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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-05-17, Page 1Briefly SYUR'1 S Hockey great Maurice Richard visits Perth. see page eight. 527-0430 The OBVIOUS Alternative I. co' Independent Member Broker Town allows zoning change Seaforth Council passed a bylaw at last Tuesday's regular meeting allowing a Birch Street business to alter its zoning slightly to permit automotive repair and sale. The expanding business in the industrial park belongs to Fred Schuch who has been using the property for auto body and marine repair for 15 years. Concerns were raised about the rezoning at a public meeting April 24 by the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority about the storage of waste oils and fuels above flood elevation, and by the Huron County Health Unit about parking on the existing tile bed. At a Planning Advisory Com- mittee meeting immediately after that public meeting Cindy Fisher of the health unit said that although the parking lot of the business has been there for a decade and a half, prohibiting parking on tile beds is standard procedure because it causes compacting and affects its ef- ficiency. Lawyer Ralph Smith attended last week's Council meeting representing the business and agreed Schuch would agree to refrain from parking on the bed, also releasing the municipality from any responsibility. The business will not be al- lowed to sell fuel under the rezoning. Candidates to debate in Huron An all -candidates' meeting to debate agricultural issues is being held at the Goderich Township Hall at Holmesville on Tuesday, May 30, at 8 p.m. The meeting is sponsored by the Huron Federation of Agri- culture. Although the focus of the evening will be on farming, the general public is invited to auend and ask the , candidates questions on any topic. "Agriculture is an important part of the local economy," said president Steve Thompson. "We want to make sure that the voters of the riding have a chance to hear what the candi- dates have to say on local farming issues." "The Huron Federation has decided to take on active inter- est in this campaign to bring out local agricultural issues", said Thompson. "we want to give the public a chance to learn what the candidates think about farming in Huron." By publicizing where the c didates stand on agriculture, fife voters of the riding should be more informed on election day. Thompson pointed out that "we don't plan to end&se or attack any of the candidates. We are non-partisan; it's up to the voters to decide from ;Sb( t0 casuheir Ls_„ INDEX Entertainment... pages 14, 15 Sports...page 8. Rec Preview...pg. 14. "Your community newspaper since 1860...serving Seaforth, Dublin, Hensall, Walton, Brussels and surrounding communities." 41 TELEVISIQN Huron debates Pr con$ of the Ree gale two, . Ell ELE. L t • n R IC E D FARM • HOM • COMMERCIAL POLE LINE CONSTRUCTION "15 Years in Business" DUBLIN 345-2447 EDUCATION Pupils talk to schools around the world. see page six. FEW SNAKES NEED PETTING TOO - Students at Seaforth Public School got a bit of a surprise at the Seaforth Veterinary Clinic last week. Barry Kaufmann of Woodstock brought along an albino python and another pregnant 15 -footer. The students were bolder than their teachers and GREGOR CAMPBELL PHOTO the photographer. In this photograph students Rachel Low (left) and Helena Martens acquaint themselves with the snake. The local vet clinic sponsored a petting zoo to promote Animal Health Week. Seaforth questions board spending BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Expositor Staff Seaforth Council expressed concern the public education system isn't tightening its belt like everybody else, before passing the bylaw to collect 1995 mill rates at Tuesday night's regular meeting. "It seems like a never-ending well," said Reeve William Bennett. The combined mill rate for the Huron County Board of Education has increased 9.6 per cent, whereas the combined mill rate for the Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board has increased two per cent, and municipal mill rates for Seaforth and Huron County in 1995 are the same as they were last year. Seaforth's mill rate this year is less than the its municipal rate in 1992, noted the report of Administrator Jim Crocker. Council instructed Crocker to send a letter to HCBE Director of Education. Paul Carroll asking for more information on the increase, beyond simply blaming "downloading" of costs by the provincial government. Information from the education director circulated to Council at last week's meeting noted "that Ontario, not the local Board, is the key decision -maker in setting property tax rates." Reeve Bennett said the local public education mill rates have increased more than 20 per cent in the last three years, while others are closer to a