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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2006-04-26, Page 7News The Huron Expositor • April 26, 2006 Page 7 Huron East accused of taking over Grey meeting Deamalgamation organizer Glen Howling demands the floor at recent council meeting Susan Hundertmark Accusing Huron East council of taking over its public meeting about. the possible deamalgamation of the former Grey Township, organizer Glen Howling demanded the floor during council's April -18 meeting. "It took you guys an hour and a half to speak at our meeting. Don't you dare stop me tonight, Mr. Seili," Howling told the mayor. "You guys pushed your way in there and a lot of people were very upset. I .think you guys should be .ashamed of your- selves - this had nothing to do with Huron East," said Howling. Howling was accompanied by two other Grey residents, including the chair of last week's meeting John Gillis. Grey Coun. Mark Beaven dis- agreed, saying that the letter about the meeting was not addressed to anyone in particular but did encour- age anyone reading it to attend. "I commented three times that it was your meeting and I could address the issues or leave. In the end, the chair of your meeting invit- ed me to speak," said Beaven. Howling went around the table, demanding to know if councillors who attended the Grey meeting would claim the expense. He also pursued questions about how water and sewage expenses worked into the municipal budget and whether Grey residents would be responsible for any work in Seaforth or Vanastra. Brussels Coun. David Blaney explained that water and sewage is a user -pay situation. "You don't have it in Grey so you're not paying for it," he said. As well, Howling questioned the expenses for policing, commenting that Grey would be better off hiring its own police force of two officers for its contri- bution of $170,000. Deputy -Clerk Brad Knight pointed out that Huron East spends a total of $1 million on policing and Beaven added that the law requires the municipality provide 24-hour policing, which couldn't be supplied by two officers. Deputy -Mayor Bernie MacLellan remarked that it was unfortunate that the same "sour tone" of the Grey meeting was carrying over to the discussion at Huron East coun- cil. "I hope we can get the correct information together and I hope we can assist you and give you what you need. If there's a benefit to Grey separating, I will put the motion on the floor," he said. "But, I truly believe there is not a benefit to breaking this group up," said MacLellan, adding the province has been the biggest win-. ner from amalgamation. `It might be easier to work with Huron East for deamalgamation than to use it as a scapegoat,' - Huron . East Mayor Joe Seili Seaforth lagoon puts Huron East in good position if farmers refuse sludge Huron East will not be affected much if Huron County farmers decide to participate in a protest that would deny municipalities the right to spread their sludge on farmland. Of Huron East's three sewage systems in Seaforth, Vanastra and Brussels, only. Brussels has its 510 cubic metres a year of sludge applied on one farm in Morris- Turnberry, says John Forrest of the Huron East public works department. Seaforth's lagoon has its sludge treated chemically and Vanastra's sludge is shipped to Seaforth's lagoon. "As far as Huron East goes, it would be a big inconvenience in Brussels but we could just put it in our lagoon. We Won't be stuck but a lot of municipalities will be," says Forrest. Forrest says the amount of sludge gen- erated in Brussels is not very much but farmers often request the sludge. ".it's all treated and it's good fertilizer," he says. Huron County farm- ers were expected to discuss Monday night the possibility of join- ing a protest begun by the Perth County Federation of Agriculture refusing to accept municipal sludge on local farm- land in hopes of getting municipal councils involved in the farm income crisis protest. By Susan Hundertmark Seili echoed MacLellan's com- ments saying he had no problem. with Grey residents pursuing "sepa- ration." "But, it might be easier to work with council for deamalgamation than to use council as a scapegoat," he told Howling. ■ FEEL GOOD .' ABOUT YOURSELF, Introducing the COOL SAVINGS REBATE for Ontario residents with existing central air conditioning systems. $50 REBATE ON AN AC TUNE-UP* $75 (UP TO) REBATE TOWARDS A NEW INSTALLED PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT** $500 REBATE ON REPLACEMENT OF AN EXISTING SYSTEM WITH AN ENERGYSTAR® QUALIFIED SYSTEM** *must be performed between April 21 to June 30, 2006 **must be performed between April 21 and August 31, 2006 Go to www.conservationbureau.on.ca or call 1.866.670.COOL (2665) for a local participating contractor. Conservation Bureau Mie row a"i'N0".