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Huron Expositor, 2001-04-11, Page 11w,.,"it:. April 11, 2001 Si (includes GST) In brief Mayor hoping council will be ready to make OPP decision Huron East Mayor Lin Steffler is hoping April 24 will bring council within grasp of a decision on OPP policing. Members of the OPP contract policing branch will .be at council's committee meeting that night to discuss the contract which council has been trying to settle for several months now. "I'm hoping it's one of those meetings we can roll up our sleeves, get down to work and get something worked out on this," said Steffler at Huron East Council's April 3 meeting. Council has been working with two main options for levels and costs of policing for the new, combined municipality of Huron East and has been seeking a quote on a third option for service from the OPP since late last fall. Council is also willing to investigate a joint contract with Central Huron. The contracts being considered include two that would see Seaforth continue with dedicated officers in town with costs of $959,023, or $1,033,162 for a slightly greater increased police presence in the rural areas of Huron East. Council is waiting for word on the cost of an option that would see Seaforth also receive drive-by policing in the community with officers on random patrols but not dedicated to the town. Meanwhile, Steffler reported that the end of Seaforth's last contract for policing came in under budget with $1,500 to he reimbursed to the municipality. By Scott Hilgendorff Rabbit ears... Max Jansen looks at Dustin Clark's progress during an assignment in Barb Desjardins' kindergarten class at StJames School Monday. The students made `bunny ears' to wear in class for the day as they prepared for Easter. Scott Hilgendorff photo Seaforth, Egmondville water linkage progressing By Scott Hilgendorff Expositor Editor A committee has been formed to begin working out how a shared water system between Seaforth and Egmondville, of the former Tuckersmith Township, would be operated. While it's been a topic between the two former municipalities for years, it's now a matter of time before the two systems will be linked now that the municipalities are part of Huron East. "Because we are one municipality, it doesn't mean everything is the same," said John Forrest, public works coordinator, of how it can still be difficult to harmonize different services available in the former municipalities. Coun. Larry McGrath and Coun. Bill DeJong, both of the Tuckersmith Ward and Mayor Lin Steffler and Deputy Mayor Bernie MacLellan, will make up the committee which will begin to look at linking Egmondville to the Seaforth water system. The committee was formed after the Ministry of Environment approved plans to link the two systems earlier this month. Forrest said they are hoping to work out a system in which the two municipalities are paying the same for water. However, the committee is tasked with working this out and faces some issues such as a remaining debenture on new water mains in most of Egmondville that were built about six years ago while Seaforth residents have already faced the cost of a new water tower for Seaforth that would now service Egmondville, which currently receives its water from wells. Thanks to the concerns about computer shutdowns at the Soo WATER, Pogo 2 Sewage treatment plant could be expanded By Scott Hilg.ndorff Expositor Editor • Huron East and Seaforth Creamery Ltd. are entering negotiations that could see a 50 per cent increase to the size of Seaforth's sewage treatment plant. The increase would accommodate the Bridges of Seaforth retirement development in Egmondville and some possible, future expansion such as constructing sewers for all of Egmondville. Administrator Jack McLachlan said taking the time now to expand the plant is part of some long-term planning for Huron East. The creamery is being asked to pay a portion of the expansion because of the extra usage by the facility which produces products like salad dressings. Part of the approximate $1.3 million from the sale of the Seaforth PUC to Festival Hydro in Stratford will cover the remaining, as yet undetermined costs of the expansion. Meanwhile a minor variance has been granted that will allow Seaforth Creamery to construct a facility to house effluent treatment equipment, partially on a road allowance on Railway St. "To go ahead and get the equipment ordered and move as quickly as possible, we need a minor variance," said Creamery manager, Clarence Murphy at council's April 3 meeting. The equipment will help reduce the amount of waste coming from the creamery which has been taxing Seaforth's sewage treatment plant. Council has been working with the creamery for about a year to come up with a way to reduce the amount of material entering the treatment plant, also to help preserve the capacity of the plant for possible expansion in the community. Council is still looking at how large a project is needed and is just now starting negotiations with the creamery on what its share should be for the expansion of the plant. Warm up Faye Murray, Carolin Shepherd and Lynn Murray lead a warm-up for a crowd of Seaforth area residents who gathered at the hospital Sunday for a fun run and to sponsor the trio who compete Monday in the Boston Marathon. Sponsorships are supporting a new Centre For Excellence for seniors at the hospital. Clint Wulf photos Seaforth area residents warm up for a fun run with Boston Marathon competitors. )1Steted1SiValt Call Now For FREE Quotation!