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Times-Advocate, 1987-07-08, Page 1Serving South Huron, North Middlesex One Hundred and Sixteenth Year i f V.' 3Y fah dvocate EXETER, ONTARIO, July 8, 1987 & North Lambton Sine 1873 p Price Per Copy 60 Cents ,DOWN THAT DOG Bob Rowe finishes off a hot dog at Exhibition Stadium in Toronto as he watches the 'Blue Jays work their way toward a third consecutive loss aginst New York' Yankees Wednes- day afternoon. A bus excursion, sponsored by Ellison Travel, transported 600 people from Huron County on Canada Day. See story, page IA. Town considering a moat as €ountY losing relevance The rift between county council and Huron's five town mayors continues to widen and Mayor Bruce Shaw said in a prepared statement he read to town council this week that "some of us feel, as one wag put it, of telling Glen to build a moat around the town with his back hoe".. ' After noting that . a sincere and reasonable presentation to the coun- ty by the five mayors had been filed and the recommendations ignored, Shaw said they have concluded that "we must take a stronger stand wherever and whenever possible". "The county is rapidly losing its relevance for the towns of Huron," he added, noting that'while Exeter has strong representation on county coun- cil, they are often ignored and even rebuffed as they forcefully and elo- quently voice our concern and the - concern of all urban municipalities. "County council is either incapable of adjusting to modern realities or in- credibly ignorant of changing condi- tions within Huron," he continued, saying that the options are: 1. main- tain our present efforts and keep try- ing; 2. boycott county council; 3. try to amend our relationship with the county through legislation; 4. apply for status as a separated town. "People, both in Exeter and within • the county, should realize that we have a serious problem, and we can- not and will not ignore it," his writ- ten report concluded. The eight key issues being discuss -,- ed by the mayors include the library system, waste management and land- fill, policing, recreation, economic development, highway 8, planning, and grants, assessment and provin- cial funding. Shaw didn't get much encourage- • ment from Reeve Bill Mickle who reported that the county was making attempts to take over more control of planning relayetd�to them hby e getting. n rovin• cial government. Mickle said he was fearful that such a move would "ruin this town" as planning matters would get bogged down in bureaucracy and red tape that is now handled efficiently by local citizens. He went on to say it.may_be a backhand method of the county fighting Exeter for moving to hire an independent planner to help look after local matters that currently are be- ing handled by the county planning department. Another area of concern Mickle ex- plained was discussion at last week's county session when the solicitor general islicated an interest in tak- ing over the county court building. In the future, Mickle reported, regional courts such as those in Ex- eter and Wingham would be phased out and all matters moved to Goderich. This would require all persons ap- pearing in court; as defendants and witnesses, to travel to Goderich. When Shaw asked if the county representatives from the other four towns had expressed concern over this and other matters, Mickle said none had made any response. The mayors will be meeting this week and Shaw indicated he would LOOK OVER MOUNT CARMEL HISTORY — During Saturay's anniversary celebrations of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, com- mWee-chairman Pat Sullivan looks over a history book with historian Mary HaW T -A photo nialliallifta'a' rAMi i .' .a .:;�' y.; >. -W 3 ? ' +,o .l '. emetr .. .. a mtiriA5i> * e cM A £:~i~~. Aaaait ' F:::i£:.,t�. %r rARw.o ,,. .:.. . 100th bring this up with his cohorts to in- dicate that they are not getting the support from their own towns re- quired to make county council aware of the concerns. In a comment related to a story\ .which appeared in the daily press last week about expanding road systems to improve rural areas for industrial expansion, Councillor Dorothy Chap- man hapman said she was disappointed in the comments of Huron Federation of Agriculture president Paul Klopp and • other agricultural leaders who oppose widening highways. "We have to be aware of each other's problems," Mrs. Chapman ex- plained, noting that Exeter has been trying to keep agricultural land from being gobbled up. but that agriculture and urban centres must work together for each other's preservation. BELL RUNNING Tuckersmith Township Reeve Bob Bell has announced his intention to be a candidate when Huron County Council elects its 1988 warden in December. Bell madehis announcement at the end of the regular July session of council in Goderich. the last meeting until September. - The present Huron County' warden is Turnberry Township Reeve Brian McBurney who was acclaimed by council in December. 