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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1981-06-24, Page 1A' OMB hears objections to Laidlaw move Promises early zoning decision An early decision is ex- pected from the Ontario Municipal Board into Ex- eter's application to rezone land on the eastern limits of Highway 83 to facilitate a planned move by Laidlaw Transport from the firm's present location at the in- tersection of Highway 4 and 83. Commercial development of the transport company's present site is also depen- dent upon the outcome to be reached by Hugh W. Kelly, B.Sc., Q.C., who heard the evidence given in the three- hour hearing at the municipal office, Wednes- day. Kelly said he appreciated there was some urgency in the matter, and while noting that a decision at the conclu- sion of the hearing was possible, said he preferred to have the opportunity to express in writing some of the technical planning matters that would have to be addressed in his decision. He indicated he would make his decision "possibly by the time the day is over ' and said delays in getting the decision would be through administration processing. Three residents voiced objections to the proposed rezoning of the property on the north side of Highway 83 at the town's eastern limits. These centred mainly around drainage problems and the safety factor of transport trucks onto the highway in the area. Carl Baptist, who owns one acre of property im- mediately east of the propos- ed site, said he feared his property would be devalued and suggested the site would not handle "what is going in there". He concluded his remarks by terming the project a "complete and utter sham", saying it was a situation for the financial benefit of all those concern- ed and he disagreed with them doing it at his expense. Under cross examination by the town's lawyer, Michael Mitchell, Stratford, Baptist indicated he had been prepared to discuss withdrawing his objection of given financial compensa- tion for the proximity of the Laidlaw operation to his property. Len Veri, appearing for one of his companies, Lan- drush Inc., told the OMB he anticipates storm drainage problems and said the pro - GUEST SPEAKERS AND ENTERTAINERS — Members of the South Huron and District Association for the Mentally Handicapped enjoyed two guests at their annual dinner meeting at South Huron Rec Centre Wednesday. Above George Jenner, who is blind and only has two fingers on each hand plays the organ to the delight of ARC Industry employees Gwen Richter and Paul Lazet. Below Myron Angus, an artist who paints by mouth, autographs one of his prints, as his daughter, Theresa steadies the table. Staff photo Hensall man fined ;762 on four driving counts A Hensall area man was handed fines totalling $782 when he pleaded guilty to four charges before Justice of the Peace Douglas Wedlake in Exeter court, Tuesday. Breaks leg and wrist A Huron Park man suf- fered a broken leg, wrist and internal injuries when he lost control of his motorcy- cle and it collided with a clothesline pole on Algon- quin Drive in Huron Park, Saturday. Randolph Quesnel was taken to University Hospital in London for treatment of his injuries. Damage in the accident has been estimated at $1,500. It was one of four in- vestigated this week by the Exeter OPP and in another Saturday collision, damage was set at $2,400 when vehicles operated by Douglas McKinney, St. Catherines, and Gary Regier, RR 2 Zurich, collid- ed on Highway 21 north of St. Josephs. Damage was listed at $7,- 000 when a late model car driven by Gregory Prout, RR 3 Exeter, struck a hydro pole on Highway 4 north of Exeter on Wednesday after the driver lost control of the vehicle. The other collision oc- curred on Thursday when a vehicle driven by Daniel Engelbreth, London, struck a deer on Highway 83 east of Port Blake. Michael P. Westelaken, RR 1 Hensall, was charged on May 27 with operating a motor vehicle while his licence was suspended, hav- ing no valid licence plates or insurance, and with driving 140 km. in an 80 zone. The court was told the ac- cused did not stop when a pursuing policeman ac- tivated the flashing lights on his cruiser and Westelaken said he panicked and froze when he saw the cruiser behind him and this ac- counted for his high rate of speed. He ended up in the ditch. His licence had been under suspension for an accumula- tion of demerit points and for unpaid fines. His licence was suspended a further 30 days on the speeding charge which carried with it a fine of $183. There was a fine of $503 for having no insurance, $23 for having no valid plates and 153 for driving while under suspension. Westelaken was given six months in which to pay the fines. Two area driver who pleaded guilty to careless driving were given varying penalties, based in part on the extent of the injuries they sustained in the ac- cidents which led to the charges. Bruce J. Park, RR 1 Woodham, was fined 853 for a charge laid on April 12 when he lost control of his vehicle and it struck a tree. The accused suffered ma- jor injuries and has been un- able to work since the inci- dent. The Crown asked for a minimum fine in view of the injuries and the fact it will be another six weeks before Park will be able to work again. Damage in the accident was $4,000. Douglas J. Fairbairn. Ex- eter, who was involved in a single car accident on May 2 was fined $128 for careless driving. He also lost control of his vehicle and it struck a tree, resulting in damage of $4,000. Fairbairn sustained minor injuries. He was given 60 days in Please turn to page 2 ject would be a waste of good agricultural land and the proposed water retention pond and trailer parking area in the Usborne portion did not conform to the township's designation for agricultural use. He said the Beaver drain, into which water from the retention pond would be dumped, already floods and he didn't