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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2004-08-25, Page 3News Huron East by-law enforcement officers responding to complaints By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Whether it's a complaint about "obnoxious" weeds, unfenced backyard pools, falling down buildings or burning garbage, Huron East's new bylaw enforcement officer Cameron Veitch and his staff are on the job. Veitch's business, National Protection Agency, was hired by Huron East council this spring to enforce bylaws after the municipality's building inspector Paul Josling said he needed help with enforcement. Veitch, who is a law and security professor at Conestoga College and has 13 years' experience in the field, began responding to written complaints in April. And, while he and his wife Lauralee have dealt with 40 complaints so far, he says more public education, not penalties, is the goal. "We encourage you to talk to a neighbour first before filling out a complaint. And, in the majority of cases, we can just speak to the owners and they'll take care of it," says Veitch. "We don't want to be perceived as carrying a great big club. If you're willing to work with us, we're willing to work with you," adds Josling. And, so far, the rate of compliance for bylaw enforcement is 92 per cent. Huron East bylaws that are being enforced include property standards, noise, burning, noxious weeds, swimming pool fencing and beginning this fall, parking. While a noise bylaw only exists in Seaforth right now, Josling says it will soon be extended across Huron E1a4.. ., While property standards complaintsr'e"quitti a when complaint, complaints about noise, illegal burning and fencing for pools do not. "In matters of noise and fire, we generally act as quick as possible," says Veitch. And, while any outdoor fires are contrary to the municipal bylaw, Josling says the municipality will generally only issue a warning unless fire is unattended, too large or involving burning garbage. "If they're burning wood and it's a reasonable size, I don't care. But, in some places it's very prevalent to burn garbage once a week. And, that can put carcinogens in the air and cause lung problems," he says. Property standards create 90 per cent of the complaints received by the municipality and can range from fridges and freezers stored outside with the door left on (which causes a safety hazard), abandoned inoperable vehicles, tall weed growth (over eight inches high) and collapsed structures. "Some people feel like their neighbours are spying on them, Liberals looking at municipal drain funding alternatives From Pogo 1 the communities and we have to deal with the shortages of medical professionals." Sorbara said. "I'm certainly aware of the concerns that hospital administrators have made but on the other hand all of us have to tighten our belts somewhat so that we can start to live within our means." Sorbara said the time has come for a government to manage Ontario's health care spending more effectively. "The bold reality is that health care expenditures across Canada have been growing at a rate of seven, eight and in some areas 12 and 15 per cent, 'Sorbara said. "That can't continue so we have to take responsible action by saying this is how much we can allow our hospital budgets to increase this year. "We're looking to hospitals to work with us to find ways of delivering the services that need to be delivered within these envelopes." Sorbara said one way to deliver this kind of change - and bridge the gap between individuals who need urgent care and urgent response - would he to place a strong emphasis on nurse practitioners. Sorbara's visit to the region came just days after his government scrapped the Municipal Outlet Drainage Program. "I'm very sensitive to the issue," Sorbara said when asked whether the government would provide some sort of replacement program. "Carol (Mitchell) has explained it to me in some detail and I know that (Agriculture Minister) Steve Peters is looking at alternative models. "There is a number of consultations that are going on to see what a successor program might look like." An announcement from Peters' office on Sunday revealed "transitional funding" would be made available for rural communities but stopped short of announcing a new program. "We are committed to working with the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA), the Association of Municipalities ,of Ontario (AMO) and • agricultural stakeholders to create a new model for rural infrastructure," Peters said in a press release. "In the interim, the government will provide transitional funding." NDP Leader Howard Hampton lambasted the Liberal government for "downloading devastating new costs onto rural Ontario." Despite the program's 100 - year history, the McGuinty government cut the program with no advance warning, informing municipalities and farmers by fax on July 27 that the program was effectively cancelled on July 28. "These are hard choices - we had to make some in this budget," Sorbara said regarding the decision to axe the drainage program. "Whenever tough decisions have to be made there's inevitably going to be a negative reaction. "I guess my message is that our rural members - in particular Steve Peters - are looking at alternative measures but I don't want to comment on what those might look like or what conclusions those discussions might yield." Sorbara said his government continues to be cognizant of rural Ontario's concerns when it comes to infrastructure - roads, bridges and culverts. "The fact is that rebuilding Ontario's infrastructure is critical to our overall agenda over the course of the next three years," Sorbara said. The finance minister pointed to a government program offering upwards of $965 million in low-cost, longer term loans through the Ontario Strategic Infrastructure Financing Authority (OSIFA). "This will provide financing capacity to municipalities to get some of this infrastructure done," Sorbara said. "It's not all of the puzzle but it's an important piece. "The final piece of the puzzle will be what we can achieve with the new Martin government in Ottawa ... and how we can get 'those infrastructure dollars that (Martin) has promised into the province as quickly as possible and into communities like Huron and Bruce." Er1OFF10ER Cameron Veitch, Huron East bylaw enforcement officer that it's no one's business what's going on at their property. But, it's all about health and safety." says Veitch. "When your castle affects everyone else's castle, something has to give a little," adds Josling. Veitch says unkempt property can invite pests like racoons, rats, skunks and groundhogs and can also cause fire hazards. As well, unkempt -property can also lend itself to situations where pools of stagnant water can form, leading to mosquito breeding grounds and a possible source of West Nile virus. "People are getting educated about West Nile virus and we're getting a lot more complaints about that." says Veitch. Another growing safety hazard is the prevalence of outdoor swimming pools that are deeper than 20 inches but have no fencing. "Those soft -skinned pools arc readily available at $150 but most of them don't have the five-foot fence the bylaw requires. They are everywhere," says Josling. This fall, the parking bylaw will begin to be enforced, starting with a warning sign for anyone parked in a handicapped parking space, near a hydrant or overnight on the street. "A lot of people park in the handicapped spot in front of the 'ID Bank and say they'Ye just jumping out for a second. But, there's probably a handicapped person waiting for you to jump out. of that spot," says Veitch. And, as his company begins to work for Central Huron as well as Huron East, Veitch says he'll he expanding his staff by two more members. "You'll see us around town in our unit - ms. on bicycles. in vehicles or walking." he says. THE HURON IXPOSITOR, Aug. 25, 2004-3 NOTICE TO PARENTS ST. JAMES SCHOOL, SEAFORTH A revision to the transportation services in the Seaforth area may result in changes to the pickup and dropoff times of your child(ren). These changes will be relayed to you through representatives from Murphy Bus Lincs, Seaforth prior to the first day of school. PLEASE NOTE THERE WILL BE NO CHANGES TO THE SCHOOL DAY AT ST. JAMES. CLASSES WILL CONTINUE TO START AT 8:55 am AND END AT 3:35 pm. 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