1986. AREA MPs LOSE All four area Members of Parlia- ment were on the losing side in this week's vote on capital punishment. Voting in favor of a return to capital punishment were Murray Cardiff. Huron -Middlesex: Harry Brightwell, Perth: Terry Clifford. London - Middlesex: and Sid Fraleigh. Lambton-Middlesex. All are Progressive Conservatives and the outcome was 148-127. • First debate opens on study of using OPP The matter of town policing and getting it from the OPP made its first formal appearance on Exeter coun- cil's agenda this week, but Mayor Bruce Shaw emphasized that some of they recent news of the discussion was incorrect in giving the impression the five Huron mayors were favoring OPP coverage. Policing costs was one issue the mayors recently made with Premier David Peterson in his visit to Huron and they were advised that such an option could be open to them and they could ask for a cost analysis. "We, as mayors, will look at all the options available to us and eventual- ly recommend a particular course of action to our respective committee and commissions," Shaw said, adding it would take into account both effec- tiveness and efficiency "and will not be an emotional response to what, we consider a serious problem." Shaw said no such point has been made as yet by the mayors and he stressed t.vo points in a recent inter- view: 1. we, locally are very pleased with our present coverage; 2. we, as mayors, are an unofficial body with no power granted it by our councils. "Eventually we rpay recommend County tries plan to mediatedispute Iluron County Council has given its approval to a planning and develop- ment committee recommendation that a provincial government media- tion program be applied in a bylaw dispute primarily between flay Township and Exeter. , Council's decision was reached at the regular July session during presentation of the planning and development committee report by its chairman, Osborne Township Reeve Gerald Prout. In the report. council was told the appeal period for Hay Township's comprehensive bylaw has concluded and several objections concerning the Hay Agri -Park - a sore point between the municipalities for nearly two years now - objections were also lodg- ed by several collage owners in the township who are requesting perma- nent residential zoning for their properties. Gary Davidson. the county's direc- tor of planning and development, reported that no date has yet been set for an OMB hearing, but the bylaw and all objectiops have been forward- ed to the board. In relation to the mediation pro- gram, Davidson said the ministry would contact all of the parties involv- ed in the issue in an attempt to resolve the differences. "Sometimes an out- side party can bring things together." he said. "A person from outside can often find some ground on which the sides can travel to reach an - agreement." Although he did not elaborate on the reason for his line of questioning, Ex- eter Reeve Bill Mickle asked David- son how the mediation committee is selected and was told it would.likely consist of planners from the ministry of municipal affairs. "Are you a planner for the ministry of municipal affairs?" Mickle asked. Told by Davidson that he was not, Mickle commented cryptically, "It is my understanding the ' mediators have already been selected." 1f that is so, Davidson said, "I have, no knowledge of any appointments." Council was advised that the next step in the zoning process is to submit the bylaw for an Ontario Municipal Board hearing and while awaiting that hearing, attempt to resolve the objections. More on the inside * Babes In Arms was a blg hit 9 Over 600 fans at Huron Day 1A Accolades still come 4A for Irish season quostlonablo for boo work 4A antonnlol marked • at Mount Carmel 6A shlpke man wins '57,566 In Lotto 11A OPP coverage, but we could just as easily suggest that the status quo be maintained," he concluded in a writ- ten report to council. Police committee chairman Dorothy Chapman said members of the committee realized there has been emotional energy gone into understanding policing and emphasiz- ed that many other things other than costs would have to be considered, • such as enforcing bylaws. She went on to say' that the Ontario Police Commission found the average response time from an officer in Ex- eter was two and a half minutes and the chairman reminded council members that those officers arrive with CPR qualifications. Councillor Gaylan Josephson said the two key words