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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-11-03, Page 6PRINTING IS OUR BUSINESS a Colour Printing • Posters • Letterheads • Envelopes • Business Cards • Labels WE CAN DO IT ALL! • Brochures • Flyers • Carbonless Forms 4'Business Knechtel Knows Your Favourites. Years ago, grocery shopping meant buying brand name products. And often that meant spending more money than you wanted to. At Knechtel we haven't forgotten that people want to save money. And they want variety . So we carry "Our Compliments". Our own line of reasonably priced, top quality products. Tortillas, salsa, pop, orange juice, chocolate chip, strawberry creme and raisin oatmeal cookies. And we've just introduced eleven new "Our Compliments" products like pasta sauce and Italian style tlathread. So you don't have to wait for your favourites to go on special before you buy them. You can buy them every week. Because we know that the more we offer, the more you'll want to know Knechtel. Don Saiingeour Scrimgeour's Food Market Blyth 52345511 Knechtel Knows Food. KNECHTEL PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1993. Blyth won't distribute Union Gas survey By Bonnie Gropp While Blyth council expressed its interest in Union Gas for the municipality, it will not play an active part in finding out how many ratepayers are interested in the ser- vice. Bud Keens, a representative from By Janice Becker With the election over a week past and the new prime minister about to be sworn in, our newly elected MP Paul Steckle says his skeleton staff is being kept very busy. The staff is cleaning out the elec- tion headquarters in Goderich and Mr. Steckle is in the process of looking for a constituency office. The staff is being kept very busy dealing with issues from con- stituents already, he says. He will also be looking for more staff and going through the resumes already received. Taking into consideration the high cost of the leaf vacuum Brussels councillors agreed at their meeting of Nov. 1 that there would not be a second date for pickup this year. Instead, ratepayers would be asked to rake their leaves to the road for village staff to pick up. ***** The tender of Brussels Auto Sales in the amount of $529 for new tires for the town truck was accepted by council. ***** The snowplowing tender of Bauer Farm and Garden was accepted by council. The tender amount was $50 per hour and $30 per day standby for the time between Nov. 22 and March 31. ***** A survey for Union Gas will be distributed by the village to determine the level of interest in Brussels. Mrs. White told councillors that Union Gas has offered to pay for all costs incurred including extra staffing to do the job. Reeve Gord Workman is endorsing a cover letter to be included with the survey. In it, he expresses the sentiment that this is a "worthwhile undertaking that could prove beneficial to the community." ***** Council accepted with regrets the resignation of Jack Bryans as chairman of the Cemetery Board. A letter will be sent in acknowledge- ment of his years of service. ***** Council was informed that due to lack of finances The Ark may be forced to close. Executive Director Sallianne Patch is seeking grant funding so this won't happen. Council endorsed a letter of support to assist her with that effort. Union Gas Ltd., London attended the Oct. 28 meeting of council to request their consideration in putting together a questionnaire to discover the level of interest in the village for Union Gas. They would also be responsible for mailing the surveys and receiving replies, Mr. Steckle says he is not sure when he will be travelling to Ottawa but it could be as early as Tuesday. "I don't know when the swearing in ceremony will be but I would like to meet with staff and get a feel for the place." "The people have spoken, they were ready for a change. The gov- ernment forgot about the people who had elected them. There was a cynicism across the country that went beyond our expectations," he says. "The people have chosen a known and trusted quantity in the Liberal government and I believe we will govern well and with Mrs. White is consulting other municipal clerks with regards to the Pay Equity legislation and how it applies to Brussels staff. She had been in touch with the village's accountant, she said, who suggested the hiring of a Pay Equity consultant to work it out. Councillor Bruce Hahn, however, expressed frustration over paying someone $500-$900 to "tell us what we should pay an employee." "It's a big farce," he said. Councillor Dave Hastings agreed, but added that as "there's nothing that can be done about it some action has to be taken," though council did decide to wait to hear Mrs. White's findings, first. ***** It was brought to council's attention that the former CIBC building has been purchased by Hank TenPas. Mrs. White told councillors that Mr. TenPas had approached her to see if the village might want to lease the building. While councillors said they appreciated the courtesy in getting the first chance they weren't interested as the building