HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2007-11-21, Page 7News
The Huron
sitor • November 21, 2007 Page 7
HFA supports water quality recommendations
Aaron Jack 1 i n
The Huron County Federation of
Agriculture has decided to support,
with some revision, the recommen-
dations listedin a draft review by
the Bayfield Ratepayers'
Association (BRA) of the water
quality at the Bayfield beaches.
The two organizations met once
and exchanged a couple of letters on
the matter.
"Agriculture wishes to work with
all parties to be responsible environ-
mental citizens," wrote HCFA presi-
dent Steve Thompson in the letter
from the federation. "We live, work
and raise our families in Huron
County, so we have a vested interest
in the protection of all our environ-
mental resources."
The central recommendation of
the review is that the Ministry of
the Environment, "Bluewater and
Central Huron should fund Ausable
Bayfield Conservation Authority to
undertake an expanded, multi-year,
monitoring program on the Bayfield
River to supplement and expand its
existing efforts."
Representatives from the two
organizations met on Oct. 15 to talk
about a draft version of the review.
Carmen Drost, chair of the HCFA's
property and land use committee,
was involved in the talks with the
BRA.
Drost says the federation didn't
agree with some of the things in the
review.
"They had a report that stated
that 95 per cent of E. coli in the
water is from farmers," he says.
The federation objected to this
claim, saying that researchers have
been unable to identify livestock
manure over other species as
sources of E. coli in the watershed.
The BRA agreed to modify their
report, including another recom-
mendation that called for a freeze
on' both expansions of animal opera-
tions or new operations in the
watershed.
"We feel a freeze on expansion of
any potential source would not
work, as any existing problems with
any source would still exist," wrote
Thompson in the final letter from
the HCFA.
Drost says that any freeze should
include residential and industrial
development, in addition to farms.
"They don't know exactly where
the pollution is coming from," he
explained.
Both recommendations were
removed.
In a letter that accompanied a
revised version of the review, dated
Oct. 22, BRA president Bill Rowat
and the ratepayers' association
asked the HCFA to be involved with
the Ratepayers' Association and the
Ausable Bayfield Conservation
Authority in the design and over-
sight of the recommended monitor-
ing program.
In the same letter, Rowat writes
that the BRA isn't looking to com-
plicate the lives of farmers, but
instead to find a "long term solution
to the increase level of E. coli conta-
mination of Bayfield beaches' water
quality."
In a responding letter from the
federation, HCFA president Steve
Thompson wrote that his organiza-
tion supports the recommendations
made in the report.
"The HCFA will support a multi-
year monitoring program on the
Bayfield River by an agreed upon
third party," Thompson wrote.
Drost says this program would
consist of water quality checkpoint
along the Bayfield River.
He says developing the program
would include figuring out where
the checkpoints would be and how
often they'd be checked.
"We bowed out on the overseeing
part, but we would help them devel-
op the program," he says.
Drost says they bowed out
because of the time commitment.
"We didn't want to have a guy vol-
unteer his time to watch this pro-
gram."
The BRA also asked the HCFA to
endorse a request for funding to
Bluewater, Central Huron and the
provincial government.
In his letter to the BRA, Steve
Thompson said the federation would
support that request.
The BRA is now in the process of
sending the review to all the munic-
ipalities involved.
What happens next depends on
the response they get.
Heartland Credit Union
announces the appointment of
Jim Lynn
President & CEO
It is with great pleasure that the Board of Directors announces the
appointment of Jim Lynn as President & Chief Executive Officer of United
Communities Credit Union Limited. Jim replaced Dennis Wipp, who recently
retired as President & CEO after 20 years of dedicated service.
The Board engaged in a nationwide search for a senior executive with an
unwavering passion for service excellence, a commitment to Corporate
Social Responsibility and the financial acumen to deliver bottom-line
financial success. Jim understands the importance of the Credit Union's
role as an innovative financial services provider, a co-operative, an
employer, and a contributing member of the community.
Born and raised on a dairy and cash crop farm near Exeter, Jim joined
Heartland Credit Union (formerly Clinton Community Credit Union) in 1998
as Operations Manager and was promoted to CEO in 2001. He has served
as Executive VP and COO since the successful amalgamation of Heartland Credit Union and Woodslee Credit
Union (corporately named United Communities Credit Union Limited) on January 1, 2006.
Jim has a strong history of public service including Rotary International, the Canadian Diabetes Association,
the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and as a Mentor for Young Entrepreneurs. Married with three grown
children, Jim plans to maintain offices and residences in both regions in keeping with the Regional focus of
our Credit Union business model. He will be taking up his new position on November 1, 2007.
UCCUL is Ontario's ninth largest credit union, with $570 million in assets under administration, 33,000
members, 191 employees and 10 branches throughout Southwestern Ontario. Both Heartland Credit Union
and Woodslee Credit Union are guided by a commitment to driving positive change and to improving the
quality of life in the communities where we live and work.
HEARTLAND
CREDIT UNION
a division of UNITED COMMUNES CREDIT UNION UMITED
Amherstburg • Belle River • Clinton • Essex • Exeter • Harrow • Kingsville. Leamington• Listowel • Woodslee
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