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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-12-08, Page 23HURON TRACTOR'S TOYLAND COLOURING CONTEST Ir Drop off your entry at Huron Tractor Ltd., Blyth Draw to be made Dec. 22, 1993 Childs Name Age Grade Blyth 523-4244 1-800-265-9002 NHURON TRACTOR Preschool- through 2nd Grade MOP THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1993. PAGE 23. Brussels council hears drain options Brussels Village councillors decided Monday to let a petition for a Morris Twp. municipal drain that will affect the village proceed rather than try to work out a differ- ent arrangement. Brussels sewage rates will increase 50 cents a month in 1994, village councillors decided Monday night. The increase, which will bring the monthly charge to $23.50 (Blyth, by comparison charges $24) will raise an extra $19,907 a year. The village could use the money to pay off some of the $26,994 accu- mulated deficit on the sewage sys- tem which is operated by the Ministry of the Environment. It cost $136,936 to operate the system in 1993. Council will also explore the pos- sibility of refinancing the debt on the system. Currently the village pays an interest rate of 11.22 per cent to the Ministry and probably could find money at a cheaper rate. It would also open up the possibili- ty of asking homeowners who are still paying for their frontage charges if they would like to pay off the whole amount at once. The current agreement has 30 more years to run. "It would take a lot of work but it might be worth your while," Donna White, clerk-treasur- er said. Chairs form Exec. Committee Continued from page 1 the human resources committee. The members will be Roxanne Brown, Clinton; Jim Chapman, Exeter; John Jewitt, Blyth and Hul- lett Twp. and Joan Van den Broeck, Goderich and Colborne Twps. The executive committee will consist of the chairs from each committee as well as board Chair, Graeme Craig and Vice-Chair Rox- anne Brown. JILL COOPER Jill Cooper • • Joins Citizen staff Jill Cooper, has joined the staff of The Citizen. Ms Cooper is help- ing the editorial staff with weekend photography work, in addition to proofreading and darkroom work. A graduate of Central Huron Sec- ondary School and Conestoga Col- lege, Ms Cooper is working on her BA in History and English from the University of Waterloo. In addition to former employ- ment as a computer graphics tech- nician, production co-ordinator and advertising co-ordinator, Ms Coop- er did photography work for The Blyth Standard while attending high school. Her interests include music, writ- ing, reading, radio and community theatre. She presently resides in Blyth. Andy McBride from Maitland Engineering was present at the meeting to explain council's options in the petition of Tom Miller, just west of the village lim- its, for a municipal drain. The drain ** * Somewhere in the village is a Christmas light bulb bandit. Several homeowners reported having bulbs stolen from their out- door displays already this year. It's a continuation of a problem that started last year when someone stole all the lights around the bot- tom of an outdoor tree in the vil- lage. *** Councillors refused to get involved in a potential controver- will go from the Nichol Drain in Morris Twp. to the village limit at the end of Frederick St. in the south end of the village, and then south. It means that a considerable portion of the costs for the drain will have sial decision about a route for snowmobiles through the village. The B&W Trailblazers had pro- posed a new route for snowmobiles passing through the village along the local trail system. "I think we're opening a can of worms," Reeve Gordon Workman warned. Local snowmobilers will use whatever route is closest for them but the designated route will be used for snowmobilers from as far away as Elmira. Continued on page 29 to be pick up by the village or the individual property owners involved. Mr. McBride said council could let the petition process continue, in which case Morris Twp. would be responsible for the construction of the drain and the assessment of costs, it could seek to set up a mutual agreement drain in which everyone involved would have to agree on who pays what, or they could build the drain themselves as they would for a normal storm sewer. He advised council to let the petition process continue even though it will cost $1,500 to $2,000 more. Trying to get an agreement of all parties is often difficult, he said. Under a petition drain the engineer decides who gains most benefit because of the area of land being drained. Council must also decide who will pay what within the village. Council will have to pick up a share of the cost because of water draining off Frederick St. It would be possible to charge other property owners in the area for their share of costs but he didn't recommend it because when other storm sewers are built the property owners aren't charged. The sticking point could be in larger blocks of land in the south end that are zoned for "future development". The property own- ers will benefit because these possi- ble residential areas will be improved. Council could charge the landowners or levy a development charge against the property in the future, if it is developed, to recover the cost. Council must make a deci- sion relatively soon because the drain will be designed for a larger capacity if the needs of that unde- veloped area are considered. Council will schedule a site meeting with all property owners involved before deciding how to proceed. Brussels Council briefs Sewage rates increase