know how it could handle the extra water. The local developer also cited the possibility of ero- sion problems along the drain and said there would be pollution due to the oil and road salt from the Laidlaw site. He termed the pond a safety hazard and breeding ground for mos- quitoes and said there would be a traffic safety hazard with trucks moving slowly onto the highway in an area where most motorists were travelling at speeds of 80 km. He said the site was on a fairly large knoll and was not flat as Huron county planning director Gary Davidson had testified. He told Mitchell that he owned M2 zoned land (the same designation as being requested for the Laidlaw site) within 400 to 500 feet of the area under question and added that the lawyer had suggested two years ago that the town should develop from the inside out and not vice versa. Mitchell asked Veri if he thought it would be fair if Laidlaw located on his land to the west of the proposed site and the developer replied that this was not his lone objection as he was mainly in the farming business and was concerned about the drainage issue. He said he would be satisfied from that stand- point if he could be assured the drainage problem would be looked after. He said later he was not quite satisfied with the explana- tion of the engineer and noted there was enough M2 land in Exeter. Usborne farmer Gordon Strang, who owns land to the east of Baptist, also express- ed concern over the drainage situation. He too said the Beaver drain was not of an adequate size to handle ad- ditional use and he expected Ames Serving South Huron, North Middlesex One Hundred and Eighth Year h it would flood even with the retention pond as he has never seen a retention pond that worked, especially in the spring. He suggested the property should be serviced properly as an industrial area with a storm sewer or it would create problems for the seven farms using the Beaver drain. He added that he was not pleased with the prospect of salt and oil in the agricultural drain and predicted those elements would clog it up and slow it down. Noting there was already enough M2 zoned land in Ex- eter. he said the application was a "squeeze play" as far Please turn to page 2 DASHWOOD CHURCH DEDICATED — Dedication service was held Sunday for the new Zion Lutheran Church in Dashwood. From the left are pastor Rev. W. Gatz of Jackson, Michigan, Rev. Dr. Robert Sauer, vice-president of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, Dashwood pastor, Rev. Mayo Mellecke and Hubert Miller of the building committee. dvoc & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, JUNE 24, 1981 r,xa Price per copy 40 Cents Differing views of handicapped outlined by speakers who know Two differing views of be- ing handicapped were presented Wednesday even- ing at the annual meeting of the South Huron and District Association for the Mentally Handicapped. To mark the Year of Disabled Persons, the association invited two guests to their meeting to talk about disabilities, and to entertain. Myron Angus of Port Stanley, who hasn't the use of his arms and legs, is an artist who paints by holding the brush in his mouth. George Jenner is an ac- complished organist who has learned to play despite the fact that he is blind. and only has two fingers on each hand. Both men spoke, following the theme of the year of the disabled. But while Angus called for obstacles to be removed so that the han- dicapped can become in- dependent, Jenner stressed that it is important for the handicapped to rely on others — teachers. parents, families. Angus, who is in a wheelchair, defined a dis- ability as something which prevents a particular in- dividual from accomplishing a specific action under cer- tain circumstances. He stressed that many people in the same condition have different levels of abili- ty. He said that the greatest problem which the han- dicapped have is the obstacles they encounter. He explained that many of the obstacles are errors of omis- sion, rather than commis- sion. For example, he men- tioned that not having a teleprinter on a telephone which will spell out messages for the deaf, is an obstacle preventing the deaf from being employed. Angus asked that we not "bestow kind help upon" the handicapped, but give them the "equality and in- dependence which is their right." We must shake off the idea we're looking after the dis- abled," Angus said. Angus travelled to attend the meeting with his wife, Alma, and two of their three children. Jenner told the audience that he was born with only two fingers on each hand, two toes on each foot, and a double cleft palate. He had only limited eyesight, which has grown worse. leaving him blind. He attended school in Brantford. travell- ing 1800 miles from his home in Saskatchewan "I've travelled Canada with a white cane, it's better with a beautiful wife," Jenner said. He has been married six years. Jenner and his wife operate their own business, where they sell pianos and organs as well as repair and tune them. Unlike Angus. he said that things should not be made so convenient for the han- dicapped that there is no challenge. He said that everyone including the han- dicapped. have to be prepared to meet challenges. He stressed that a faith in God has helped him over- come his disability. He carried withhima Braille Bi- ble. The very large, thick book only included the books from Galations to Revelations. Business as usual despite local strike It will be business as usual when the area pea harvest starts next week as far as the local plant of Canadian Canners Ltd is concerned according to manager Jack Urquhart He said Monday that the harvest will start next week. "We plan on operating the plant". he reported. The local canning factory is one of four owned by Aylmer DelMonte at which members of the United Food and Commercial Workers international Union went on strike May 21. The