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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 1992-04-08, Page 13THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8,1992. PAGE 13. Reeve predicts dramatic changes Scouts plan fundraising BY LISA BOONSTOPPEL-POT Disentanglement will have dramat ic effects on Huron County munici palities local officials were told at the Huron County Municipal Officers Association held Friday in Blyth Memorial Hall. "Changes in municipal operations could be dramatic" Bill Mickle, the chairman of OSUM (the small urban municipalities section of the Associa tion of Municipalities of Ontario) predicted. He, along with Hullett Township Reeve Tom Cunningham, Disentan glement Secretariat co-chair Bob Foulds and Chairman of the Associa tion of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) Helen Cooper made up the panel of speakers discussing Disen tanglement and the Possible Effects on Huron County Municipalities at the meeting. Disentanglement refers to the provincial government's plan to shift control of such things as policing, roads, welfare, water and sewage to its proper jurisdiction. Mr. Mickle said while the theory is good, it could negatively affect some municipalities if they have to take control of government services they can't afford. Reeve Cunningham agreed. "We do want to become more effi cient but some of the changes recom mended by the provincial government could lead to reduced service on such things as rural roads," he said. Part of the problem is the provin cial government's lack of understand ing of rural life he told the gathering. "They (the government) don't seem to realize rural roads are the life blood of our townships and need to be serviced," he said. They also don't understand that we don't need to have our roads and homes constantly mon itored by police." The issue of who will pay for Ontario Provincial Police services is a controversial one because it's a costly service. As co-chair of the Disentanglement Secretariat, Mr. Foulds said he's dis covering that different municipalities want different things which is tan gling up the whole issue of disentan glement. But he tried to relieve Reeve Cun ningham's concerns by revealing that the government is planning to pro vide ample opportunity for input into the disentanglement issue. "Expert panels of consultants will be set up for municipalities to pro vide their concerns to," he said. speaker Mr. Mickle was that munici palities wouldn't be treated as equals with the province throughout the dis entanglement process. "We should only enter into an agreement if we're treated as equals," he said. He told the crowd AMO should support the idea of a munici pal charter to protect municipalities. Fellow panelist Helen Cooper, president of AMO, said the idea of a municipal charter is "excellent" but said "there are still issues that have to be resolved to ensure equity between levels of government." She concluded the panel discussion by ensuring the municipal leaders in attendance she's confident municipal government will not become redun dant and will continue to have an With two months left in the Scout year, Group Committee is making plans for year-end fundrais ing events in order to have a good foundation for the 1992-1993 sea son. At the end of April the boys will be planting 2,100 trees for the Trees for Canada program. Because the Scouting movement is keenly interested in Conservation and the Environment this is a program designed to replenish diminishing forests. May 2 there will be a bake sale in front of Blyth Decorating from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. At the same time the boys will canvass the town col lecting bottles. Anyone who has bottles they would like to con tribute prior to the day may drop them off at Joan Clark's, 251 Dins- ley St., or Connie Bromley's Hamilton St. Huron-Bruce twins with Athabasca Another concern raised by panel important say in decision making Disentanglement Township of Hullett Reeve Tom Cunningham addressed members of the Huron County Municipal Officer's Association Friday on the issue of disentanglement. Also speaking on the topic was town of Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle. Septic tanks discussed at meeting BY LISA BOONSTOPPEL-POT New home builders are going to need more land if they intend to install septic tanks. That's the warning municipal lead ers were given by John Longworth of the Ministry of the Environment at the Huron County Municipal Offi cer's Association meeting held at Memorial Hall in Blyth Friday. He was invited to speak by the association on Environmental Regu lations and their Impact on Huron Country Municipalities. "Huron County will require larger lot sizes for builders installing septic tank systems," said Mr. Longworth. "This will increase the price of the lot and likely accelerate the loss of agri cultural land." New environmental regulations for sewage systems also means the Min istry will require: before granting approval certificates -greater municipal commitment to monitor new systems -a need to inventory existing septic tank systems to ensure regular emp tying, and -better plans for system upgrading He also said municipalities will have to look at developing a settle ment plan so choices can be made where growth can best be accommo dated. "Such a plan may also mean municipalities will have to cap devel opment where soil and water condi tions pose high risk with the use of septic tanks," he revealed. Mr. Longworth said Huron County is already ahead of the game because it has embarked on a Rural Services Study. But the new regulations on septic tank installation worried one munici pal leader who asked Mr. Longworth how much larger lot sizes will have to be to accommodate a septic tank system. There were a few audible sounds of surprise when Mr. Longworth answered as much as two acres for highly porous soils and up to an acre and quarter for tighter soils. It's all in an effort to protect the environment, he concluded. The federal riding of Huron- Bruce has been twinned with the riding of Athabasca (Northern Alberta) for Voyageurs Canada 92, Murray Cardiff, M.P. announced today. Voyageurs Canada 92, the largest youth exchange program in Canada's history, was announced April 2 in Ottawa by Robert R. de Cotret, Secretary of State of Cana da. Up to 125 young people from Huron-Bruce will be taking part in the program, Murray Cardiff said. Voyageurs Canada 92 is a joint program between the Department of the Secretary of State and Canada's 295 Members of Parlia ment in partnership with Air Cana da. It gives young Canadians the opportunity to travel free to differ ent regions of Canada to leam more about their country, their communi ties and their fellow citizens. Voyageurs Canada 92 is open to Canadian citizens and landed immi grants between 16 and 21 years of age as of July 1, 1992. The dead line for applications is midnight, May 8. If you want more informa tion about Voyageurs Canada 92, call (519) 887-6852. April is Cancer Society month Continued from page 9 and District Hospital. In 1991, 12 clinics were held and 358 patients were seen, with a total number of 661 volunteer hours service given by people who operate the clinic. Clinic co-ordinator Marilyn Wood reports that volunteers here act as hosts, serving refreshments and visiting with the patients; cleri cal workers who keep medical records and see that appointments are made; nurses who assist the doctor and attend to the needs of the patients. Dr. Perera continues to be the regular visiting oncologist from the London Regional Cancer Centre. This month hundreds of Huron County residents will join the more than 150,000 volunteer canvassers who go door-to-door in Ontario communities to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society. Last year, Ontario canvassers raised $11,800,000 - more than half of the total funds ($22,389,000) raised during the April residential canvass in Cana da. This door-to-door canvass accounts for over 50 per cent of the all Canadian Cancer Society revenue. APRIL SPECIAL Introductory Offer Buy 1 massage - get second massage for 1/2 price Maureen Sheardown -more information on land soil types and more hydrological reports NAME........ ADDRESS. JOHN LONGWORTH Contest Details on Page 3 Registered Massage Therapist Palmer Chiropractic Office Queen St., Blyth 523-9321 FITNESS IS FUN When You Work at Your Own Pace! ............AGE..................... PHONE............................ VILLAGE RESTAURANT BLYTH Tuesday April 14 Registration at 7:30 p.m. Classes from 8-9:15 p.m. at Brussels Auditorium B M & G Community Centre Registration Fee $25.00 For 10 weeks Instructor Drusilla Leitch Bring mats & weights For further information call Barb at 887-6192