Loading...
The Citizen, 1992-09-09, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1992. New planning dispute brewing in county A new dispute seems to be brew­ ing between the town of Exeter and its rural neighbours, with the Huron County Planning Department caught in the middle. The dispute regards a redesigna­ tion of a parcel of land in Hay Township, that was formerly a highways yard, from restricted agriculture to commercial. The land is adjacent to the urban area of the town of Exeter. The Planning and Development County council briefs Committee approved the change against the recommendation of the Planning and Development staff. Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle was not pleased by the move. "Our council feels it goes against proper plan­ ning," he said. "We don't want to get into conflict (with neighbours and the county) but if this is passed we would likely have to." The county and Exeter had final­ ly reached an agreement earlier this year in a long dispute that involved court action when Exeter claimed it shouldn't have to pay planning and development costs to the county because it employed its own plan­ ners. Exeter had hired its own plan­ ner after the County's department had supported a neighbouring township in a dispute between the two municipalities. Huron County Planning Director Dr. Gary Davidson acknowledged that the Planning and Development Committee had ignored the advice of staff on the matter. "The com­ mittee felt it should go ahead based on their own information." But Lionel Wilder, reeve of Hay, said his council had been unani­ mous in its feeling the change should be made. To term the prop­ erty a small agricultural holding was ridiculous, he said, since the yard was filled with gravel. "I don't feel one municipality should restrict another municipality if the request is reasonable," he said. Council voted to support the decision to allow the zoning change MTO won’t shed light on intersection with Reeve Mickle and Lossy Fuller, Exeter's deputy-reeve voting against the change. Reeve Mickle asked that their opposition be noted. Later in the day a point of order was raised that such a record­ ing of dissenting votes can only be made by calling for a recorded vote before the count is taken. Reeve Mickle then got around the issue by moving a motion that his opposi­ tion be recorded (seconded by Deputy-reeve Fuller). The motion was defeated but the Exeter repre­ sentatives still got their opposition registered in the minutes in the moving of defeated motion. Concerns about intersection lighting at the comers where two county roads meet two provincial highways were expressed by Huron County councillors at their meeting Sept. 3. The issue was raised when the report of the Roads Committee showed that the Ministry of Trans­ portation (MTO) had advised they were not willing to install illumina­ tion at the intersection of Highway 86 and County Road 19 at Molesworth. The request had been forwarded to MTO from Grey Township. "I agree with Grey's approach," County Engineer Denis Merrall said. "It is difficult to see an inter­ section when it (the road) falls away." Grey or the county could pay for the light's installation, he said. Hullett Reeve Tom Cunningham brought up his council's concern over the need for a flashing light in Londesboro at the comer of High­ way 4 and the new County Road 15. MTO officials point out there hasn't been a serious accident yet at the comer. "Does somebody have to be killed to put a light up?", he wondered. Mr. Merrall again agreed that there is a need for something more than a stop sign at the comer. The stop sign from the east is often blocked from view by large trucks, he said. The traffic on the road since it has been paved and a new bridge has been put across the Maitland near Auburn has increased 10 fold in the past 10 years he said, particularly with peo­ ple using it as a shortcut between Kitchener-Waterloo and the Goderich and lakeshore area. The nature of the traffic has changed as well, he said. Previously those using the road were mostly local people who knew of the stop in Londesboro. Now many non-local people are using the road and may be more apt to miss the stop sign. Perhaps the county may have to push through political channels to get the lights installed. "My experi­ ence is that those flashing lights are installed more through political action than through recommenda­ tion of the regional traffic office." *** It may be a give and take situa­ tion for Howick Township in its effort to have the county take over a township road. Howick has asked the county to take over a short stretch of road on the border between Howick and Clifford. Mr. Merrall said there is some common sense in the request because the short stretch joins County Road 30 and Highway 9. A decision to take over the road would require agree­ ment from Wellington County and MTO. The county will also look at turn­ ing some short pieces of county road over to the township. Some roads, particularly County Road 33, in Wroxeter, basically serve only local needs. "I didn't know we said anything about taking roads," Howick Reeve Norm Fairies noted. *** The rate in increase in the num­ ber of Huron County people seek­ ing welfare assistance slowed in July but is still 82.29 per cent high­ er than at the same time last year. The caseload dropped 2.21 per cent from June, John MacKinnon, Social Services Administrator told council but with more people run­ ning out of unemployment insur­ ance benefits there will continue to be more people seeking help. "I think we're in for a long haul." He said that reforms in the