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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-09-30, Page 27Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - Page 27 Ashfield-Colborne-Wawnosh approves fire hall tender finny SQott signal -star staff Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Town- ship Council accepted the tender of Domm Construction Ltd. to build the new Lucknow and District Fire Hall. Coming in at $875,000 plus GST, the company's bid was approximately $60,000 lower than their nearest com- petitor. That includes all on-site work including an emergency power genera- tor, With the completion of additional project costs, the entire project comes with a final price tag of $1,010,000 plus GST. * * * Ashfield Park Beach will be seeing some new signage, and, potentially, some new concrete in the near future. The beach was the focus of a recent ACW Township Council meeting. Council decided to replace poles that had been removed to prevent motor ve- hicles from accessing the beach, and replace and update the sign at the park with the new by-law information, and consider other measures to deter indi- viduals from taking motorized vehicles on to the beach. Upon researching deeds, Murray D. Keith, working on behalf o`NACW, covered that Ashfield Park Beach is considered Township property, right up to the water's edge. In Keith's findings, he summarized the following; "The township ownership of [the lots in question] extends to the water's edge, with no rights-of-way over the beach area in favour of cottage proper- ties to the north" Township Treasurer/Clerk Mark Becker also discovered that a 1988 by- law that had been in place at Ashfield Beach Park had been renewed in 2002, and clearly states that no person shall drive, ride or operate any vehicle in the Reeve asks council for release of security deposit Denny Scott signal -star staff In what could lead to a precedent -setting deci- sion, Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Reeve Ben Van Deipenbeek brought forward a motion to council to have a $170,000 security deposit re- turned. on undeveloped land. • Currently, if an owner severs parcels of lands to develop, they are required to place a security deposit on the lands equal to the amount it will cost to have the lands serviced with utilities. Van Diepenbeek has several lots in his .pos- session and is looking for relief from in- terest payments. Van Diepenbeek acquired the security deposit money through a note of credit at the bank, and said the interest on it is costing him_$3,000 to $4,000 a year. He requested that council return the secuirty deposit so that he can stop paying the in- terest, adding he would pay the security deposit again once he finds buyers for the lot. Council debated for some time over theissue, wishing to make sure their de- cision was one that could not be seen as unfairly favourable towards the reeve. Councillors were initially divided over the matter, with some feeling that they shouldn't set this precedent, others stat- ing that it isn't fair to make someone pay for land they already own, and others still unable to lean one way or the ether. "This is a hard decision to make," Coun. Connie Black said. "We have de- velopment happening [in the township], what are we going to say to them if they ask for the same thing?" "If we grant this, it doesn't hurt any- body," Coun. Barry Millian stated. "We're not using the money for anything. If we don't grant it, we're charging [Van Diepenbeek] $3,000 to $4,000 a year." "I just want to find another option," Coun. Carl Sloetjes said. "I don't feel anyone having to pay $4,000 a year in interest is fair, but we can't make this council, or future councils liable for the decision later on." Council unanimously decided to have the issue brought back as a by-law at their next meeting after Coun. Millian firmly stated that if they looked at the situation without considering it to be the reeve, a decision would have been made almost immediately. "We should grant it," he said. "I don't think a de- r veloper should be held accountable for land they're 1 not devloping on. We're not getting anything from 1 them until they do develop... I would say the same 1 if it wasn't [Van Diepenbeek]." 1 Photo by Denny Scott Wal-Mart gives back Wal-Mart employees raised $515.06 • through an August charity barbecue to donate to the Bluewater Shriners Fire Brigade. Wal-Mart Canada will match the donatiokn, making the total $1030.12. Above, Wal-Mart manager Jeff Charron, organiser Joanne Doherty, and customer service manaer Brenda Does present the money to Shriner's president Casey Does and Shriners Marlene Turner, J. Howard Aitken and Ruby Lagerwerf, and secretary trea- surer Ron Turner. 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Park other than on a roadway or the prescribed parking area. In the previous meeting, council was not aware that they were responsible up to the water, and were unsure who was responsible for several problems that had been noted by residents. Enter this year's HOCKEY POOL $1100 IN PRIZES See the ad in today's SPORTS SECTION •CLIP AND SAVE Come Join the Fun! Upcoming hone games... Saturday, October 3/09 vs Kincardine 7:30pm (MRC) Sunday, October 4/09 vs Hanover 2:OOpm (Memorial) Saturday, October 10/09. vs Wingham 8:OOpm (MRC) 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Saturday, October 31/09 1 vs Mt. Forest 8:OOpm (MRC) The Sailors would like to thank the following game night sponsors 1 0/3NisfunoAl ar 001:11111004 iasyhome Goderich Grill family res aurant visit us at www.sallorshockey.ca `•�-���`""it --' CLIP AND SAVE ... -- MAITLAND VALLEY CONSERVATION AUTHORITY lair PRESENTS THE ANNUAL PRESENTS THE ANNUAL FM Colour Irbur Sunday October 4, 1:00 to 4:00 PM Wawanosh Valley Conservation Area Wagon Rides • Apple Cider it Guided Walk • Birds of Prey Exhibit Wawanosh Nature Centre Open Free Admission Maitland Valley Conservation Authority Box 127, Wroxeter, Ont. NOG 2X0 di 519 335-3557, Fax 519 335-3516 maitland@mvca.on.ca noN << `s O