zero per ccnt increase. He wondered out loud why "there seems to be building everywhere?" Deputy -Reeve Bill Teall echoed the Reeve's sentiments and said he doesn't know what to expect when the Social Contract ends. He wondered why the public school increase was so much greater than surrounding boards. He said this does not bode well for the future, because if teachers' salaries account for 80 to 85 per cent of the Board's costs, and there were no increases to teachers' wages last year, a nine per cent increase now seems excessive. Return boots, board tells police BY TIM CUMMING Expositor Editor Seaforth's Police Department has been asked to return all police boots when the munici- pal force is disbanded this fall. The request came at the May 10 meeting of the Seaforth Police Services Board. The issue came up after the Police Department ordered four new pairs of police boots. "If you can collect them that would be great," said Bill feall, Vice -Chair of the Police Services Board, to Police Chief Hal Claus. One pair of boots was labelled a 'Winter Boot'. Teal] asked why a winter boot was being purchaseAl when the police force is being disbanded. Police Chief Hal Claus explained that the supplier had run out of the summer boot after supplying several thou- sand to the OPP. Chief Claus said the winter boot is actually an all -season boot. The police chief says the boots, when returned, are apt to smell after their use. The Police Services Board has submitted its budget to Seaforth Council. Some questions remain about the future of the existing radio dispatch system for municipal police forces in Huron. "There is a question whether there would be a severance package if they maintained existing communications," said Lin Steffler, chairperson of the Seaforth Police Services Board. "My feeling is Goderich would look seriously into dis- banding the communications system," said Bill Teall, Vice - Chair. "If that didn't happen there's no severance package." The communications system includes Goderich, Clinton and Seaforth. ••• Seaforth's Police Services Board is wrestling with the - problem of how to regulate such recreational items as skateboards and in-line skates. Although they have wheels, they aren't considered vehicles. "In-line skates can't stop in a hurry," said Bill Teall, Vice - Chair of the Police Services Board. He noted the Seaforth area has an aging population and many Seniors -would find it hard to get out of the way of someone on the in-line roller skates. ••* Police Chief Hal Claus said the police force is keeping overtime to a minimum. *4* A local resident has been charged with fraud as a result of a long investigation by London City Social Services, Huron County Social Services and Seaforth Police. ••• Seaforth Police Services Board has successfully resolved all outstanding personnel issues regarding overtime and sever- ance (for civilian employee), according to a motion passed in closed (in camera) session. Residents want to BY PAUL BANKS CLINTON - To take away smoking privileges at Huronview nursing home would be to deny one of the only solace some residents have left, according to a few occupants. A report from the Health and Seniors Committee to Huron County Council states Huronview must comply with the provincial act Bill 119 by either creating a properly ventilated smoking area or ban smoking in the building completely. "Its all I have is my smoke. I'm pretty well alone," said John Hannah, who has been at Huronview for three months. Born in 1914, he has been smoking for 64 years, and was living at Parkwood Hospital in London before coming to Huronview to be closer to his family in Goderich. "What arc we looking at down the road?" he asked. Administrator Crocker said some other boards seem to be using reserve funds to control ff8te increases, which others might not consider wise in the long run. The combined tax increase for a public school supporter with an assessed value of $80,000 is $74.80, according to the administrator's figures. The combined tax increase for a separate school supporter with an assessed value of $80,000 is $16. Lumber, bike thefts reported in McKillop There was a theft in McKillop Township of a trailer full of lumber, worth $3,500. The Ontario Provincial Police, Goderich detachment, reported that a construction site Was entered in March and the trailer full of wood was stolen. There was also a theft in McKillop, between March 22 and April 12, of four CCM bicycles. The total value is more than $1,900. smoke He noted that at Parkwood, he and others were allowed to smoke anytime adding that he can now only smoke at certain times outside the tuck shop, located inside the front doors of the complex. And if a total ban on smoking was imposed, Hannah said, "1 would get on the phone to Parkwood and tell them I'm coming back." see Seniors, page seven