The Citizen, 2003-11-12, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2003.
County should start program for septic tank replacement
By Keith Roulston
Citizen publisher
If Huron County can't convince
provincial officials to fund a loan
program for septic tank
replacements it should find a way to
sponsor the program itself, county
council was told Nov. 6.
With the Healthy Futures program
running out, a program that helped
replace or repair 176 septic systems,
councillors expressed concern over
the need for more improvements.
“We need a program.” said
Goderich councillor Deb Shewfelt,
who was particularly worried about
cottages along the lakefront.
He felt an enforcement program
was needed and pointed to some
jurisdictions where aircraft equipped
with infrared detectors were used to
spot malfunctioning septic tanks
from the air.
“It's time to take action but not
necessarily hand out money,” he
said.
But Ben Van Diepenbeek of
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh noted
that as the Healthy Futures Program
wound down there was actually
more money coming back into the
program, because of cancelled
projects that had been previously
approved, than there was money
going out.
“A lot of the withdrawals were
because people just didn’t have the
money,” to pay their share of the
project costs, he said. If more money
had been available there would have
been another 80-90 septic tanks
repaired or replaced, he said.
“We need to push the government
for a loan program.”
The idea for a program similar to
the tile drain loans was put forward
earlier by Bill Dowson, Bluewater
councillor. Under such a program
people would be helped to finance
improvements through low cost
loans which they would pay back
over a number of years.
Paul Klopp, Bluewater councillor
noted Dowson’s proposal had been
sent to the previous Progressive
Conservative government but no
action was taken.
» “We need to push it with the new
(Liberal) government,” he said. “I’d
like to see this council take that
on.”
Dowson said he would prefer to
see the province set up the loan
program so it would be province
wide but if that didn't happen Huron
might find a way of using its
borrowing power to create a loan
pool for people needing septic tank
work, he said.
He noted that that pool would
refresh itself because as soon as
loans begin to be paid back it frees
up money for new Ioans.
Scott Tousaw, director of planning
and development said a proposal for
a local program to replace some
parts of the Healthy Futures program
will be forthcoming in the new
year.
Walker-Bolton brings update to NH council
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
Monika Walker-Bolton. co
ordinator for the Huron
Manufacturing Group updated North
Huron council on activities and
future plans at the Nov. 3 meeting.
Walker-Bolton had been invited to
attend by deputy-reeve Murray Scott
after hearing her presentation at
county council.
One thing Walker-Bolton
mentioned, that was acknowledged
positively by councillors, was the
initiatives set up to encourage
growth in the labour pool. Among
those is the apprenticeship program.
According to Walker-Bolton when
the group first began there were only
two manufacturers that had
apprenticeship programs. “Now
there are 101. You can see that real
strides are being made.”
Students from across the county
have also been taken on tours to
manufacturers outside their home
area. Walker-Bolton rode on the bus
with 20 Madill students to Gode
rich.
“We include all county schools all
at once (in the tour).”
Speaking of the emigration of
young people to outside
communities, Walker-Bolton said
she had often lamented the lack of
post-secondary education
availability in Huron as the reason.
However, according to recent
information only 40 per cent of the
county’s students go on to university
or college. “As we are losing more
than that, they are leaving for other
reasons as well.”
She spoke of an initiative
currently being considered which
would involve training locally
through a community college
partnership. Involved as well are the
local public school board and the
Huron Business Development
Corporation. “The talks are just
beginning.”
Councillor Murray Nesbitt said he
felt that apprenticeship program was
extremely worthwhile and was
pleased to see it expanding.
Medical residents visit
Communities across Huron and
Perth will host a weekend retreat for
and Festival Theatre, we had a very
success weekend.”
residents from the five medical
schools across Ontario on Nov. 14-
16. This is the second year for this
event, which aims to recruit new
physicians to the area.
