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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-07-15, Page 3FORD Farm groups circulating own manure plan Makers hope its gives solution BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Expositor Staff . A coalition of county farm groups is circulating a proposal for dealing with nutrient management complaints to all Huron municipalities. "It may provide an alternate dispute resolution service and has the potential to resolve many agricultural issues locally without provincial involvement." according to last month's draft proposal from the Huron Farm Environmental Coalition. "We are proposing a committee that would work with local municipalities in response to public concerns in agriculture." President John Vander- Burgt, who farms on Highway 21 south of St. Joseph at RR 1 Dashwood, sees the county environmental coalition as a buffer between the general public and farmers for matters not already falling within the mandate of the environment.ministry. "We don't want people to think we might be sweeping their concerns under the rug." he says, but the proposal could become a two-way street. Farmers could help educate those not familiar with normal farming practices. and address public concerns about some practices that might be able to he modified. "A committee could educate and bring the two sides together to solve• problems through cooperation." He says the coalition has been working since late last summer building consensus among members, various provincial ministries and the county planning department. It's proposal is based on a similar model that has been used with "relative success" by the farm animal council. MEET NEXT MONTH Vandcrhurght says he has heard no feedback yet on the coalition's proposal. It has asked for responses from Huron's municipalities by Aug. 10. and plans to meet five days later to gauge response and determine what its next step will be. "If the majority of municipalities are interested I see no reason why the committee could not proceed," he says. "Then perhaps we can demonstrate its benefits and others might follow suit." "It is intended that the entire committee meet as necessary to discuss central issues, deal with general information/education matters and review the type of complaints and enquires the committee is fielding," the proposal sent to municipalities states. When dealing with a specific complaint or enquires, a smaller group consisting of not more than three committee members will be established for the purpose of conducting an on- site investigation of the complaint and to formulate conclusions. Complaints/enquires are to be channeled through the township's clerk office, in writing and signed. The committee also plans to develop a standard form to be used by clerks when forwarding a complaint. STRUCTURE The committee will consist of representatives appointed by major farm commodity groups co-ordinated by the coalition. "Total number of members could be taken from the following list," the proposal states: Huron County Cattlemen's Association (2), Huron County dairy Producers Committee (2). Huron County Pork Producers (2), Ontario Egg Producers Marketing Board, from Huron (2), Ontario Chicken Producers Marketing Board, from Huron (2), representatives of the public (one or two county councillors will be invited), Soil and Crop Improvement Association (1), Crop Commodity Group (1), Huron County Federation of Agriculture (1), Huron Christian farmers Federation (1), representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs." Taking the lead - Rocky gave Tanner Glanville a workout on Thursday as they walked into Seaforth from Egmondville on one of the dog days of summer. HILGENDORFF PHOTO MPP Johns spends least of all London -area MPs Huron MPP Helen Johns spent the least of all London -arca MPPs on expenses in 1997-98, at $164,937. Of this total, $26.636 went for travel and office accommodation (the highest of 12 area MPPs) and $138,301 (the lowest of the dozen) was used for staff and other expenses. All of Ontario's MPPs spent $26.7 -million for office, staff. travel and accommodations, which works out to an average of $206,000. according to the annual listings of expenses, which do not include MPP salaries. For comparison. London Centre MPP Marion Boyd reported expenses of 5229.867 for 97-98. Essex Kent MPP Pat Hoy was second with a total of $222,595. Hospital commission sets sights on rural areas BY SCOTT HILGENDORFF Expositor. Editor A provincial restructuring commission has made its recommendations for how hospitals in Huron and Perth should be networked. And it virtually fits the network already formed in the recently developed partnership agreement with eight hospitals in the two counties. Except the commission is also recommended Palmerston be included in the network. "That's a bit of a twist," said Seaforth Community Hospital Administrator Bill Thibert. He suspects the commission is not aware of an alliance formed with Palmerston and District Hospital and the hospital in Mount Forest. The commission is asking for each hospital to respond to the proposals by Aug. 14. The Commission is a group of doctors. health carc educators, hospital administrators, former hospital hoard members and other experts appointed by the Ontario government to redesign Ontario's health system. Thibert said once thc commission sees Palmerston's arrangement when the responses arc made, it could change thc situation.. "Right now, the feeling between the eight hospitals [in the Huron -Perth alliance] is that we submit one common report on behalf of the eight," said Thibert. The plan for doing that is to show the effectiveness of thc partnership. A joint executive committee, which is working out thc fine points of thc hospitals' agreement, is overseeing the response. Meanwhile, the Grey Bruce Huron Perth District Health Council is preparing for a potential visit to the region by the commission. Until now, the commission's focus has been on restructuring city hospitals such as those in Toronto. "Starting in May, we began developing our work plan for thc coming year," aid Jim Whaley, DHC executive director, in a press release from the health council. "As part of our work plan. consultations with local hospitals. and other health care organizations. it has become obvious that preparing for a possible visit by the restructuring commission should he our top, short-term priority," he said. • The health council has been meeting with hospitals in the four counties. all of which have developed networking arrangements, to discuss them. "We feel in Huron Perth, we've got our network established," said Thibert. "We feel that what we've developed falls right in line with what thc commission and the rural and Northern Ontario framework. is looking for." The framework outlines how hospitals can form partnerships and networks to reduce operating costs, a reason behind the work being done by thc commission. The Huron and Perth arrangement has already, produced a partnership arrangement for food services that will save about $1 million between thc hospitals. The partnership allows the hospitals to continue providing 24-hour emergency service and varying levels of service to patients. In Seaforth, acute and chronic care keds remains. specialty medical clinics are held and it keeps it obstetrics program and all its out- patient services. "Our intent is to further sell our partnership to the commission," said Thibcrt. Knowing what was outlined in the rural and Northern Ontario framework. Thibert said the area hospitals were able to position themselves appropriately for the proposal from the commission. With the exception of Palmerston, the locally developed network fits the proposal the commission has made. Thibert said the hospitals are going to forge ahead developing the network and submit the report as asked. "We will await a response from thc commission as to when and if there will be a visit," he said. Police still look for help in hit and run death Further details about a hit- and-run on Highway 21 near Godcrich early in the morning of June 26 that killed 30 -year-old Shane Derck Worsell of Bluewater Beach have been released. Ontario Provincial Police arc still asking for public assistance looking for the vehicle involved, which they say "will have damage to thc front end, likely the hood and windshield arca." Police say at about 2:30 Worsell was running home from Godcrich, "whcrc.hc was born and raised and was a supply teacher who liked to jog." "At the time of the collision he was jogging southbound in the northbound lane," according to the OPP. "hc was wearing dark non - reflective clothing and would be hard to see due to a storm that was passing through the area. "After the initial collision two other vehicles came into contact with the body as it lay on the roadway. Evidence collected supports these findings. 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