which presently houses the clerk's office, though it may be small, is owned by the village and therefore is rent free. ***** A previous motion to pave Thomas St. was rescinded due to the high costs of the project. Council passed a motion to proceed with the work on two blocks of Alexander St., from Mill to Thomas at a cost of $17,895 plus GST. ***** Tom Miller has petitioned Morris Township for a drain because the houses on Frederick St. are though Union Gas would cover costs. Other councils have done this as well as included a cover let- ter from the reeve, Mr. Keens told councillors. Reeve Dave Lee, however, expressed his concern with endors- ing a survey for a business, which integrity." "The people have patience and I know we will be well received. Chretien is acting decisively. He has asked Bob Nixon to look into the Toronto airport deal and he has already spoken to President Clin- ton about NAFTA." "I don't know what effect the new opposition parties will have but this is the first time in 25 years the Lib- eral government has had represen- tation from all 10 provinces," he said. Mr. Steckle says, "I believe this will be a good government and we are here to serve the people." draining onto his land. Mrs. White said that the residents would be assessed and advised council to attend and as yet unscheduled site meeting. She also said that the village should petition for a drain as well so the residents would have an outlet. "That way they would at least get something for their money," she said. ***** Churches in the village had expressed concern over the high garbage "tax". Mrs. White reminded councillors that the $145 annual fee is "definitely not a tax" but a charge. "It is not figured into the mill rate, so it is not a tax it's a user fee," she said. The amount is set and is divided between the Morris landfill site for capital and operating expenses ($114.54), Carter's Waste Disposal for curbside pickup ($28.87) and recycling ($1.59). Deputy-Clerk Lori Pipe said she had been told that the Catholic Church didn't use curb side pickup as a member of the congregation took it directly to the site. How- ever, Councillor Dave Hastings noted that it does go to the site, which is where the fee comes from. "We're paying for the big users in the village because the volume is so huge," said Mrs. White. A letter was sent to each of the church representatives answering their concerns. Council deferred any further decision until later when the amount, Mrs. White said, should hopefully not be as high as this year. ***** A building permit was issued to Ross Smith for a home renovation. ***** Continued on page 9 is in direct competition with a large business in the community. "I do think we must do what we can to make it happen, but I'm not sure we should be doing a study to prove it should be here," he said, in response to a remark from Council- lor Mason Bailey that he felt this was something council could do for the town. Councillor Bailey asked Mr. Keens if Union Gas isn't considered a utility, rather than a business. Mr. Keens said that while it is privately owned they must comply with the Public Utilities Act and as it has no competition it is regulated by the Ontario Energy Board, which "safeguards consumers from that monopoly:' Councillor Eugene Coburn said he felt ratepayers had a right to have their say, but did have a prob- lem with council being "out front" with the survey because of the other businesses. "I don't think it's appropriate for this office to do it," said Reeve Lee. Mr. Keens stated that Union Gas is a utility that pays its way as well as being a plus for attracting busi- ness and industry to the communi- ty. The savings are, he said, 40 percent over oil, 50 percent over propane and 60 percent over hydro. He suggested councillors call the reeve of Zurich, which has just recently had Union Gas come into the area and visit the village to see the job that has been done. "We take pride in doing things right. We're going to be here for a long time; we're not going to hit and run," he said. Councillor Coburn said he felt council should do whatever's possi- ble to get Union Gas to Blyth. "I certainly didn't want to indicate anything else with my earlier com- ments," he said. "In light of the other business in town, I'm not sure it's appropriate for us to do a survey," Reeve Lee said, adding that the village would furnish Union Gas with names and mailing address and would assist them with any questions they need- ed answered during the study. Union Gas is looking at bringing its service up Highway 4 from Clinton to Wingham into East Wawanosh, through Morris into Brussels and Grey and down per- haps as far as Walton, Mr. Keens said. He projected a date as 1995 or 1996, though he did warn council not to hold him to that time. "But I like to think it's a very positive move for your community," he said. SHOPPING TRIP to London $15.00 per person paid one week in advance Leave at 9:00 a.ni. Chinese Supper - Call Deb Seth any time but noon 40 people required to book a bus. Steckle heads for Ottawa Brussels Council briefs Office will distribute survey