HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-11-05, Page 19W. Wawanosh candidates meet
By Pat Livingston
Lucknow Sentinal staff
If those attending the West
Wawanosh township ratepayers
meeting last week were expecting
any dramatics, they were disap
pointed. The meeting was over in
70 minutes and no one was clamor
ing to put any of the candidates on
the hot seat.
Several of the candidates made
reference to the “need to resolve” a
current lawsuit that has been drag
ging on for eight years, suggesting
that the two parties should sit down
and try to work it out.
Gord Hunt, running for deputy-
rccVc, said the legal fees in the law
suit against the township have
already amounted to $30,000 and
that doesn’t include other associat
ed costs for consultants etc.
When questioned about the
urgency to resolve the issue, Hunt
said, “An attempt has to be made to
resolve it. We’ve spent $30,000 to
date and we aren’t even in court.”
“It’s costing dollars on both
sides,” said Doug Miller, candidate
for reeve. “We have to get on with
it and be done with it. It’s not going
away.”
Kathy Todd asked Hunt about
amalgamation talks or lack thereof.
“You must have something in
mind.”
“The two best communities suit
ed to us right now are Ashfield and
East Wawanosh,” said Hunt. “As
you get closer to Goderich, the
commonalities are less.” He didn’t
know about going all the way to
Wingham.
Harold Menary said he had heard
the county would be split into
three.
Incumbent Reeve Bob Hallam
said that has been discussed “but
not accepted. “It’s been said bound
aries are sacred. In my opinion we
must keep our local identity.”
Hallam told the crowd that pre
sent agreements (fire, medical,
recreation) will be maintained with
Lucknow and Kinloss whatever
happens with amalgamation.
OPSBA details
Bill 160 info
Continued from page 18
proper funding for local students
and programs. They also ask that
the business property tax base not
be withdrawn as it is unconstitu
tional and unjustifiable.
The boards also believe the
removal of the collecting of educa
tion taxes through the municipali
ties will be an expensive and
impractical process for the boards
to assume. It is suggested stream
lining take place.
A point often made is that the
further reduction in funding is
unacceptable. OPSBA said, “Pro
grams will be decimated and the
resulting instability will hamper
quality education.”
Further to funding, any cost sav
ings due to restructuring should be
re- investing in education, said the
organization.
OPSBA wants the government to
undertake an annual review of the
changes to the school funding sys
tem, to determine the effects.
Though just touching on some of
the issues in Bill 160 causing con
cern, the OPSBA summary stated
repeatedly that Bill 160 will
remove control and power from the
local trustees and boards.
They suggest that all parents and
those with an interest in the future
of education in Ontario take the
time to understand the goal of Bill
160.
Duane Rivett, of Dungannon said
he believed there is “a lot of stuff
being done behind people’s backs.”
He was referring to the Dungannon
drainage works. “There was a lot of
people unhappy with the premiums
paid. How do we know the next
council will be open and not doing
things behind our backs?”
Hunt replied that all council
meetings are open (to the public).
“There were a lot of happy peo
ple too in regard to the drains.
Some issues were not expected,”
said Hunt.
Ambrose Redmond asked Hallam
to respond to reports he’s heard
about families not being happy
with Huronview. He’d heard about
big problem with the floor and
water.
“It was built in a hole and poorly
designed,” said Hallam. When it
was discovered the “architect was
gone,” Hallam said a lot of work
has been done at Huronview using
both county and provincial dollars.
“It should be near completion
now.”
Ken deBoer asked Miller his
opinion on the manure management
issue. “Should it be dealt with at
the township, or county level so
there is no hodge podge?”
Miller thought it should be han
dled at the county level.
Policing and the downloading of
that cost was an important issue for
Todd.
“We’ve never had police in West
Wawanosh because we supposedly
have OPP. You never see a cruiser.
It used to be a couple of times a
week you’d see one. What happens
to the costing if we never see one
around until there is an incident?”
When pushed for what the exact
tax increase would be to cover
policing, Hallam had no definite
figure.
Hunt said the OPP agree it is a
problem with each municipality
negotiating a contract. “We will get
let me be your new voice on council
a minimum level of service, but we
won’t see a car on a regular basis.
We are paying for the process and
the ability for them to be able to
respond (quickly),” said Hunt.
Another question centred around
road maintenance and whether it
would suffer because of download
ing and council trying to hold
taxes.
“We have to look everywhere to
make efficiencies,” replied Miller.
“We have to maintain a certain
level or it will cost us more down
the road.”
When the suggestion was made
to pave one or two roads each year,
Miller agreed that was a good idea,
however, “You have to consider the
economic feasibility.”
Having the whole municipality
vote at one poll was questioned by
Harry Brindley, running for reeve.
“Council approved that - it was a
cost saving factor,” said Hallam.
“A lot won’t come to vote
because of the distance,” countered
Brindley.
Hunt disagreed with Hallam’s
recall. “We were told,” said Hunt,
“it (one poll) wasn’t a council
issue.”
Fran McQuail wanted to know if
regulations are in place at the land
fill site that prohibit things being
set aside that perhaps another resi
dent could use. An example given
was old storm windows that had
been destroyed.
Hallam said there is not supposed
to be recycling at the landfill. •
On the short term, Miller saw no
harm in such a practice, but said he
understood the windows referred to
had been sitting there for years.
On Nov. 10, residents in this
municipality will be asked to cast a
vote for reeve: Bob Hallam, Doug
Miller or Gordon H. Brindley;
deputy reeve: Gord Hunt or Walter
Elliott; and three councillors: Stuart
Alton, Neil Rintoul, Kevin Sheils,
Cecil Cranston.
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1997. PAGE 19.
Years of service
Dcrothy Oster, a Canada Post employee at the Blyth
office, was recognized for her 25 years of service at a
ceremony held recently in London. Though Oster has
worked for Canada Post since 1965, she did not become
a permanent employee until March, 1972.
Vote
Jeff Howson
on Nov. 10
/or council
Village of Bly th