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The Citizen, 2001-09-12, Page 14Familiar sight The threshing demonstration is a familiar attraction for visitors at the annual Pioneer Thresher Reunion in Blyth. (Vicky Bremner photo) SO Health Futures applications approved Lucknow Fall Fair Friday to Sunday, Sept. 14 to 16 Friday — Arena opens at 7:15 p.m. with local entertainment; 8 p.m. Ambassador of the Fair Competition & Fashion Show; Field Crop and Pork Carcass Competition; Pork, Pie and Cake Auction, Log Sawing Contest; Midway - between 6 and 11 p.m. pay $15 and ride all you want Saturday 9:30 a.m. Judging of 4-H Beef; 10 a.m. Judging of Poultry; 10:30 a.m. Pet Show; Noon - Mammoth parade featuring OPP Golden Helmets; 12:30 p.m. lamb & goat competition; 1 p.m. .Judging of 4-H Dairy, 4-H Invitational Show, Horse Show at Montgomery's lot, Baby Show; 1:30 & 3:30 p.m. Clarkshome Border Collies demonstration at ball diamond; Klash the Clown; Out-doors Games; 1:30 p.m. Randy Morrison and the Train Masters Show; Midway all day; 9 p.m. Dance to D.J. Joe Carter. - Sunday 9 a.m. Light Horse Show; Midway - all rides cost a loonie Something for all ages the whole weekend ow- 40, /EMIL 111 SIM& ,ta. 4'4111414/11t0.41P1.11- CONE TO THE urill be, if, for instance, municipalities would come under scrutiny for the composing of leaves. Tousaw replied that the province's bill is enabling legislation and could include just about anything involving nutrients. Until the regulations are announced no one will know how wide-ranging the bill is, he said. Municipalities will, however, be compelled to prepare nutrient man- agement strategies. PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2001. N.Huron NMP bylaw gets final reading In just over a month since the province announced a $2.5 million Healthy Futures grant to help Huron County farmers make environmental improvements on their farms, 80 applications have already been given provisional approval. Ben Van Diepenbeek, councillor from Ashfield-Colborne-Wawan- osh, and chair of the Agriculture, Public Works and Seniors commit- tee, said Thursday that final approval will be sought from county council at its October session for projects that include everything from fencing livestock out of waterways to cap- ping abandoned wells to new, safer liquid manure application equip- ment. The program will provide a grant for up to half the cost of envi- ronmental projects. The county had_projected a total of 400 projects would be assisted by the grant program over two years. The county applied for the money from the provincial program but the proj- ect will be jointly administered by county staff and the Maitland Valley and Ausable Baytield Conservation Authorities. Initially, the county had proposed a grant of $2.9 million but it received only $2.5 million. In order to try to spread the remaining money as far as possible, a system of service fees will be deducted from the successful applicants' funding in order to help cover the costs of administering the program and still leave enough money to undertake as many projects as originally envisioned. Some councillors at Thursday's meeting objected to those fees. Bill Dowson, councillor from Bluewater claimed: "The county just wants to keep control of everything." He said the conservation authorities could handle the job on their own without the county being involved. But Lynn Murray, county clerk administrator, said the province requires that all funding and admin- istration go through the county. There's a lot of paperwork required for. grants under the project, Murray said, because the province doesn't want a repeat of the kind of embarrassment suffered by • Jane Stewart, federal minister of human resources and development over loose supervision of grants. Deb Shewfelt, Goderich council- lor, wondered if the county mightn't be better to pick up the full adminis- trative cost in order to encourage farmers to make environmental improvements. "We look a little cheap," he said. Environmental projects by farmers can benefit everyone in a watershed, he said, so the county would be justi- fied in picking up the administration tab. The fee would average $250 for the 400 applicants. Murray said the county is concerned about trying to reduce the size of the fee for smaller projects. The maximum grant for eli- gible costs for each of the projects will also be increased by 50 per cent to help cover the fee. By Margaret Stapleton Wingham Advance Times Third and final reading was given to two amendments to the nutrient management bylaw for the Twp. of North Huron at council's first September meeting last