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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGoderich Signal Star, 2011-08-31, Page 21ignal-Star • Wednesday, August 31, 2011 1110 40 up .1 e damage Dominique Milburn liodench Signal -Star Sifto Salt Mine took the first hit of the F3 tornado t struck town Aug. 21. There was extensive damage to Cures. One employee, Norman Laberge was killed in the ther event. derich Greeter -WELCOME SERVICE- Ifyou are a Newcomer, know someone who is, call Kim Burgsma 524-0163 for Gift Certificates and local information! goderichgreeter.ca or email kimOgoderichgreeter.ca CenfreF� E mployme Avon.N._..¢~ ,17. Maitland Learning Conversational SPANISH Beginner Wednesday evenings 5:30 - 7:30 pm Sept 14 — Nov 2, 2011 Intermediate Monday evenings 5:30 — 7:30 pm Sept. 12 — Nov 7, 2011-08-23 $90.00 + HST Instructor: Gabriela Parejo Classes will be held at GDCI 260 South Street, Goderich We are temporarily operating out of our c entre for Employment & Learning in Clinton. Please call us to register at: 519.482.1700 ►w. thecentreforemploymentandleorning.ca Compass committed to mine reconstruction Dave Sykes Goderich Signal -Star Operations ;at the Sifto Salt Mine have not resumed but Compass Minerals of Kansas City is "absolutely commit- ted" to the mine's reconstruc- tion and continued operation. "We are rebuilding and we know how important Sifto is to the town," former mine manager and Compass Min - teals Country Executive for Canada and Director of Cor- porate Engineering, Rowland Howe said Monday. "We've got people going under- ground doing inspections and. the mine was not harmed. Surface damage is huge but we are surprised by what we have left." Hydro poles are down and being replaced in the area and a transformerstation lost in the storm is now being reconstructed. "Absolutely we are commit- ted to reconstruction. Com- pass Minerals is totally dedi- cated to get the mine going again," he said. "Salt will be moving sooner than later. We have to restore power and boat loading capacity." As of Monday morning, some employees were on site at the mine location "to assess damage and clean up" according to Compass Miner- als spokesperson Kelly Barton. "On Monday we will had about 49 employees at the mine site and another 27 will be at the evaporator plant," she said. "There is electricity to the evaporator plant and there. are generators at the mine to bring power to the shaft and pumping system. "'Thegoal is to bring people back as soon as possible but not at the expense of bringing thern into an unsafe environment." About 485 people arc. employed at the Sifto Mine and evaporator plant. The salt mine was the first structure in Goderich hit by the F3 tornado Sunday, Aug. 21. Mine worker Norman Lab- erge, 61, of the Lucknow area was killed in the storm. The 31 -year employee was in a loading boom when the storm hit the waterfront. Pri- vate funeral services were held at the family home. last Friday. "Let us not forget about Norman and the absolute tragic event in which he lost his life. The storm carne on so fast that there was little time to react,," Howe said. "He was in the loading boom over the boat on Sunday and other employees were in the area but in more secure positions. He's a symbol of what's hap- pened in Goderich." While special rescue teams from Toronto were called in to help in the rescue effort, it was the local rescue team that carried Laberge out on the stretcher. Through the reconstruc- tion process, the company paid every employee for 40 hours of work and employees were then issued temporary layoff notices. The company has set up two phone lines for employ- ees to call for information. The numbers are; 1-877-766- 1823 for the mine and 1-877- 893-0897 for the evaporator plant. Information is also availa- ble on the company websites: www; goderichmine.ca and www.goderichplant.ca Compass Minerals has made donations to the Salva- tion Army and established an employee Relief fund with matching funds that help employees and their families. Neighbours helping neighbours inspirational to all: Shewfelt Gerard Creces OMI Agency A Thursday morning talk with Goderich Mayor Deb Shewfelt reveals a town work- ing to get back on its feet. By noon Thursday, High- way 21 was open and Hwy. 8 expected to be open by p.m. Police are working on d owns- caling the secured restricted areas. Union Gas has 2,000 • Difficult Tree Removal Specialist • Certified & Quality Insured • Experienced Tree Climber • Stump Grinding & Removal • 70ft Bucket Truck • Wood Chipping Catt Thdai 519-501-Z411 customers relit and hydro crews have repaired the Pic - ton Street substation, woridng well into the night Wednesday. Another 1,000 customers have had hydro restored to. their homes, and Shewfelt said everyone should be hooked up by Friday. Power has been restored to the Sifto evaporator plant, however the mine will be a work in progress for some time after a transformer was downed in the lake. Again, the Mayor stressed people should not be touch- ing debris on: public property. Crews will be sent to collect it. "We do not know what con- taminants on-tarninants may be in there," he said. Fire crews will have to wet down the debris to eliminate the threat of airborne parti- cles such as asbestos. "As we speak," he said Thursday morning. 'Works staff are still working on downed trees." Most roads are open in town and a huge chipper has been set up at the site of the old dump on Maitland Road to handle the mass amounts of brush coming in. Parks staff are .wotidng wi tl t counterparts from the Ontario Parks Association to assess the situation in public parks. Superintendent Martin Quinn noted the beaches are open and the cemetery is expected to be open by the weekend. Social service workers, Shewfelt said, will be doing a door-to-door check to make sure nobody is left behind or wanting for food, clothing or shelter. However, any business with food that was affected by the power outage must dis- pose ofit. Teams will be get- ting to restaurants to properly dispose of spoilage. Meanwhile, building offi- cials and engineers are enter- ing downtown buildings wearing respirator equip- ment, deciding whether or not they are safe to enter. "We have very close to 70 (applications) done where. owners can recoup posses- sions and secure their build- ings," he said. The county held a meeting Thursday morning to decide where and how to relocate court services and social serv- ices and council may have to look at rezoning in the core to allow people to rebuild. Shewfelt said it is not fair to punish people with red tape if they want to rebuild. Council is now tasked with deciding on a committee to handle the $5 million from the Province of Ontario for disaster relief, as well as other relief funds pouring in, CONTINUED > PAGE 22