HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-11-05, Page 3•
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Councillors veto compromise suggested by lawyers.
Times -Advocate, November 5, 1986 Page 3
The saga will eontlnue for a IIttIe Ionger yet
The saga of Exeter's TV dish con-
tinued at council this week, and while
lavers for the two sides had work-
ed out a compromise, it was not ac-
cented by council and tht saga will
apparently continue for a little longer
yet.
council received a copy of a letter
this week that had been sent from
their lawyer, Michael Mitchell, to the
Goderich law firm of Donnelly and
Murphy, who are representing dish
owner Shirley Mommersteeg.
The communication indicated that
the lawyers had received advice that
TV antenna could be moved to a loca-
tion on the roof of the Mommersteeg
garage at 32 Gidley St. W.
Mitchell recommended to council
that the dish be moved as the new
location conforms to the re-
quirements of the zoning bylaw and
that council require Mrs. Mom-
mersteeg to replant one tree which
would have to be removed to accom-
modate the move.
Okay using reserve
for magnetic net buy
Exeter council this week gave their
blessing to a request from the South
Huron rec centre board to use funds
from a reserve fund to finance new
magnetic nets being planned for the
facility.
The nets, which cost about $3,000,
will actually be donated by Kentucky
Fried Chicken, but the firm will be
paying only $500 over each of the next
six years.
That left the board to finance the
actual purchase and to recoup the
money as it is received.
Councillor Ben Hoogenboom oppos-
ed the suggestion that funds be taken
from the reserve fund and then paid
back as they are received. He said it
was great to be wanting such things,
but noted there was no money for
them and they should not be install-
ed until the total money is received.
Councillor Gaylan Josephson quick-
ly responded with his opposition to
that suggestion, noting that "too
many people have been hurt sliding
into goal posts."
"For the safety factor alone, it is
worth the money," added Councillor
Tom Humphreys, who noted that the
only cost involved would be the Ions'
of interest from funds taken from the
reserve.
"There's no reason to refuse the re-
quest," Josephson commented,
noting that the money would be
repaid to the reserve fund.
Cam Stewardson, facilities
manager, appeared to discuss the
matter, along with the concern which
had been expressed at the last coun-
cil meeting over the board's current
financial situation.
After answering several questions,
most of them from Reeve Bill Mickle,
Stewardson was asked to work clos-
ly with the town in monitoring the
financial situation through to the end
of the current year.
Stewardson indicated cash flow was
a little tight due to unforeseen ex-
penses, such as increases in in-
surance and wages. He advised coun-
cil that some machinery and building
repairs had been put off until next
year in view of the tight budget
situation.
It was noted that a member of the
town's public works department had
inspected the tree in question and
found it not to be in good condition and
in all likelihood would have to be
removed in the near future anyway.
The proposed agreement also call-
ed for trimming some other trees in
the vicinity? f the dish.
The final two requirements were
that Mrs. Mommersteeg would have
to apply for a building permit for.
moving the dish to the new location
and also abandon her appeal of a
court decision reached in June which
found the dish to be in contravention
of the zoning bylaw.
The local woman was found guilty
of contravening that bylaw and had
been fined $400. The fine was paid, but
the court decision was appealed.
Protective Plastics
Continued from front page
two 20,000 square foot (1,850 square
metre) areas -when our product is 10
feet (three metres) wide and 50 feet
(15 metres) long - it's kinda hard to
weave it through the pillars.
"Brantford isn't that far away"
from Huron Park, Scott said. "I drive
close to that distance commuting to
work myself."
Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) na
tiogal representative Bert Rovers
said he is frustrated by the lack of ac-
tion he has received in an effort to
keep the firm in Huron Park.
Rovers and the union, which
represents about 75 of the Huron Park
employees, would like to see the On-
tario Development Corporation build
a new plant at Huron Park for the
firm and have been hounding Huron -
Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell, and
through him, Industry Minister Hugh
O'Neill, for some action in that
regard.
When the matter came up for
dtsssion at Monday's session of Ex-
eter council, members backed a mo-
tion by Councillors Gaylan Josephson
and Ben Hoogenboom to discuss the
matter behind closed doors.
After that lengthy deliberation,
council moved back into open session
where Hoogenboom then presented a
motion that the matter be tabled.
Reeve Bill Mickle, who was acting
chairman in the absence of Mayor
Bruce Shaw, opposed that suggestion,
noting that tabling the matter would
not bring council any closer to resolv-
ing the issue.
When there was no seconder, the
motion was dropped and Councillor
Peter Snell then,presented one which
recommended that council allow the
trimming of trees at the dish owner's
expense, and within reason, to
facilitate reception for the antenna in
its proposed new location.
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Councillor Tom Humphreys ques- travention 0i the zoning bylaw by hav-
tioned whether that would be_ ap- ing the dish located_ in_its present spot.
proval to trim the trees with a view hat motion' was approved
to better reception or to prolong the unanimously.
life of the trees. The hearing on Mrs. Mom -
Snell said the trimming approved mersteeg's appeal of the decision
would not be to the extent of en- reached in Exeter court by Justice of
dangering the trees. the Peace Douglas Wedlake had been
After further debate on that motion, scheduled for October 15, but was set
Hoogenboom argued it was too vague, aside when the two law firms entered
while Josephson said it would set a into negotiation to settle the issue
precedent where others would want without going through the cost of the
their trees trimmed as well. appeal.