Tuesday. ; A petition was brought before the second August council meeting signed by over 50 concerned citizens of the township. It asked that an environmental assessment be con- ducted on any intensive livestock operation proposed for the township. In consultation with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority and some other nearby municipalities, Chief Building Official Byron Ellis proposed that the nutrient manage- ment bylaw be amended to include environmental risk assessment for surface and ground water, along with the requirement of an environmental water management plan/water pro- tection plan. Council gave first and second readings to the amendments at the Aug. 20 meeting. Following further consultation with Mill Beard of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, Ellis explained to last week's meeting that the initial phase of the risk assess- ment is a basic analysis which deals with manageable risk on fragile land or which developments might impact on fragile land. Although Ellis admitted he had not been able to come up with "a solid answer" regarding cost of the first phase assessment, it has been esti- mated at around $3,000. If it is deter- mined a farmer must proceeds() the next phase, it could cost as much as $20,000 to $30,000, but Ellis said he heard these figures mentioned at a conference. Councillor Jeff HoWS-on- expressed some reservations with the proposal, saying -a lot of people had contacted him in the past couple of weeks. `They see the merit (of identifying sensitive areas), but they're looking at the total cost." "We have to watch .that line that we don't go too far," he cautioned, by adding so many costs that it helps to destroy the family farm, not help struggling farmers. "It's not our intent to limit or impede farmers," replied Ellis, but he suggested the new requirements are justified in sensitive areas. "There is value in it," he said. Ellis went on to report that one- half of the East Wawanosh ward is considered "safe" for large livestock operations, with a clay base. However, the other half ranges from fragile to extremely fragile. "I don't know what price you can put on safety and knowing it's not harming the environment." Councillor Arnold Taylor asked about the status of the county-wide nutrient management plan, wonder- ing aloud if "all the work we're doing•at the current time may be for naught". Reeve Doug Layton reported that the county is just setting up commit- tees for the nutrient management plan bylaw. (Later in the meeting, council appointed Ellis to that com- mittee.) However, Ellis said he believed council should move ahead regard- less of what the county, or the province, enact as far as nutrient management. "We can't legislate stewardship, but we can give guidelines," said Ellis, adding, "We're concerned with water, not air quality." Councillor Jim Campbell said farmeis should look at the require- ments as "protection" for what may happen -down the road. c)fk Please Recycle This Newspaper Committee to draft NMP bylaw Huron County council has approved creating a committee to draft a model nutrient management bylaw for all municipalities to fol- low. The committee, approved by the September session of council, would see representatives from the county, farm groups, groups — such as PROTECT— concerned with large livestock operations and clerk administrators. The new bylaw will be based on the response of stakeholder groups to the Interim Control Study on Intensive Livestock Operations and Manure Management which has been circulated to the groups since May. They have until the end of September to comment. Meanwhile an interim control by- law whit!) caps the size of new live- stock barns at 100 animal units has 'been extended for another year in Ashfieldl'and Colborne wards of Ashtield-Colborne-Wawanosh, and applied for the first time in Wawanosh ward. Huron County will be making a presentation to a parliamentary hear- ing being held in Holmesville Wednesday regarding the province's proposed Nutrient Management Act 2001. Central Huron Councillor Carol Mitchell wondered if that presenta- tion would include municipal issues such as the spreading of sewage sludge. Scott Tousaw, Huron County planner said it would. Mitchell asked Tousaw how inclu- sive the province's legislation would Come see our exhibit at Brussels y 46r, Fall Fair , Your Pet & Outdoor Bird Feed & Accessory Outlet A cmsion of Brussels Agri Services Ltd. Drop in to the store and see our newest addition. "Sisco ll located at Brussels Livestock Brussels Agri Services Ltd. Feed, Fence, Farm & Pet Supplies 887-9391 Fax 887-9960 www.brusselsagri.com