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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1999-09-08, Page 1Community Feature Entertainment 4 teens vie for title of Area students Collective makes 1999 Brussels Fall Fair reap benefits of X W"you relive the daysp^7| Ambassador ‘Friendly’ gardens of threshing MF/ /1 See page 2 See page 6 See page 19 Restructuring timetable tight for municipalities A blaze While most municipalities in Huron met the county’s target of Sept. I for presenting amalgamation proposals, the timetable remains tight if the restructured municipali­ ties are to be in place for the fall of 2000. Because all the legal wording of amalgamation proposals must be approved by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, all proposals should be to the Ministry by Sept. 10, if the plans are to be approved and returned in time for county council approval in October, Lynn Murray, clerk-administrator told county council Sept. 2. Some municipalities will not be ready to have their plans submitted by Sept. 10. Goderich Reeve John Doherty noted that Goderich has scheduled a public meeting for Sept. 15 and that negotiations are still going on with Colbome Twp and Goderich Twp. Goderich has yet to decide if it will join with Colbome or not and wants Goderich Twp. to cede part of its developed territory adjoining Goderich, to the town. Meanwhile Brussels and Grey are to meet with McKillop, Seaforth and Tuckersmith on Sept. 15 to work on a proposal to bring all five munici­ palities together. Murray said the Sept. 10 timeline was set because the ministry’s London office has agreed to set aside its other work in that period in order to go over the Huron amalga­ mation proposals. Since there are some proposals ready for submis­ sion it will be possible for some agreements to be later, but if they are delayed too long, the county vote on approval may be postponed to the November meeting. Grey Reeve Robin Dunbar, chair of the strategic planning committee sounded a warning that new Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Steve Gilchrist is not as flexible in restructuring as former minister Al Leach. Speaking to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) convention in Toronto last week he announced several areas will be forced to pro­ ceed with amalgamation. “We are going to be restructured, period!’’ Dunbar said noting Gilchrist has taken to himself all the power of restructuring commission­ ers in the past. Dunbar warned that if Huron doesn’t move forward with amalgamation the province will step in and dictate the terms. Blyth firefighters were called to the East Wawanosh Cone. 7 property of Keith Black, RR1, Belgrave last Thursday at 6;30 p.m. to battle a blaze. The fire, believed to have started due to a malfunction between the two electrical panels of a farm implement shed and seed clean­ ing panel, resulted in a total loss, said Fire Chief Paul Josling. The estimate of damage was $125,000. Firefighters remained at the scene until 9:30 that night. They were called into action on two other occasions this past week, to a grass fire at Dick Snell’s in McKillop Twp. around noon on Wednesday and to a medical emergency at the Blyth Festival. Unchained pooch costs couple $2,000 An Ethel-area couple was fined $2,000 in Wingham’s provincial offenses court, Aug. 26 for violating a court order. Just a week after an April 1 court order stating Vera and Mike Milinkovic must keep their rottweil­ er tied or supervised, and enclosed He was backed by Michael Power, president of AMO, who reminded councillors that Gilchrist had been point man in the government’s push­ ing through the amalgamation of Toronto. Despite butting heads with such formidable opponents as Mississauga Mayor Hazel McCallion and then-North York Mayor Mel Lastman, “he never, never agreed there was one comma wrong in that bill”. Meanwhile, councillors approved a threshold of 4,000 electors for rep­ resentation on council, defeating a proposal from the strategic planning committee that a 3,000-elector mark be used. Using the 3,000 limit would result in a county council of 23-27 councillors, depending on what fig­ ures come out at the next enumera­ tion. A 4,000-limit would result in a council of 18-21 members. Jack Coleman, reeve of Stanley Twp., argued a council of 23-27 members would not be true amalga­ mation since the current council has 26 members. By contrast, he said, the new area of Hay, Stanley, Zurich, Hensall and Bayfield will cut its number of councillors from 25 to 10. Using the 4,000 threshold, the new municipality of Morris and Tumberry would have one represen­ tative as would Howick. Ashfield and West Wawanosh would current­ ly have one representative but with 3,968 electors are very close to crossing the 4,000 line and having a second. The new municipality of East Wawanosh, Blyth and Wingham would have two representatives (barely, with 4,108 electors) as would Grey, Brussels, McKillop, Seaforth and Tuckersmith and Hullett, Goderich Twp. and Clinton. Colbome currently stands alone and would have one representative but may amalgamate with Goderich. During question period, Goderich Mayor Deb Shewfelt asked if coun­ cil had brought in outside advisors on the size of county council. He noted Bruce County has only nine councillors while Huron will still have 18-21. Coleman said in conversation with the Bruce County warden he learned that the reduction to nine councillors made it almost a full-time job. Council approved the first of the amalgamation proposals which involves Exeter along with Stephen and Usborne Twps. on their property, a neighbour dis­ covered the dog running loose in the backyard. There was no supervision and the gate was open. Police were called and charges were laid under the Dog Owner’s Liability Act.