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The Citizen, 1998-10-14, Page 20Even Santa Knows The Citizen makes a great Christmas Gift... Gift Subscriptions to The Citizen come with a Christmas Card to send to the recipient! MUM/ EMMA mat (7=-2- inZen _ - Santa visits town $2700 FOR ONE YEAR (Call for rates to the U.S & overseas) r— --- Please dip & return to "THE CITIZEN" P.O. Box 429, Blyth, Ont: P.O. Box 152, Brussels, Ont. NOG 1H0. Enclosed is CI $27.00 To: Name Address Postal Code 1 Or PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1998. Menzies' kids This year there were four recipients of the George Menzies Endowment Fund at F.E. Madill's Commencement on Oct. 9. The award is presented to graduates of Brussels Public School, who have the highest averages of 11 senior courses that meet diploma and post-secondary admission requirements. In back, from left: Andrew Exel, attending the University of Guelph in Restaurant and Hotel Management and Curtis Mutter, University of Guelph, Computer Information Systems. Front: Kara Pepper, Ontario Business College, Kitchener, Massage Therapist and Amber Ruttan, Mohawk College in Hamilton, Accounting. (Ashley Gropp photo) By Jim Brown Advance-Times Staff Let's say it again. A delegation of an estimated 25 Morris Twp. residents made a point of re-iterating its opposition to expansion of the Morris Twp. landfill site. However, they informed council at its Oct. 6 meeting that they are willing to work together in an effort to come up with alternatives. Klaas Jorritsma, who lives across from the landfill sit, said council has to do more than just say 'no' to the county. The group opposed the expansion of the site due to its sand and gravel base. "Sand and gravel can not hold leachate," Jorritsma said. Frank Procter claimed exporting the waste would be one alternative to expanding the site. He said Turnberry Twp. had been content with exporting its waste for the past 10 years. "What is the definition of exporting?" he enquired. It appears that Brussels bringing its waste to the Morris site is not classified as exporting while Morris shipping waste to Greenlane does fall under the category. Procter said exporting costs continue to lower due to increased competition. He said there are a number of sites willing to accept garbage from throughout Ontario, including Sarnia and St. Thomas as well two other mega dumps about to open. Another method for getting rid of waste is incineration, he added. According to Procter, residents of Morris Twp. are polluting their own water table by dumping waste at the landfill site. He claimed that a new process used in Europe results in the elimination of many items including tires and industrial waste. Jorritsma said the county has already spent a large amount of money on finding a new landfill, adding that waste competitors will do a plan for free. Council should recommend the county no longer consider a north and south zone site, he suggested. "They have spent $2-million on a stack of paper," he said. Reeve Bert Elliott pointed out that even if the township says 'no', the county can take over the site. Ross Procter said simply saying 'no' is not the answer. "You have to present some alternatives," he said. "We think we have alternatives." Jorritsma said the less expensive alternative is not necessarily suitable. "It would be more responsible to go back to a more suitable site — Lambton County," he said. "Our site is too expensive." According to Jorritsma, the county would not assume control of the Morris site because of the perpetual care. He added that if the county takes over the Morris site, it assumes responsibility of all county landfills. He said Morris Township could end up with a non-suitable site for its own waste. This would be accomplished by having an engineer complete tests to deem the sand and gravel base is not ideal for the site. When Procter asked members of council if they questioned the feasibility of the Morris site as zone landfill, all questioned its selection as a zone site. Deputy-Reeve Keith Johnston wondered how the site got Ministry of Environment approval in the first place. Jim Barnes felt council seriously had to look at its options. He said if Morris turns it landfill over to the county, there will not be a Ontario Municipal Board hearing. "If there is an OMB hearing and we lose, the county has to pay us a fair market value for the property," he said. "If we win, it's all over. He asked the township to oppose the county takeover of the site. "We can't lose and we get money from the county," he said. Morris residents repeat 'No sale' School board again defers decision on school closures By Margaret Stapleton Advance-Times Staff Following a tumultuous meeting last week, the Avon Maitland District School Boird has again deferred a decision on school closures or conversions until the end of the month. This