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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-05-11, Page 1Brussels gets Ladies Encampment Aux. See page 2 Blyth resident opens new business See page 3 Wingham hospital, UWO sign training agreement See page 10 Plays get mixed feelings from reviewers See page 31 CitizenThe North Huron Klopp says he feels good about budget 600 GST included By Bonnie Gropp With a focus on getting people back to work and deficit reduction, Huron MPP Paul Klopp says he feels good about the provincialWednesday, May 11,1994 budget presented by Treasurer Floyd Laughren last week. "After a few years of having to take some tough decisions, this budget is a reflection of the rewards people can start to receive now that the economy is beginning to turn around," he said. Mr. Klopp says the shape of this budget, which held no tax increases actually was started two years ago. "The NDPs had a plan for Ontario that would mean investing in jobs while preserving the services we had and lowering the deficit." Mr. Klopp says that last year 147,000 jobs were created. This year they plan to bring that figure to 166,500. The deficit has dropped 30 per cent, from two years ago, he said. The government is forecasting that it will be $8.5 billion in 1994-95, down from $9.4 billion last year. Despite no tax increases in the bud­ get proposal, Mr. Klopp says the province will continue to chip away at the deficit by continuing a con­ trol of government spending. The intent is for a balanced operating Continued on page 10 Gallery to display students’ artwork Several local young artists will be displaying their work for the first time at a show at Elizabeth's Site choices raise questions in Colborne By Janice Becker It was a classic case of 'not in my back yard' as a standing-room-only crowd gathered at the Colborne Township Hall Monday night to learn about and discuss the site selection of a county landfill site. Four of the 11 sites chosen by the consulting firm, Gore and Storey for the county, are clustered in Colborne Twp., along Cone. 4, 6 and 8. Concerned landowners and neighbours of the sites filled the hall to express their concerns. Several residents questioned Craig Metzger, project co-ordinator for the Huron County Waste Management Plan, about the possibility of expanding the Holmesville site. Mr. Metzger said that option was one of the first looked into when the need for a county site arose however, through testing of the site, it was found unsuitable for expansion. The answer was unsatisfactory to Planting season starts early Local weather observer Boyd Taylor of RR3 Walton says, "Rural Ontario got a good start in field work only to be stopped by heavy rains on April 25. Work has been stopped since then." "April was cool and basically dry even though close to 4 inches of rain fell," "Strong, persistent winds helped make recent weeks feel cooler though the area generally held close to average temperatures" for this time of the year, says Mr. Taylor. "Crop growth was and continues to be slow with low morning tempera­ tures warming only slightly during the day." Mr. Taylor says, "It would appear this trend may continue to the latter part of May." many and they pushed for the reasons, saying the site could be engineered to contain the garbage. Blyth Reeve Dave Lee had described a method used to construct landfill sites which involved placing an impermeable filter fabric beneath the clay layers at the base of the pit and several landowners felt this could be used in the expansion of Holmesville. Mr. Metzger agreed that a site could be manufactured to hold the waste but, the Waste Management group was looking for the most environmentally sound site. "We want a site which will be safe even if such a cloth barrier were to fail," he said. "That was the most important criteria mentioned by the public involved in workshops designed to determine the priorities for the selection of the site and that is the type of site we are looking for, one which is environmentally sound for public health and safety." Many of the people in attendance were concerned about the Cl choice which set out Part Lots 11 and 12, Cone. 8. Landowner Allan Craig pointed out there may have been a problem with the land data received from the Ministry of Natural Resources because much of the land in Cl is swamp land and therefore not suitable for a landfill site. "If the mapping and studies had been done properly, the property walk-ons would not be necessary," he said. "The Cl site also has a municipal drain located right along the boundary. How is leachate going to be stopped once it has started running into this drain?" Mr. Craig questioned. Mr. Metzger said such a problem could be fixed by engineering, however, that is the reason for property walk-ons and test drilling, to see if runoff will be a problem on the site. "Those are some of the factors which could eliminate a site from consideration," he said. A landowner downwind from the proposed Cl site was concerned about the odour from the landfill. Mr. Metzger said the best thing to do would be to take part in a tour of the Oxford County site to be held on June 4 to see how they handle the problem. "The odour should be minimal because the garbage will be covered each night with dirt." Other options to landfill were suggested such as incineration or filling the Goderich salt mine. Mr. Metzger said, "Incineration is not an option in Ontario and a plan had been in the works by another group to use the salt mine, but the restrictions were too severe because it is a working mine. Garbage which was flammable or would produce methane gas by decomposition could not be allowed in the mine. They are not alternatives." As pointed out by a citizen, Mr. Metzger agreed that 30 years from now we may find that this landfill site was not the correct solution but, "we are working with the best expertise and experience that are now available to us,” he said. There was concern expressed that the affected landowners be treated fairly with regards to the selection or elimination of their land from the list. "It will be like a black cloud hanging over them until a decision is made. Who will buy property when there is the possibility of a landfill site next door?" one man asked. Lionel Wilder, Hay Twp. reeve and chair of the Planning and Development Committee for the county said, "The process will be taken care of as quickly as possible. After dealing with the landfill issue for six years, it is time a decision was made. The chosen site will have a purchase price negotiated. Every effort will be made not to expropriate the land." Mr. Metzger said, "This is just Continued on page 6 Art Gallery in Goderich from May 14 to 21. The Childrens' Aid Society (CAS) has put together a collection of children's artwork from across the county to grace the walls of their new building. Over 600 entries were submitted, with artwork received from Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the south, Howick Public School in the north and every school in between. The local acheivers are: Blyth PS; Teag Onn, Shanda Loder, Michael Courtney and Kim Denomme; Brussels PS; Jennifer Acton, Mike Cooper and Ashley Gropp; Grey Central PS; Adam Hall, Ginny Wildman, Steven Young, Brad Willis, Lindsey Schwartz and Jason Snider; Hullett Central PS; Arnie Cheverie, Tammy Vincent and Nathaniel Peel and East Wawanosh, Nicole Proc­ ter. A panel of five judges spent many hours selecting the 100 pieces which will be framed for hanging, a CAS press release stat­ ed. The team included child art ther­ apist and director of the Homestead Betty Bedard-Bidwell, architect John Rutledge, photographic artist George Zoethout, primary teacher Pat Smith and artist Elizabeth Van den Broeck. The artwork will be on display for viewing at the Gallery, from May 14 to 21 and a reception to recognize the young artists will be held on May 15 from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. The exhibit will move to its per­ manent home at the new CAS building in time for the June 3 grand opening.