union members were locked out at the Simcoe plant. The Exeter employees are members of local 596 and local union chairman, John ;* CAMPERS MAKE DONATION — The Ausable River Nomads recently made a donation to South Huron Hospital. Trying out the hair dryer and shampoo chair are presidents Marie and Don Brunzlow, Dorothy Pfaff adjusts the dryer and accepting for the Hospital is Nur- sing Supervisor Dawn Murray. The hospital now has a complete hair salon for the con- venience of patients. T -A photo Caldwell. said earlier the main issue in the strike is over a common master con- tract to cover employees at all six company plants. Caldwell said there were differences in the pay scale at the various plants and employees want a common contract to cover all workers. The union is also seeking wage. pension and cost -of -living improvements over its old contract. Urquhart said seasonal employees were being hired as usual at the local plant in readiness for the start of the pea pack next week. He said the crop looks ex- cellent. The local manager in- dicated he was not at liberty to discuss any aspects of the strike situation Tony Mattucci. Hay P.O.. an employee at Exeter and president of local 596 which includes three Aylmer DelMonte plants as well as canning plants in Ruthven, Tilbury, Chatham and Wind- sor and some supermarket employees, said Monday that the company and union are deadlocked right now and little progress has been made in negotiations since the workers went on strike. He said negotiations are scheduled to resume in Brantford this Thursday and Friday in an effort to end the dispute. "I am always hopeful." he said in response to the possibility of a settlement being reached. Mattucci indicated the company has brought in some management people to work on the machinery at the local plant in prepara- tion for the pea pack. The striking workers were given some financial Please turn to page 2 He said that the han- dicapped need determina- tion and prayer, as well as help from others. He would prefer reaching out to a human hand for help on a stairway, rather than a cold. hard hand rail. he said. Following their talks both men demonstarted their skills. Angus autographed prints of one of his sketches for interested members of the audience. He signed the prints, holding a pen taped to a stick in his mouth, and passed them out. using a rubber tipped stick in his mouth. Jenner played familiar tunes on his organ, which he had brought with him. Most of the songs are adapted. because he only uses four fingers. He has cut two record albums. Prior to hearing the guest speakers. the audience was entertained by children from Huron Hope school for the mentally handicapped, at JAD McCurdy school in Huron Park. Principal Eleanor Scott led the children in two rhythm band numbers, two bell chime songs. two dances and they concluded by singing three songs. Taking part were Debbie Brownlee. Eileen deKort. Jeffrey DeKort, Please turn to page 2 CLOSE ENOUGH -- Soren Petersen was intrigued by the swarm of bees which landed on o tree branch in his William St. neighborhood, Friday, but preferred to watch from a comfor- table distance. The bees were removed later in the afternoon by Art Abbott, RR 1 Centralia. Buzzed into backyard Host to thousands Two William St. residents had a few thousand visitors buzz into their backyard, Friday, and while they found the guests entertaining to an extent, they cautiously enjoyed them from a safe distance. Shortly after noon, Soren Petersen heard an unusual noise near his back door and upon investigation, found the air blackened with some mysterious clouds. From the safe confines of his home, he watched with interest as a swarm of bees landed on a tree along the property line he shares with Culberts across from South Huron Hospital. It's big How big is municipal business? Members of Exeter coun- cil had some indication last week when they approved cheques in the amount of $273,965.63. it took only a matter of seconds to endorse the payment of over a quarter of a million dollars and was done without com- ment. The clouds of bees started to dissipate in direct proportion to the ever• growing cone of bees dan- gling from a small evergreen tree branch in a few minutes only a handful of bees were still buzzing the neighborhood and the swarm that had followed their queen to the tree branch measured over two feet After rushing to a local store to get some film to capture the interesting scene in pictures, Petersen and Mrs. Culbert started to make phone calls to area apiaries in an effort to find a more suitable home for the bees Contact was finally made with Art Abbott, RR t business About 8128,000 was sent on to the Huron board of educa- tion and another 849,839.52 paid to Lavis Contracting of Clinton for the recent street paving program. The bank balance appeared to be overdrawn but Clerk Liz Bell reported tax money was corning in quickly and the town's finances were in good shape. Centralia, who arrived around 5:00 p.m. to remove the bees with what Petersen described as almost un- believ able dispatch. The Exeter man said he could hardly believe it when the shirt -sleeved Abbott set his empty hive beneath the branch and his hat almost touched the swarm above him He then held the branch dangerously close to the mass of honey -collectors and quickly sawed it off and into the hive. After waiting a short time. he shook the last remnants off the branch, closed the hive and was off with some more workers for his honey operation. He had only one sting to show for his efforts Abbott informed the William St. resident the swarm was under the usual l0 -pound complemen of bees used in a single hive and he appreciated building sip his numbers as he had lost a couple of hives during the past winter "It was an interesting thing." Mrs Culbert said Monday. somewhat relieved to have the visitors removed from her neighborhood.