The weekend also focuses on the
retention of existing doctors. All
physicians working (in the area)
have been invited to a gala dinner
Nov. 15 to recognize and celebrate
their contribution to health care
Since last year, seven family
physicians joined the Huron-Perth
communities, along with two
internists and one anaesthesiologist.
Organizers say the success of the
event lies in the ability to showcase
the communities and have residents
meet with recruitment committees
and local physicians.
Stratford was chosen as the
location for the event because of its
service. Here, existing doctors will
be able to mefet with possible
recruits and let them know why they
live and work here.
“This is a recruitment strategy as
we face a severe shortage of
physicians across Ontario,” says
Gwen Devereaux. community
development leader for Huron Perth
Hospitals.
"Last year was our first attempt,
and with the wonderful help of the
Stratford Chamber of Commerce
world-class theatre, access to train
service and hotels large enough to
accommodate activities.
Forty to 50 guests are expected to
attend the retreat and organizers are
looking forward to showing them
Huron-Perth. The weekend will
include a full day of speakers,
theatre and music. On Sunday,
residents will visit the communities
of their choice.
“These candidates will become
our ambassadors in taking their
Solemnity
John Elliott places a wreath during the annual Blyth
Remembrance Day service held at Memorial Hall. (Etyse
DeBruyn photo)
experience back to their fellow
residents,” says Devereaux. “Please
make them welcome.”
Hunting
back in
county
forests
By Keith Roulston
Citizen publisher
Huron County council officially
reversed an earlier motion to bar
hunters from county forests when it
met in Goderich. Nov. 6.
County had passed a motion at its
October meeting to prohibit hunting
in all county forests because of
concerns for others using the areas.
However at the Oct. 21 committee of
the whole meeting Mark Beaven of
Grey Twp. had appeared to ask
council to reconsider.
A letter from Greg Fanant of the
Ontario Federation of Anglers and
Hunters pointed out that Huron
County has a significant problem
with collisions between deer and cars
and if county forests were off-limits
to deer hunters there might be more
crashes, perhaps leaving the county
open to lawsuits.
After hearing presentations the
committee of the whole had voted
unanimously to reverse its earlier
ban. Council confirmed tht decision.
Colquhoun loses
in Central Huron
Continued from page 1
Stevenson 541 and Collyer 490 votes
to win. Colquhoun received 452
votes.
Acclaimed to the west ward were
Alison Lobb, Laurie Cox and Jim
Ginn.
Returning officers have 24 hours
following the closing of the polls
before official results are released.
Poll by poll for local candidates
should be available for next week’s
paper
On the job ...
... with mom Janice at Elliott-Nixon Insurance was Brittney
Peters. The F.E. Madill Secondary School student was
among those taking part in Take Your Kid To Work Day.
Several other Madill students spent Wednesday on the job
in Blyth at several locations, including, the school, Huron
Tractor and the vet clinic. (Bonnie Gropp photo)
nV! Avon saw?LmJ Maitland
Ltarnhiy for a Lifflittitt
Special Education Advisory Committee
Nominations for Appointees
The Avon Maitland District School Board invites local
associations or organizations that operate to further the
interests and well-being of exceptional children or adults,
to apply to nominate a representative and alternate to serve
as a volunteer on its Special Education Advisory Committee
(SEAC) from December 1, 2003 to November 30, 2006.
The Special Education Advisory Committee is a statutory
standing committee of the Board which meets during the
school year on the first Wednesday evening of each month.
A person is qualified to be a member of the SEAC if they
are at least 18 years of age; a Canadian citizen, a resident
within the jurisdiction of the Avon Maitland District School
Board; and not an employee of the School Board.
Applications are to be sent no later than November 30. 2003 to
Pat Taylor, Executive Assistant,
Avon Maitland District School Board
62 Chalk Street, North
Seaforth, ON N0K 1W0
Telephone:1-800-592-5437 Fax. (519)527-0222
www.amdsb.ca MEG WESTLEY
Chair