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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-12-16, Page 5Council got `whole new picture' from snowmobilers at meeting FROM Page 1 60 snowmobile supporters who showed.up, and spilled over into the hall at the start of the meeting until more chairs could be found. Council got a "whole new picture," deputy -reeve Bill Teall said in discussions later. "1 ,haven't ever seen that many people out for a council meeting." He abstained from the oristinal vote. Coun. Heather Robinet, who moved the successful motion on Nov. 24 to ban snowmohiling here, also moved the latest motion to reconsider. It was seconded by Reeve Lin Steffler, who likewise seconded the original motion to ban. The majority of signature:, oa both new petitions supporting snowmobilers were from people out of town. Rick Vander Veen, Dorothea Williamson and Tom Fehr. all from Seaforth, spoke for the delegation. Vander Veen said the new route could link. with'existing trails (Pineridgc and BMW) to the south-east of town, and it involves the least populated arca of Seaforth. CONTROL KEY "If we get it, we will mark it, and mark it well," he said. Vander Veen suggested trail wardens could assist with policing. At their own expense, snowmobilers will build and maintain a bridge across, Silver Creek to get into town, he added. He said'a ban would cause n,ore problems than it solves, because snowmobilers who need gas are going to come into town regardless. -He thinks they will only speed faster so they won't get caught if they know they are banned in Seaforth. A designated route would control this, he suggested. A big fan of snowmobile trail riding, Vander Veen said there are often as many as five parked around his place on Ann St. some winter weekends. Enthusiasts spend lots of money in town. not just on gas and food, and at $20 a pop for a tank of gas the benefits are not to be taken lightly, he said. There are potential profits for local business and increased local employment servicing snowmobiles. He asked how much damage snowmobiles actually do'? "Maybe a scratch," said Public Works Superintendent John Forrest. At council's previous meeting, the ratepayers' delegation from West William Street said the ' damage snowmobilers do in town offsets any benefits for local business. When discussing the original ban,' counci) felt snowmobilers should trailer their machines to the edge of town, before coming in or, out, for food or fuel, or to hit the 'trail. Vander Veen asked where they would park? It is illegal ,on a'highway, he 'said, and it is not likely that enthusiasts would leave their valuable machines somewhere where they wouldn't be secure. Foresight saw administrator ready for. '160 Group will give principals' input FROM Page 1 will see changes in the high school curriculum that Rideout saidihas to mesh with changes that have taken place in Grade 7 and Grade 8 in the last two years. There are seven new curriculums in those grades. Gersh said the Avon Maitland Principal's Council is one of the first localized councils to take shape. While the organization is new. it's been in the works since heron; Bill 160 became a controversial issue among the school communities more than a year ago. Gersh said the project was undertaken in secrecy by ,the Ontario Secondary School Principals' Council, one of several organizations that has since folded into the current OPC to include both elementary and high school principals and vice principals. Catholic school hoards still, maintain a separate organization for principals He said the OSSPC began looking into forming an organization to support principals when it first looked like the provincial government would take steps to remove them from the teachce s federations. They kept thc groundwork a secret because they didn't want it to appear the principals were in favour of what the changes the provincial government was making to the school system: changes that led to job action by teachers and principals whcn they were first proposed in Bill 160. "They did that in secret because they were essentially trying to create an organization while being in another." He said thc OSSPC did thc groundwork with foresight and anticipation that the government would pull principals from the teachers' federations. Gerth said that foresight has ensured thc principals and vice principals have an organization to support them now that the change has occurred. "They had the hare -honed organization in place as Bill 160 was dropped on us," he said. To prepare the organization in secret, Gerth said, "It was like stepping through a minefield. The OPC has been around since last spring but it didn't have its first provincial council meeting and general meeting until last month. Locally, Ron Aitken of Arthur Mcighcn Public School was elected vice president, Mike Ash, vice