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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times-Advocate, 2002-11-06, Page 2By Scott Nixon TIMES-ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — Council decided to stick with the status quo Monday night when it decided on a new five- year OPP contract for South Huron. OPP Sgts. Pete Mason and Rick Sinnamon presented the contract offer to council a cou- ple of weeks ago, with council finally coming to a decision Monday. The contract calls for 11.65 police officers to cover South Huron, the same amount the municipality’s current contract has. The esti- mated annual policing cost is about $1.2 mil- lion based on current officer salaries. The cost is about $80,000 more than what council had budgeted for and represents a 1.3 per cent tax increase for ratepayers. While South Huron chose the status quo for police coverage in the municipality, the OPP presented three options, the most expensive being the third option, which would have increased the number of officers to 13.34 with an annual cost of over $1.3 mil- lion. The latter option was supported by the police services board. Council also had to decide how to charge the ratepayers for policing, with the argu- ment being that Exeter needs a more visible police presence than the townships of Usborne and Stephen. As a result, Exeter ratepayers will be on the hook for 55 per cent of the costs, while the townships will pay 45 per cent. South Huron’s police services board can direct the OPP where to concen- trate its coverage. Deputy Mayor Dave Urlin, who sits on the police services board, said he is still in favour of the third option but the costs were too high and people are satisfied with the level of polic- ing in the municipality. He made the motion to accept the status quo option. Council also decided to stick with a three- person police services board. Other notes from the meeting: Skateboard bylaw coming Responding to com- plaints and concerns about skateboarders damaging pavement, council intends to pass a bylaw prohibiting skateboarders and roller bladers from the Olde Town Hall, the Cenotaph, the new South Huron Library complex, two Main Street Parkettes, and on Main Street and sidewalks in the down- town area. The bylaw didn’t pass Monday night because staff was directed to investigate the matter further and to consider penalties to those who ignore the bylaw. In addition to protect- ing property from dam- age, Coun. Pete Armstrong said the bylaw will protect citi- zens from wayward skateboards. Vacancies up Mayor Rob Morley reported there are 21 houses empty in Huron Park and vacancies are increasing. When he asked for the reason for the vacancies, he was told residents are moving out to buy houses because of low interest rates and after years of the govern- ment talking about sell- ing Huron Park, resi- dents are getting fed up. Building report Building and develop- ment manager Wayne Dale reported October was a “good month” for building permits. His monthly report stated $5,764 was collected in permits by the munici- pality for work valued at $786,951. To date in 2002, $57,662.50 has been collected in permit fees for work valued at $7,901,104. While the municipali- ty won’t reach last year’s $25 million work value, Dale said there were several large pro- jects that increased last year’s permit values. He added the nearly $8 million in permit values for 2002 still outstrips what the former munic- ipalities of Exeter, Stephen and Usborne would see combined. 2 Exeter Times–Advocate2 Wednesday, November 6, 2002Exeter Times–Advocate Regional wrap up Continued from front page C.O.P.Corner (Community Oriented Policing) IS IT LEGAL TO PASS ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF A CAR TURNING LEFT IF THE ROAD IS PAVED? Yes! Huron OPP says the driver of motor vehicle may pass on the right only if it can be done safely. The overtaken vehicle must be signalling and making or about to make a left turn. The highway must have unob- structed pavement wide enough for two lines of vehicles in each direc- tion. Drivers must not pass by dri- ving off the roadway, meaning you cannot pass on the gravel shoulder of the road. Your vehicle must stay on the pavement. I F YOU WANT A QUESTION ANSWERED, LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR J OANNE M ORGAN AT 234-6605 OR E-MAIL SFORSTER@SOUTHHURON.COM. JOANNE MORGAN C.O.P. CORNER New school gym floor ST. MARYS – A new cork-cushioned wood floor is planned to replace the cement and tile floor in the St. Marys DCVI main gym- nasium. The Journal Argus reports the new floor could cost $100,000, replacing the floor installed in 1965. One-fifth of the cost has already been ear- marked from school and in-school non- board funds. In WW I trenches TILLSONBURG – The Parkhill Gazette reports students of North Middlesex District High School re- enacted WW I trench warfare on a Tillsonburg area farm. Students cut hair for cancer HOLMESVILLE – Two 12-year-old girls cut off their hair at a Nov. 1 school assembly to raise money for cancer research. The Clinton News- Record reports the girls hope to raise $1,000 as a tribute to one’s grandmother who has breast cancer. Radon in town water SEAFORTH – The town of Seaforth’s water supply is coming from the Welsh St. well after radon was found in the Chalk St. and Seaforth Community Hospital wells. According to the Huron Expositor, it’s possible Seaforth never tested its water for radon before, but radon 222 was found during routine tests required by the Ministry of the