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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-04-01, Page 10Page 10 Times -Advocate, April 1, 1987 Costly clean-out Zurich drain report accepted The engineer's report on the clean- out and repair of the Zurich drain was accepted as presented at a well - at tended ellattended public meeting in the Zurich Community Centre. The estimated total cost is $171,330, which includes S117.810 for construction, $15,700 for allowances for right-of-ways and damages. and engineering fees of $31,750. Assessments for Zurich total $95,180 and Hay township's share is $76,150. Reeve Bob Fisher opened the meeting with a review of the events leading to therepont.The drain was last cleaned in 1968. The recent survey showed that many of the culverts were installed higher .than the design elevation for the ditch bot- tom. causing silting and blocking over the years. The flat grade has caused water to • stay and stagnate in some •areas. Surface water from illegally hooked -in eavestroughs has overload- ed the village's sewer system, and angry residents with hacked -up sewage in their basements last fall came to council demading that . concrete bottom added after 1968 was causing obstruction, and that 75 per- cent of the cost was being assessed upstream. Claire wanted to know why Hay property owners were paying for something that would primarily benefit Zurich, noting that his outlets are three feet above the ditch. He also objected to Zurich "dumping raw sewage down to the lake or onto us guys." Kegler was advised by Pletch to contact the ministry of the environ- ment if raw sewage was getting in, • adding the clean-out had nothing to do with sewage, but when the pumping station was full, the overflow spills in- to the existing drain.. It's better to put it in the drain than store it in someone's basement", Pletch commented. Fisher said if the costs are loo high. the job could be deferred until 1988. The engineering fees would be paid from money allocated in the 1986 budget. Clerk Rick Beachey is in- vestigating the possibility of obtain- ing a PRIDE grant once Zurich __omethingbe done__ becomes eligible by_passingits Fisher pointed out were poorly at- About you Ito tended. council authorized Don Pletch of Huron -Middlesex Engineering Ltd. to prepare a report on the drain. This showed a need to lower the culverts. knew we would have to bite the bullet, but $117,000 for construction is a shocker", Fisher remarked. Fisher voiced his concern that some assessments seemed inordinately high, citing the Zurich and District Agricultural Society as one example. Benefit and outlet total $6,075, and Fisher said there is no way the Socie- ty can afford that. He hopes to at least get the designation changed to agricultural, land to make the organization eligible for the one-third grant. Fisher has also received many complaints that the assessment on the lagoon is too low. He said if that assessment is raised, one option would be to divide the difference among all village residents, as the. lagoon is used by all. The MTC will pay $21.000 towards the cost of the bypass at Highway 84. Erosion control grants for the right- of-way account for another $16.000. Damage allowances on land in the township are calculated at $1,200 per hectare. and at $3.000 in the village. Right-of-way compensation is set at $3,700 per hectare. Pletch agreedthe clean-out and repair costs seem high, but all alter- natives would be even more expen- sive. He mentioned a plan drafted by the ABCA with a $270,000 price lag. He said "this is not a Cadillac but a Chev to get rid of the water as best you can". Ile pointed out that if so- meone's assessment is lowered, so- meone else will have to pay more. as lne total cost will remain unchanged. Warren and Claire Regier both ob- jected to the report. Warren question- ed the removal of a concrete culvert, saying it was in better condition than anything engineers could put in as a replacement. Pletch replied that the Gertie Fleischauer spent last weekend in London with her daughters, and was also involved as registration volunteer for the Men- tally Handicapped Bowling Tourna- ment at Fleetway 40 Bowling Lanes London. 