S.T.E.P. program which allows people with low-paying jobs to have their incomes supplemented with welfare have slowed the num­ ber of people who are using that program. The main problem is lack of jobs, he said, and a growth in the number of young single people get­ ting welfare. Some people age 16 and older decided it is easier to be out on your own on assistance than to deal with the problems of a nor­ mal family, he says, so they leave home and apply for welfare. The local agency turns down most of these requests but the teenagers are appealing the decision to the Social Assistance Review Board and many case are being overturned. Bob Hallam, reeve of West Wawanosh, suggested that if youngsters are adults for welfare purposes at 16, perhaps the Young Offenders Act, which saves them from adult responsibilities for crimes until age 18, should be changed. Despite the huge increase in wel­ fare recipients in the past year, Huron still has the fourth lowest rate in the province, committee chairman Bruce Machan, reeve of Wingham, pointed out. *** Time stood still when the Court House clock was stopped for the filming of the CBC Television Scales of Justice production on the trial of Steven Truscott. Filming also took place at the Huron His­ toric Gaol where Truscott had been held before his 1959 trial and as he awaited his death sentence (which was eventually commuted). CBC agreed to pay $900 for the use of the gaol to help cover extra staff costs.**♦ The Huron County Children's Aid Society has moved from the Assessment Building to a new loca­ tion in the Goderich Industrial Park.*♦* Moving day for Huronlea at Brussels and Huronview at Clinton has been set back to March or April from January as the estimates of completion of the building by the contractor proved overly optimistic. Reeve Machan, chairman of the Seniors and Social Services Com­ mittee said there are some advan­ tages. It's hoped there will be savings in heating with three build­ ings not having to be occupied by residents at the same time. In addi­ tion there is the continuing problem of more people needing space than will be available in the new build­ ing. The delay may help alleviate this to some extent. A point system has been adopted to decide which patients will be transferred to Huronlea at Brussels and which will stay in Clinton, "there will have to be some people moved to Huronlea who would have preferred to have been at Huronview," acknowledged. But other councillors worried about why the decision might have been reopened. "I only hope this hasn't been because one of the firms has been appealing to every member of council," said Lionel Wilder of Hay. "That's not the way is should be done." Reeve Machan said a list of ques­ tions will be circulated to all the pharmacies and they will present their answers to the full committee. *** Will Huron County be getting a district health council? That's what McKillop Reeve Marie Hicknell wondered after reading a report on the Huron Study. The report says that discussions have taken place with the Huron Community Ser­ vices network and the Huron Continued on page 7 Walden Photography ISw Weddings & Portraits Call Gary Walden 482-7675 SELINGER WOOD LTD. KILN DRIED HARDWOOD FIREWOOD -NOW AVAILABLE- first COME, FIRST SERVED OPEN 7:30-12 & 1 -4:30 Monday to Friday 524-2651 THE CONVENIENT FIRE Reeve Machan *♦* There was brisk debate over a decision of the Seniors and Social Services Committee to reopen a decision that would have awarded the contract for pharmaceutical ser­ vices at Huronview and Huronlea to Big V in Exeter for five years. There was no tendering involved. Five pharmacies including, Brus­ sels Pharmacy, had made presenta­ tions to the committee but according to Reeve Machan, after the committee made the decision they started wondering if they had asked the right questions. In addi­ tion, two members of the commit­ tee were not present. "We're all human. We have doubts ourselves. We want to take any doubt out of our own minds," Reeve Machan said. LISTOWEL RENTAL AND MOVING CENTRE TOW, LOW RATES 7.4c 12 Passenger Vans Compact, Midsize As moving day approaches, look to Lis- towel Rental. We can help make your move that much easier with our complete line of trucks, vans, and moving supplies. Everything you need is available to purchase or rent at our low prices. You'll get it all - from the truck size you need to the moving accessories you'll fill it with - all at one place. It's one stop shopping for hassle-free moving. FOR SALE: ’Packing Cartons • Wardrobe Cartons (with bar) • Tape, Rope, etc. FOR RENT: • Fridge Carts - for easier loading of heavy furniture, appliance & cartons • Furniture Blankets - large padded blankets to protect your furniture from nicks and scratches. Pickups Moving Vans Cube Vans & Moving Equipment and Luxury Daily • Weekly & Monthy Rates Big or Small - We rent them all! 910 Wallace Ave. N. Across from Stop 23 Auto Sales 291-1202 CS Car Wrecked or Stolen? Ask about our Insurance Replacement Rates! Natural Gas/ Propane REGENCY GAS FIREPLACE Enjoy all of the charm and tradition of fire without the fuss and muss of a wood pile. Regency Gas Fireplace Inserts and Freestanding Stoves look so real PLUS they ✓ Give high efficiency and great heat at just pennies an hour / Are easy to care for and very safe / Have a tarnish-free gold-plated finish Come to our showroom today to see our full line of Wood & Gas Stoves and Inserts, Porcelain Stoves and High Efficiency Fireplaces.................................starting at $570. | Stove Shoppe Chimney Sweep Licensed Propane Installer Whitechurch 357-2719 Everything your hearth desires