in any discussion over the matter were effectiveness and efficiency and all avenues would have to be explored. He expressed concern that one news report of polic- ing in Huron.appeared to slant it to make it appear that moving to the OPP was a fait accompli. A concern was expressed by Coun- cillor Ben Hoogenboom over previous comment that if the municipal force moves to a computerized system, it would bedifferent than theone being used by the OPP. "For crying out Firemen get pair of calls It took Exeter firemen over an hour and a half to extricate a Fullarton area man from his wrecked vehicle on Saturday night. Niall Joseph Foley, 38, RR 1•Fullar- ton, was trapped after his vehicle left Highway 83 about half a mile west of the hamlet and smashed into a hydro pole. It occurred about 7:00 p.m. Fire chief Gary Middleton said it was one Of the toughest extrication jobs they'd had to face for some time. Cam McLeod was in charge of the rescue. Foley was taken to Stratford General hospital and was in fair condition. A passenger, Lawrence F. Ellis, 33. of,RR 1 St. Marys, was also taken to hospital and released the following day. The firemen also responded to a call at the Exeter home of Paul Anstett around 9:00 p.m. on Friday when a thermostat on a furnace/cool- ing unit caught fire. Middleton said damage at the Hillcrest home may be about $500 and explained it may have been due to a loose wire or the unit may have been hit earlier in the day with lightning. loud," he commented in noting. that there should be a move to avoid duplication and areas to streamline those in law enforcement should be considered. Shaw said the five mayors have dismissed any suggestion of setting up a type of regional force to cover them because the cost would be more prohibitive than now. However, he said he could see the towns asking for a study and analysis on costs of having policing provided by the OPP so they would have facts on which to consider. There were comments during the discussion that some of the pros and cons of the two types of police forces were being fed with inaccurate infor- mation and these should be straightened out to help in any decision. Reeve Bill Mickle alsosaid council should be looking at .all the alter- natives'and concluded by saying that perhaps the matter would come to a municipal referendum in the 1988 fall referendum for local electors. It is expected the five mayors will tackle the subject at their meeting this week and some report to the respective councils as to further ac- tion could be coming from that. HOMECOMING SONG Visitors to the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Centennial celebrations Sunday were treated to a homecoming song presented by members of the Centennial committee. Property again runs high For the second consecutive week. property damage was in the range of $30,000 in the six collisions in- vestigated by the Exeter OPP. Three of those involved sustained minor injuries and one deer was killed. All the injuries, and a large portion of the damages, resulted in three ac- cidents on Friday. The first occurred on Highway 83 when vehicles driven by Wilma Tuck, Exeter, apd Violet Rader, also of Exeter, collided. Damage was set at $4,000 and Wilma Tuck and her• passenger. Laureen Diebel, also of Exeter. received minor injuries. There were two crashes in the afternoon within five -minutes of each other. Vehicles driven by Sydney Neeb, Dashwood;' and Murray McLaughlin. Tillsonburg, collided at the intersection of Stephen concession 10.11.and sideroad 20.21. Damage in that one hit $14,5011 and Neeb had minor injuries. The other Friday mishap was on 'Highway 83 in Dashwood. involving vehicles operated by Leslie Bott. Ex- eter. and Roger Hoffman. Dashwod. Neither was inJured and damage was estimated at $6,000. The deer was killed on Sunday when it ran into the path of a vehicle driven by John (.root. Zurich. on I lay sideroad 10-11. Damage to the vehicle was listed at $2.800. The first accident of the week was on Monday when vehicles driven by Bradley Bender, New Hamburg, and Cas Koevets, Sarnia, collided on a ser - 1 vice centre lot just north of Grand Bend. Damage was $1.300. On Thursday. two vehicles collided on Pebble Beach Parkway at Grand Cove Estates at Graud Bend. Drivers were George McDonald and Clayton Steckle, both of Grand Rend. Damage was set at $3,200. - For the first week in several, the local detachmehl officers didn't lay any charges for impaired driving. There were four who received 12 -hour licence suspensions after failling Alert tests. There were 81 charges under the lligh.vay Traffic Act. two for assault under the Criminal ('ode, two under the Trespass to Property Act and there were seven charges under the Liquor Licence Act.