINE OF •PURINA CHOWS •PURINA PET FOODS •SALT AND ANIMAL HEALTH PRODUCTS OPENING SPECIALS EDEE PURCHASE 10 BAGS OF 111 EE PURINA LIVESTOCK & GET 1 FREE (FOR THE MONTH OF FEB. LIMIT 1 PER CUSTOMER) STORE HOURS: CALL COLLECT 887-9044 WEEKDAYS 8:30-5:30 SATURDAY 9:00-1:00 DAVID TOWNSEND OWNER KEN IRWIN SALES CONSULTANT delegation who attended the Board of Health meeting on January 11 saying that if they are to be represented by a union they would be applying to the Association of Allied Health Professionals: On­ tario. The negotiating committee of the Board of Health was to meet with the business representative of CUPE to discuss the situation. ***** Audited figures aren’t in yet but it appears council heads into 1989 with a health surplus from 1988 operations. Figures released at council show a $943,632 surplus for 1988 made up of $471,915 from general funds; $431,651 from the highways budget and $40,066 from the library budget. ***** Council approved a grant of $1,200 to the Blyth Festival with the question of a capital grant to be left until the 1989 budget is set up. Also approved were grants of $8,650 to the Wingham and Area Day Centre for the Homebound and $16,200 to the Huron Day Centre for the Homebound in Clinton and $25 each to the Huron East and Huron West Women’s Institute districts. ***** Clerk Administrator Bill Hanly was presented with his 30 year pin for working for the County. Mr. Hanly said he recalled 30 years ago walking into the council chamber filled with more than 40 councillors and wondering how he was ever going to get to know all those people. Since then several genera­ tions of other councillors have come and gone. Mr. Hanly will retire later this year.