That motion, which had been In his letter to the Goderich law
seconded by Deputy -Reeve Lossy firm, Mitchell pointed out "that if
Fuller, was supported only by Hall your client at the outset had ap-
and Snell was defeated. proached the Town of Exeter in a
Mrs. Fuller then presented a mo- reasonable manner, her wishes would
tion to write their solicitor advising of have been accommodated".
their concern about removing any Mitchell noted that "a considerable
trees, suggesting that other possible amount of legal expense has been in -
sites on the property be investigated curred as a result of your client's in -
for the dish and that the owners be transigence to meet the requirements
reminded that they are still in con- of the Com . . ' nsive Zoni : 13 law".
USBORNE CENTRAL SPOOKS — Shown during Friday's Halloween party at Osborne Central School
are from the left Cory Hibbert, Jackie Morley, Wendy Parsons and Josh Dougall. T -A photo
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Has good and bad news
after reservoir inspection
Manager Hugh Davis has good and
bad news about the results of the
water reservoir inspection to report
to the regular October meeting of the
PUC. The good news was the
discovery the concrete was in
"fabulous" shape, and the reservoir
was relatively. clean.
However, draining the reservoir
revealed the fact the pipeline coming
in from the dam through the wall and
running the length of the reservoir to
the basement of the pumphouse was
dangerously unstable, hanging from
rods and wrapped with wire. Every
joint had been leaking.
The inspection also exposed a pipe
taking water from the eavestrough on
the main building through the reser-
voir water to a drain below. Davis
said luckily none of thi,water had
leaked into the reservoir. but the
unorthodox arrangement could have
caused contamination which would
have been very difficult to trace.
Acting on advice from engineer
Bruce Potter, a decision was made to
reinstall the pipeline correctly by
strapping it to the floor while the
reservoir was empty. rather than
waiting and going through the drain-
ing procedure again later.
The eavestrough drain was discon-
nected and the top and bottom holes
plugged with concrete. A leaking
valve was also replaced.
Acting on the assumption the water
sloshing around on the reservoir floor
had been draining slowly because of
reduced pressure, the reservoir was
sterilized with chlorine, and the
springs turned back on. This resulted
in two inches of water in the pum-
phouse basement. The drain was
plugged.
Tree roots and silt had piled up
against a steel grillwork installed in
the drain 200 feet from the reservoir
to keep out animals. Davis said he
decided on his own authority to install
a manhole at the site.
The hole has been excavated and
fenced off. Delivery of the manhole
has been delayed, as the supplier
dropped and broke the first one.
Davis said all this will run the cost
of inspecting and repairing the reser-
voir over the estimated $1,000, but do-
ing everything now is the most
economical way out.
The PUC is money ahead in another
department. Secretary Marilyn
Sillery went through the books and
found items totalling $748 eligible for
the federal sales tax rebate. This pro-
cedure will be done each year.
Another windfall of $1,608 was
rebated after the government chang-
William Mason
Studio of
Photography
Quality
• Still photography
• Video Productions
• Frames and Albums
Studio and .
Darkroom
Facilities
(519) 235-0134
77 Main St., Exeter
ed its sales tax policy on meters.
Thirty-three water services have
been installed so far this year, with
more to come.
The utility has been notified that the
wholesale rate to the municipality
will be up five percent next year. The
Exeter PUC has not yet set the 1987
retail rate. •
• Council and the BIA have agreed to
share the cost of replacement
Christmas decorations for the poles
along the main street.
JOIN THE CROWD
BE A REGULAR
BLOOD DONOR
Meet your changing financial obli-
gations with a Financial Security
Planning Program from The
Co-operators. Call today for
complete information.
Verne Gimjerich
C0 the
t) co-opetatols
At our new location
429 Main St., Exeter •
(between Extate Realty and
National Trust)
Phone 235.1109
ter' HOME Mitt) (OMMFRCIAL FARM TRAVEL
USBORNE BLOCK PARENTS — Primary students at Usborne Central School learned about the Block
Parent program, Thursday morning. From the left are Usborne co-ordinator Jan Gardiner, students,
Laura Bowers, Tamara Triebner and Jennifer Westlake and Exeter OPP Corporal Dave Woodward.
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YOU ARE INVITED.....
The citizens of Exeter Area are invited for the
Legion Remembrance Service
at Trivia Memorial Church
on
Sunday, November 9 at 11:15 a.m.
Service at Cenotaph at 10:40 a.m.
Please Note
The Laying of Wreaths and Last.Post will be at the Cenotaph
at 10:40 a.m.-
All
.m.
All those who participate in parade, assemble at Legion Hall
Fall in at 10:15 a.m.
Veterans in Exeter and surrounding area are urged to participate. •
Medals will be worn.
After the parade you are invited for a cup of coffee and fellowship
At the Legion Hall from 12:30 - 1:30 p.m.
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