is the second time the board has come away from a meeting without making a decision on the contentious issue. A meeting held on Sept. 22 in Clinton resulted in the board deferring a decision on school closures until the Oct. 6 meeting. The board is considering the closure or conversion of at least 14 schools in Huron and Perth Counties due to changes in the provincial funding formula to schools and a ministry requirement that boards declare excess capacity in their schools by Dec. 31. On Oct. 6, over 700 people crowded the gymnasium of the Stratford Northwestern Secondary School. Twenty delegations, many representing schools destined for closure or conversion, implored the board to ignore the government's deadline and press the province to place a moratorium an school closures until the funding model is reviewed for rural schools. Following the marathon session, trustees appeared split on the route to take. Some, such as Chairman Abby Armstrong, argued in favour of declaring schools for closure as a starting point in compiling data to take to the government, thereby making a case for why the schools should stay open. "This is a horrible situation to be in," Armstrong admits. "But we've got to fight with facts, not just emotions." Trustees Colleen Schenk of Wingham and Leslie Wood of West Perth-Perth South also spoke in favour of selecting an option on school closures as a starting point for fighting the government. However, trustees Vicki Culbert, Bob Allan and Wendy Anderson were all in favour of deferring a decision until Oct. 27, when a new representative for the North Perth area will be in place. "I am voting to defer in support of you (those gathered at the meeting). But you have a responsibility to do everything in your power to persuade the ministry to change pupil- accommodation grants," said Allan. Ray Ford, who represents the City of Stratford on the Avon- Maitland board, went one step further. "The time has come for me to stand my ground and tell the ministry I won't do it. The ministry does have the right to remove me (as a trustee), but I must protest the lack of fairness in the funding of public education," he said. SPEAKERS' CORNER Delegations represented at the meeting included councils from various schools slated for closure or conversion. Other interested community groups also made presentations to the board. Rev. Peter Bush, speaking on behalf of the Huron-Perth Presbytery Committee of the Presbyterian Church, begged all parties involved in this issue to "tell the truth". This was in direct reference to what has become a public sparing match between the Avon-Maitland board and Huron and Perth MPPs Helen Johns and Bert Johnson over ministry funding figures. Secondly, Bush asked board members to make a commitment in allowing elementary school pupils a ride to and from school of no longer than 30 minutes each day and secondary students a daily bus ride no longer than 45 minutes. Finally, Bush claimed school buildings are "morally community property," which belong to the communities in which they stand. "If we lose our community, we lose our identity and ourselves." Representatives of the Huron and Perth Federations of Agriculture reported the OFA has put forward a resolution asking the province to place a moratorium on school closures. Agnes Denomme of the Perth Federation asked the board not make a decision on school closures "at this time", but rather allow the community to come up with its own solutions and lobby the government. Dave Scott, mayor of Seaforth — where both the elementary and secondary schools are proposed to be closed — said the Avon Maitland board "needs to take a stand or be plowed under like a bad crop." "No one will win in this situation. Take the list of schools (to be closed) off the table," Scott urged. The concerned Parents of Turnberry Central School, a subcommittee of the school council, is one of more than 10 schools slated for closure or conversion to be represented. Ken Mathers, spokesman for the group, stated Turnberry parents are committed to fundraise for necessary capital updates to the school at no cost to the board. Pointing to the Wescast expansion slated for next year and other recent developments, Mathers pointed to the central location of Turnberry Central as one of its strong points. "We could be the North Huron school," he proposed. Contact MVCA for information Continued from page 11 particular site. "For a nominal fee the Property Advisory Service provides buyers and agents with accurate, up-to- date environmental information," said Brum. "The Authority has at its disposal a wealth of resource information including soils data and wetland and flood plain mapping. This information can assist potential buyers in making a knowledgeable property purchase." Further information on the Property Advisory Service is available by contacting the MVCA at 519-335-3557.