Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-01-26, Page 1Feature' Agriculture Entertainment - 1 li-ji Frozen dinners offer variety to seniors Pork, beef producer associations hold annual meetings Seaforth band to play at Brussels school r* See page 6 See pages 11, 12 See page 19 The North Huron itizen Seaforth puts its legal battle on hold — for now Havoc on winter highway Whiteout conditions resulted in a collision between two Milverton Millwright trucks at 8:45 a.m. on Jan. 21. The first vehicle driven by Kent Kipfer of Milverton was westbound on County Rd. 25 approaching County Rd. 12 where he slowed to make a left turn. The second truck driven by Paul Robinson of Monkton lost sight of Kipfer’s tailights due to blowing snow and rear- ended the lead truck. No one was injured but there was considerable damage to the trucks. No charges were laid because of the weather conditions. A crane was used to help clean up. Blyth hears update on plan By Janice Becker Citizen staff With the North Huron restructur­ ing proposal still on hold, Blyth Clerk-Treasurer John Stewart brought council up to speed at the Jan. 18 meeting, on just what is being done to advance the task. Stewart will be setting up a meet­ ing with Huron County Administrator Lynn Murray and Dr. Gary Davidson of the planning department to try and work out the wording for the policing issue. “We need to find a way of saying the police services board and the force will be disbanded by January, 2001,” said Stewart. It was hoped this could be com­ pleted prior to the next North Huron meeting, Jan. 20, but that might not be possible, he said. Also to be discussed at the next amalgamation meeting will be PUC restructuring, the Huron-Bruce com­ plex, public meetings, transition board and elections. School board representation will also change prior to the fall munici­ pal election due to amalgamations. Currently Wingham and Blyth are not represented by the same trustee. Boundaries will have to be changed so amalgamated groups have the same representative. Though Stewart said registration forms for those wishing to run in the election are available at the munici­ pal office, he is unsure what area they would register to represent. With ministry approval for the amalgamation coming later in the year than hoped, there will be less time for a transition team to go Suspicious death Body found in car The Ontario Provincial Police, Criminal Investigation Bureau, Major Cases Section, is assisting the Huron Detachment of the OPP Western Region with the investiga­ tion into a suspicious death. James Cooper, 38 of RR4, Peterborough, was discovered deceased in a vehicle on William Street in Egmondville in the early morning hours of Jan. 23. Police were questioning Michael Luciano, 39, of Woodbridge, who had surrendered to Goderich OPP around 2 a.m. Monday morning, with regards to the stabbing death of his wife, Colleen Richardson- through the necessary work. Councillor Jeff Howson said it might be beneficial for a team to begin some work prior to approval. Though Stewart said no resolu­ tions could be passed, a lot of back­ ground work could be completed with several resolutions ready for approval once the restructuring plan was accepted. Luciano, as well as Cooper’s death. Richardson-Luciano’s body had been found in a dumpster in York Region Saturday night. Cooper, a friend of the family, was found in Luciano’s car, said OPP. The vehicle was parked outside the house occupied by a relative of Luciano’s, reported The Toronto Star. York Regional Police were to transport Luciano back to York Monday evening. A post mortem examination was scheduled for Monday in London to determine the cause of Cooper’s death. Legal action against the Avon Maitland District School Board may temporarily be on hold, but fight leader Charles Smith is prepared to move. “In our heart of hearts, we hope the trustees will see the light and make the action unnecessary,” said Smith. “We decided to give the board a chance to act in a reasonable fashion and delay the action.” Smith, president of the Seaforth District High School Student Success Foundation, said the group has col­ lected approximately $22,000 to fight the possible high school clo­ sure. Grey reeve speaks at Clinton meeting By Janice Becker Citizen staff There was a packed house at the Clinton Legion last Wednesday when dozens of individuals, group and organization representatives took their 15 minutes to speak on the issue of nutrient management. Grey Twp. Reeve Robin Dunbar was among the many presenters who had the opportunity to express a point of view to parliamentary assis­ tants from the departments of agri­ culture and environment OMAFRA and MOEE representatives. (Perth- Wellington MPP Bert Johnson attended later in the day.) Having been the first township to require a nutrient management plan prior to receiving a building permit, Dunbar outlined Grey’s history, what had been done and how it works. For the township of approximately 2,000 people, including three ham­ lets, agriculture has been the major economic activity, said Dunbar. A restrictive official plan has allowed few severances thereby maintaining large acreages. In 1997, changes to the minimum separation distances, livestock units per farm and nutrient management planning were implemented. The inclusion of the nutrient man­ agement plan was to address the growing public concern over storage and spreading of liquid manure, he said. The township office had been receiving complaints about odour and spills as well as concerns expressed about the impact on water quality. Though there were limited actions which could be taken, a bylaw to include the nutrient management plan with the building permit was adopted. However, there was still lit­ tle recourse once the permit was issued, said Dunbar. The lack of enforcement was a continuing con­ cern. Grey Twp. had also included a third-party review process which With the decision on closures to be announced Feb. 22. Smith said there are six, three-inch binders and two large boxes of school board agendas in the hands of lawyers. “I have a feeling we’re going to have to go to court. It is very dis­ couraging. We have to be ready in anticipation of a decision against us.” The school board is currently studying seven schools for closure to trim operating costs and eliminate 4,000 excess student spaces. Schools on the list include Seaforth District High School, Seaforth, Walton, McCurdy, Vanastra, Downie Central and Falstaff Public Schools. allowed the panel to become more acquainted with the soil condition in the area. When presented with a plan which stated a 150 bushel per acre harvest of com. doubts arose. It was discovered the land was more likely to produce 75 bushels, therefore over-estimating the absorption capabilities of the land by 200 per cent. While used only as information, there is no legislative authority to enforce a plan with regards to the application of nutrients, Dunbar said. Much relies on the co-operation of the applicant. One suggestion to help alleviate the problem of odour, particularly near urban areas would be to impose a 500 foot buffer zone, said Dunbar. However, this too would be difficult to police. Dunbar also spoke to the pros and cons of piped manure systems as opposed to spreaders. While local government does not have the tax base to monitor liquid manure applications, Dunbar said they also do not have the “inclina­ tion to be manure police”. Dunbar stressed there needs to be a balance between the right to farm and the long-term risk to water qual­ ity while still considering the increased pressure on agricultural operations due to falling prices, trade agreements and foreign competition. He advocated a program to pro­ vide data on both ground and surface water. Following Dunbar’s presentation, township building inspector Grant Anger used an example, with draw­ ings, to demonstrate the nutrient management planning process. Anger was one of the few presen­ ters who was questioned further, a fact which gratified Dunbar. “He was asked about the inspection process and standards.” “We have had no problems to date with any building constructed,” said Dunbar. “The building codes work if the inspection process works.” More on page 20