123 howlers from 11 com- munities in Southern Ontario par- ticipated for a -day of competition. fun, and socializing, - Welcome to town 10 Gerald and Cathy Shantz and family who moved into the former home of Dennis Ducharme on John St. North. Quimby Hess from Toronto spent a few days last week in town and visited with his mother Mrs. Marie Hess at the Blue Water Rest Home. George and Marg Suplat and Dick and Betty Bedard recently spent the week of the March break on a vaca- tion in Jamaica which they really •enjoyed. Best wishes for a speedy recovery is extended to Bridget Groot who had the misfortune of falling last week. and as a result is confined to led al home with a fractured shoulder and ribs. Get well soon. . Lorne Fleischauer is a patient in St. Joseph's Ilospital. Ann McBride is now home from the hospital. On Sunday a good attendance was had at the Zurich Mennonite Church to hear the "Image Singing Group" and in the afternoon an open house was held in honor of Edgar and Muriel Cudmore who celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Mare -and -Cindy Gelinas and children of London spent Saturday night and Sunday with his parents Mr. and Mrs. Mozart Gelinas Sr. and at- tended the play, "Three Bright Girls" with them before going home. Congratulations to Joe and Nancy Becker of Dashwood nee Overholt on the arrival of Breanne Monique on March 25. NOVICE CHAMPIONS — The Zurich Reds won the novice trophy in the Huron -Perth Tier 2 House league Hockey Tournament, defeating the Zurich Whites. Shown with assistant manager Steve Durand (left) and coach Bill Groot ore (front left) Bryan Denomme, Chad Raymer, Kirk 'Durand, Kris Schenk, Brent Grainger and (bock) Chris Keller, Marty De Groot, Timmy Estep, Mork Durand, Stephen Regier, Michael De Groot and Neil Beauchamp. WMADNESS SALE 0% off entire stock STORE WIDE One Day Only April 2nd -9:30 a.m. to 10:00 p. ing bylaw. The provincial grants are offered to encourage otherwise unaf- fordable improvements, and could be used to help reduce assessments. No date has yet been set for a court of revision to gile objectors a chance to appeal their assessments. Robert Westlake and George Hag- gitt asked that something be done about the Haberer drain. The engineer has been told to prepare a preliminary report on that drain. Agriculture number one Noting that attracting new industry to Iluron was one of the topics for F'ri- day's session of the Huron Municipal Officers' Association meeting in Ex- eter, Agriculture Minister Jack Rid- dell said it was an item on the govern- ment's agenda as well. "What we want to do is help reverse the trend of the past generation in which the largest single export from rural Ontario bas been its youth," the Huron -Middlesex MPP said in brief comments- after explaining- that he sees h ff-`-a-s`the---pravinci• minister who keeps an- eye -on rural_ affairs. Ile told the Huron audience there was a need to provide young people with jobs in their own communities "which is compatible with the sur- rounding agricultural community". Riddell reported he had been in lfolmesville only the day before to speak to a group of young farmers who represent 200 new businesses started in Iluron under the provincial Beginning Farmer Assistance Program. - Saying that he had chosen Huron to start his farming career, the Agriculture Minister went on to claim he couldn't think of a better place to start such a career because the coun- ty ranks so high in so•many areas of farm production in the province. "As agriculture goes. so goes the businesses in our towns," he explain- ed and urged the audience in their rush to attract new industry to main- tain sight of the one that remains the strength of this country. Before commencing his address, Riddell whimsically asked if London Free Press reporter Nick Marlin or Goderich columnist Elsa Ilayden were in the audience, a reference to a recent expose on problems in Iluron carried in the London paper. He thanked the Huron group for taking some of the limelight away from provincial and federal. politi- cians. "As long as you're doing that. they're leaving me alone," he concluded. 1 Lantro Moll 420 Main S$rawt r.otar 235-1252 (,111ti I. For the Wheel of Fortune game Excluding appliances and in store specials GIFTWARE TOYS SMALL APPLIANCE PAINT --WALLPAPER CO.OP MEET THE MANAGER!! The directors of Exeter District Co -Op would like you to visit the Exeter store on April 4/87. We would like you to meet. our new general manager and take advantage of our many specials. Murray Insley 1 00/at.All in store items IOFF except the following super specials Dutch Sets 60(1. Garbage Bags $599 pkg. of 50 Dog Chunks , Hi -Boy 1495 kg. MG Motor Oil 10W30 $.99 Work Pants — J.P. Hamill — $11495 g s169: Lawn Fertilizer 999 FREECaonffeed Donuts "FREE DRAW" Gas Barbecue Gas Bar - Double Coupons April 4/87 10% discount does not include feed, fertilizer, chemicals, lumber, lawn mowers or fuels EXETER DISTRICT CO.OP 435.3081 TIME: 8:00 a.m., 4:00 p.m. 0