Environment. Huron’s medical offi- cer of health says there is no immediate health risk. 15 year foster parents GODERICH – Ed and Cheryl Miller were honoured for 15 years of service by the Children’s Aid Society of Huron County. The Goderich Signal- Star reports the award was presented during National Foster Family Week. The Millers have fostered children of all ages and those with multiple handicaps. Bluewater is settled and added lakeshore residents in that municipality want to take their $1,900 per kilometre and keep their roads private. Coun. Pete Armstrong said he is wor- ried other areas in South Huron may make similar requests in addition to the three cottage associations. Oke was against Buechler’s request and said, “Once you start making special deals, there’s no end to it.” Council made no formal decision on Buechler’s request and will send him a letter telling him the issue was dis- cussed. Armstrong suggested members of council discuss the issue with Buechler. Other notes from the meeting: Borrowing permission While it was eventually passed, council had several questions and concerns about a bylaw which allows the munici- pality to borrow a maximum of $1.5 mil- lion in draws of $500,000 if the chief administrative officer or treasurer deem it necessary. The bylaw mentions the financial difficulties incurred by the lengthy delay and construction of the new South Huron Library and council’s acceptance in principle to donate up to a maximum of $200,000 to the proposed day-care centre as reasons for a possi- ble loan. The new library opened Monday a year-and-a-half late because original contractor Pegdon Construction went into receivership. The library sat as an empty shell until a new contractor, Moffatt and White, was found. While insurance will pay for any costs above the original budgeted price of $1.4 mil- lion, chief administrative officer Larry Brown said Monday night the final costs of the library aren’t known yet and audi- tors will soon be tallying up the costs. In addition, South Huron doesn’t know when it will be paid for any extra costs by the bond company. As a result, South Huron has to pay initially until the bond company in turn pays South Huron for costs above the original contract price. Brown said he will know in a few weeks how much construction of the library went over the original contract and how much the municipality will get from the bond company. The bylaw council passed Monday calls for a loan for the municipality only if needed. Coun. Harvey Ratz was against the bylaw because it lumped the day-care centre in with the library. He said the bylaw should only mention the library, with a motion passed sometime in the future for the day-care centre. Coun. Pete Armstrong pointed out the municipality will only borrow money if it needs to. He added he is concerned about getting the money from the bond company. While Urlin and Coun. Drew Robertson mentioned the fact the municipality already has a line of credit for $4 mil- lion, Brown said that is not for large withdraws and is designed for the ups and downs of the municipality’s cash flow. Robertson said he was worried about the urgency of the bylaw and wondered if it just couldn’t be passed when the need for the money arises. In a recorded vote, Armstrong, Coun. Joe Hogan, Mayor Rob Morley, Oke and Urlin voted in favour of the bylaw’s third reading, while Ratz and Robertson voted against it. Urlin for top job Morley reminded council that Urlin is running for the Huron County warden position Dec. 3 at 1 p.m. at the Goderich courthouse. At the end of the current South Huron council’s term next year, Urlin will have served 15 years as an elected official in the Exeter area. Urlin was deputy reeve for Exeter for six years, an Exeter councillor for six years and is in his second year as South Huron’s deputy mayor. SH agrees to five-year OPP contract Local roots to hit CBC Radio Unassumed roads becomes issue Continued from front page looked and underprivileged. He hopes his radio drama will garner more atten- tion for the merchant navy, particularly since it will be broadcast twice on Remembrance Day. Ciufo spends most of his spare time writing. He describes his writing as “eclectic” and is working on a biography and another play. While writing is often a lonely process, Ciufo has learned writing for the- atre is “very collaborative and supportive” and ideas, constructive criticism and feedback are shared. Ciufo said he’s excited about this week’s radio broadcasts, something that started locally and has moved to the national stage. Just before the drama starts on the radio, CBC will play an audio clip of John Webster when Ciufo inter- viewed him in his Hay Township home. Another feather in Ciufo’s cap is the fact the Nov. 11, 3 p.m. broadcast will be played during ‘Richardson’s Roundup,’ marking the first time the show has broadcast a full-hour drama. Alarm scares off thief BLUEWATER – An alarm at a cottage on Arnold Cres. in Hay on Oct. 20 at 1:45 p.m. summoned the owner and Huron OPP. The rear door had been forced open and the thief had started going through the kitchen cupboards when the alarm sounded, scaring away the thief. Nothing was found missing and $100 damage was done to the cottage. Anyone with information on this break-in is asked to call Huron OPP or Crime Stoppers. Stolen truck found USBORNE – A 1988 blue Ford pickup truck was found Oct. 8 at 9:15 a.m. by people walking in a bush lot off Elimville Road in Usborne. Huron OPP report the truck had been stolen from Caradoc Twp. early in September.