principal at Bluewater Secondary School was named secretary treasurer. Acting as members-at- large,are Herb Klassen, vice principal at Mitchell District Secondary School, Maggie Crane, principal at Turnberry Central Public School, Bart Brown, principal at North- Western Secondary School, Doug Pratley, vice principal at North-Western, Laura Hodgins. principal at Milverton Public School and Lorne Rideout, principal at Seaforth Public School. The Ontario Principal's Council now has 5,000 members with about 100 in the Avon Maitland council. "We're entering into a period of change that's potentially as profound as anything in the last 30 years," said Gcrth, with major education 'reforms taking place. The OPC will support principals as these changes take place and Gerth said it will allow them to have a positive effect on those changes, adding principals have a "huge impact" on how each school functions. Locally. thc Avon Maitland Pnncipal's Council will meet with the Avon Maitland District School Board in January for the first timc to discuss with thc board its evolving role. NOT RESIDENTIAL "Charge the bad ones (snowmobilers)," Vander Veen said. "They give us all a bad name." Coun. Mike Hak, who voted for the original ban (Coun. Paul Menary was the only one to vote against it) agreed the new route "was pretty well away from residential areas." He said council had received wrong information previously (from the Walton Trailblazers) about the possible linkage of a town trail to existing trails to the south. 'We were working under the impression the snowmobile clubs didn't want in and residents didn't want them." Works Superintendent Forrest wondered if the town could have some input into the route into town. He suggested the proposed bridge at the end of, George Street East might not he in the best location, because of the danger it might wash out or be damaged by an early thaw, usual in that part of town. Councillors debated the pros and cons of different directions a snowmobile route might take once in Seaforth. Parking in Victoria Park and snowmobilers walking the remainder of the way for food and fuel was suggested. Others thought this might be unrealistic, with snowmobilers no more likely to leave their machines there than they would beside the roads at the edge of town. An official route restricted to the cast of traffic lights in town might also prove difficult to enforce, council discussed,because snowmobilers might prefer another kind of gas sold on Goderich Street West. Clerk/administrator McLachlan reported that under the Revised Statutes of Ontario, Seaforth "can ban or restrict them (snowmobiles) on roads." He has been unable to find another municipality that has banned snowmobiles outright by bylaw, although some restrict them. W. 'Bro. Stephen Blair, Bro. John Gibson, Bro. Douglas Leonhardt and R.W. Bro. Bruce Whitmore of the Bluewater Lodge, were among the district Masons who collected more than 900 coats and hundreds'of other articles of clothing for the area communities. Elaine Penner of the Seaforth Christmas Bureau receives the coats. HILGENDORFF PHOTO THE HURON EXPOSITOR, DECEMBER 16, 16$$-4 SEAFORTH INSURANCE BROKER LTD. 527-1610 • Home • • Commercial • Auto • Farm • Life • Out of Province Travel Insurance Barb Wan, Joanne Wittiamson, Lynn Ptetsch, Ken Cwdno 41 Main St. S. Seaforth Dear Friend of the Seaforth Community Hospital As the holiday season fast approaches, we would like to gently remind you of the donation cards you received by mail. Your gift is an investment in our hospital, our community as well as our future. Please consider a donation towards the new equipment needed. Thank You LOVVVNIl� SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION I J))J)1)»»»»>)))))))))))))))))))) HOCKEY SKILLS CAMP. DECEMBER 21, 22, & 23 10 a.m. to 12:00 noon each day Open to Hockey Players Novice to Pee Wee Groups 6 hours of ice instruction by, Brian O'Reilly for only 550.00 ' FOR MORE INFORMATION OR REGISTRATION PLEASE CALL THE RECREATION OFFICE AT 527-0882 JP Calling all BABIES Commemorate the newest family member. Join The Huron Expositor's "Babies on Parade" A Photo Display of Babies born in '98 Published Wed. Jan. 6/99 Send or bring a picture of your little one born in 1998, including full name, birth date and parents' names, to be featured in The Huron Expositor's "Babies on Parade" on January 6, 1999 for only $15:00 (GST included). Please send picture (with name on back) along with a cheque to The Huron Expositor, P.O. Box 69, Seaforth, Ont., NOK 1NO by 2:00 p.m., Thurs., Dec. 30th. Photos may be picked up after January 7. This must be pre -paid. SAMPLE Please Complete Baby's Full Name Birth Date Parents' Names $15.00 Enclosed ❑ DEADLINE -DECEMBER 30th, 2:00 pm The Huron Expositor NAME OF BABY DATE OF BIRTH PARENTS 100 Main St., Seaforth 527-0240 •41) izaihati E:10'4Z034P°.