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Lakeshore Advance, 2013-02-13, Page 1414 Lakeshore Advance • Wednesday, February 13, 2013 Huron East won't seek intervenor status as Next Era seeks permission to construct transmisslon Hnes from OEB Written and moral support will be offered to municipality of Bluewater Susan Hundertmark NI Agency While the Huron East won't ask for intervenor status as Next Era goes through its Leave to Construct process with the Ontario Energy Board for transmission lines connecting to the Varna Wind project, the municipality will offer written and moral support to Bluewater, councillors decided at a recent council meeting. Bluewater requested intervenor sta- tus on Jan. 3 with the intent to provide evidence, cross examine witnesses and advance arguments in the hearing of the application to construct a transmis- sion line but CA() Brad Knight told I luron East councillors he didn't think it was necessary for Huron East to do the same at their Jan. 8 meeting. "Bluewater has their own reasons for what they're doing. Bluewater's basi- cally opposed to the project, period. 1 don't get that feeling from council here. 1 think the way we treated this project is it's recognized as a permitted use," said Knight, adding that councillors might get a different opinion from local landowners. Knight said he wants to provide written comments about the location of the transmission lines within the road allowance, particularly the difficulties that have arisen with hydro One in dis- cussions about co -locating power lines. "What we're trying to do is we're try- ing to provide comments to recognize the inability to deal with Ilydro One - their position doesn't seem reasonable in a couple instances. 'There are things Next Era is proposing that would address the issues we have," Knight told council, adding that intervenor status won't he necessary to deal with those issues. Knight added that he thought an oral hearing could result from requests by Bluewater and other applicants for intervenor status and if it does, he'd like to see I luron East participate. But, 'L' u•kersmith (;oun. Les Falconer questioned whether Huron East shouldn't be uniting with 13luewater, especially concerning issues that affect both municipalities. "I don't know what Bluewater's think- ing but I always thought the more in numbers you have, the better off you are. If Bluewater and we can get along as two municipalities that aren't in favour of something, we might have more weight," he said. Mayor Bernie MacLellan pointed out that while Huron East has ratepayers who aren't happy with the transmission lines proposed for their road, the NEW OFFICE HOURS The New Office !lours for The Lakeshore Advance will he as follows... Mondays - 8am - 4pm Tuesdays - CLOSED Wednesdays - 9am - 4pm Thursdays - 9 am - 4pm Fridays - 8am - 4pm 58 Ontario St. N., Grand Bend PTI: 519-238-5383 FAX: 238-5 13 1 EMAIL: lakeshorc.advance(wsunmcdia.ca municipality hasn't learned of "One other major stumbling anything Next Era is doing that Is block is they have different opin- against the rules. ions on how it should be "We don't have any physical resolved. If everyone had one evidence of rules that have been opinion, at least it gives us a broken to our knowledge," he direction we can help with. If the said. "We do believe they have public doesn't all agree, we can't tried to talk to Hydro One to get take sides and push a certain some consensus but there agenda," he said. "Who decides doesn't seem to be any coopera- which plan is the one that suits tion there and we don't have any the majority of the people?" power over hydro One either. Tuckersnnith Coun. Larry People aren't happy but it McGrath said it was a shame appears that things have been Next Era hadn't arranged a pub - done correctly." lic meeting where all the land - Falconer argued that if Blue- owners could sit together, listen water is successful In getting to the various options and come Next Era transmission lines bur- to a consensus on the most ied in its municipality, I Iuron acceptable location for the trans - East should make sure it's in a mission lines. position to demand the same. "1 would not want to wake up "1 think we should be part of in the morning and have my an oral presentation and what- trees gone and 115 Kv line 30 feet ever happens in Bluewater from myhouse because the gov- should happen in I luron East. If ernment says you can do it," said the lines are going to buried over McGrath. there, they should he buried Sea forth Conn. Bob Fisher herr'. I think there should be a said he wished a third party third party deciding where these ombudsman could get involved, lines should go," he said. requiring Next Era to sit down MacLellan remarked that he with the landowners and work wasn't sure all of the local rate- out a solution. payers would agree they want MacLellan suggested finding a the transmission lines buried, way to "piggyback" on BIuewa- which he pointed out as another ter's submission by offering writ - reason why the municipality ten continents and moral sup - shouldn't get involved with port without hiring lawyers to intervenor status. represent I heron East's interests as an intervenor. "If a letter of support and moral support at the actual meeting is beneficial to them), we would he willing to do that pro- vided we don't have to start hir- ing lawyers," he said. In a letter from Next Era's law- yer, McCarthy'1'etrault, to the Ontario Energy Board received at I luron East's Jan. 22 meeting , no objections are voiced against any of the applicants for inter- venor status, including 1' a - ter, the 1 listoric Saugeen - tis, Nitzema Dairy, Brian and I lelen Oldfield, J.R. McLachlan, the (ESO, Jeff Allan and a group intervention that includes Jeff and Stephanie Allan, Beth Cooper, Matt and Elaine !limey, Chris and Angela Maloney, Darin and Julie McKenzie, Jack McLachlan, 'Tom Nolan, Brian and Helen Oldfield, Gerry and !leather Ritzema, Bill and Carol Stephenson, Ron and Ann Thompson, Arnold Van Milten- burg, Ben and Nose Van Milten- burg, Ed and Susanne Van Miltenburg, John and Mary Van Miltetnburg, 'luny Van Milten- burg and Al and Francis Wynja. The lawyer's letter does dis- pute the requests for an oral hearing, saying the reasons pro- vided don't demonstrate a need for an oral hearing. Scam detected by citizen I luron County OPP received a report this week regarding another online scam. A Godcrich resident reported he was selling his pickup truck on a popular online website (KijIJi). Ile was contacted by two scamuners vitt text messages and both of them wanted to imme- diately purchase his vehicle without inspecting the vehicle. The seller became very suspi- cious after learning the pur- chasers lived out of province and both supposedly didn't have the time to talk over the phone. Some red flags the seller correctly identified as scam warning signs were: 'The buyer wanted the vehicle immediately. The buyer lived far away and had no problem paying for ship- ping expenses They were willing to pay full asking price. 'they were willing to purchase without Inspecting first. Both buyers were too busy to talk over the phone and would only communicate via text mes- sage and email. Both were going to pay for the vehicle vitt PayPal 'The stammers will often pro- vide some elaborate title as to why they can't communicate over the phone. They will send you communication through text messages or email advising you the funds will be transferred to your PayPal account. PayPal is a secure method of transfer- ring money however the scamnners take advantage of this and create fake PayPal cor- respondence. If you don't have a Paypal account they will instruct you to open an account and will provide you with a link to do so. 'This link will undoubt- edly take you to a spoofed PayPal site. 'The stammers will also provide you with genuine looking email receipts advising the funds have been tray •f rred into your PayPal accost )hen in fact there has been no such transfer. In addition scammners will often try to create a sense of urgency and will report that there has been a problem with the transaction. They then request funds to be wired to rover unexpected fen's. If you send the money, you have been scammed. If you ship your item before verifying the funds in your account you have been scammed. Don't become a victim. It is always best to snake transactions face to face. If this is not possible, do your due diligence and protect yourself. Never wire money to people you do not know. And most of all, remember, "If it's too good to be true, it likely is':