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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1988-05-11, Page 1imes Serving South Huron, North Middlesex dvocate One Hundred and Seventeenth Year & North.. Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, May 11, 1988 Price Per Copy 60 Cents WANT A RIDE? Jamie Rasenberg hitches a ride with Bi,. McLean's miniature wagon pulled by his dog Tanner. Stephen building permits rise STEPHEN TOWNSHIP - The building permit report for the month of April presented at the May 3 mecung of Stephen town- ship council painted a bright pic- ture for 1988 for the municipali- ty. Building official Milton Die- trich reported issuing 19 permits during April for a total value of construction of $284,450. This puts this year's total well ahead of 1987. In the first four months of 1988, Dietrich has issued a total of 36 permits for a value of $1,230,140. Figures for the same period in 1987 were 28 permits valued at $721,695. . During April, permits were is- sued for two new residences and the other 17 were for additions and renovations to •residential and commercial properties. A petition was received for re- pair of the Haist municipal drain at Lot 10, Concession 4 and it will be referred to engineer Bill Dietrich of W.E. Kelly Associates for a plan, survey and report. Township arena manager Frank Funston will be attending the an- nual conference of the Ontario. Arena Association in Hamilton from June 1 to 5. No objection was voiced to zon- ing bylaw changes in Exeter and Grand Bend. Council instructed clerk Wilmar Wein to contact various insurance companies for quotations as part of a review of the township's health insurance program. Permission was given to the Centralia Parks Board ford liquor licence for a ball tournament and beef barbecue scheduled for June 10 and 11. Council approved grants of $100 to the Exeter Agriculture Society and $40 to the Huron County Road Superintendents As- sociation. Linda Oliver of the office staff will be attending the Zone 2 meeting of the Association of Municipal Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario to be held in Exeter on May 19. McGillivray tax rate up seven percent McGILLIVRAY TOWNSHIP -, At the May 2 council meeting, McGillivray Township received the 1987 financial report from Jerry Mills, auditor with the firm of Kime, Mills and Dunlop. The township completed another year, with a balanced budget and a planned incrca.sc in working reserve .funds for both Township and water wywtcm operations. Requisitions for 1988 funds were received from Middlesex County. for $148,483 and Middlesex Board of Education for $706,067. The township has budgeted for expendi- tures of S435,175b The tax levy was sct for 1988 at a total of 326 mills. This repre- sents a seven percent increase over last year. The individual rates arc gas fol- lows with percentage changes shown in brackets: Township 97 mills (four); Middlesex County 32 (-6); Elementary Schools 114 (20); Secondary Schools 83 (three) for a total of 326 mills and seven per- cent increase. Council acknowledged with ap- preciation advice from Doug Re- ycraft M.P.P., that the Province would provide supplementary grants to assist with the purchase of a replacement grader and gravel pit. Reeve Charles Corbett -informed council that the Brinsley Commu- nity Trust had again agreed to con- tribute funds, to be matched by Township funds, for the improve- ment of the Athletic Park at Licury and the Township hall at West McGillivray. Council approved three tile drain loan applications with a total value of $71,000. Building permits for construction estimated at $225,000 were issued in April. Council adopted an engineer's re- port providing for changes to the maintenance schedule for the Regan Municipal Drain and set court of re- vision for May 30. Meeting as the Committee of Ad- justment, council approved a minor variance to permit construction for a wheelchair ramp with less clearance from the property line than is stipu- lated by the zoning by-law. February 1850 Continuing with minutes of the initial Township council meeting: Large funerals for victims of traffic accident in the west EXETER - The Exctcr Pentecos- tal Church was filled to capacity Friday afternoon for a double funer- al for two persons killed in a high- way crash on April 28 in British Columbia. Dumitru Stan Chirita of RR 2, Listowel was driving a tractor- trailcr truck on Highway 97 , south of Clinton in British Colu- mia when it turned over on a scc- tion of winding road. Chirita, aged 55 years and his nephew 18 year-old. Ronald Glen Walker of.Exeter wcrc pronounced dead at the scene. RCMP officers said the tractor - trailer loaded with lumber slid for 500 to 600 feet along the south- bound lane and stopped in the north- bound ditch. Chirita is the husband of the for- mer Elaine Dietrich and son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. Earl Dietrich of Centralia. Walker is the son of Ro- nald and Sylvia Walker of Exctcr and grandson of the Dictrich's and Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Walker Sr. of Toronto. T.11. Harry Hoffman and Sons Funeral Home of Dashwood was in charge of funeral arrangements. Rev. Don Rogers officiated at the service. By-law No. 1 had provided for the appointment of 37 officials respon- sible for township administration, education, roads, fences and ani- mals -at -large. By-law No. 2 provided for com- pensation for some of these officials as follows: annually to the Clerk $50, treasurer $15, school superin- tendent $25, assessor $35, Reeve and councillors $25, auditors $1.25 per day while working. The following accounts were ap- proved for payment: Township seal (still in use in 1988) $6; township map $5; returning officer's supplies $10; use of house $10. The last payment was to John Hodgins, Clandcboyc for use of a room for council meetings in his tavern or public house. Burn on hold GRAND BEND - The Pinery Provincial Park controlled burn, scheduled for last Tuesday or Wed- nesday, has bccn put on hold indefi- nitely because of the man power drain caused by raging forest fires in the Northern Ontario and Manitoba. Terry Crabe, Resource manage- ment specialist for the park said Thursday that fire control experts who were originally going to boon hand for the undergrowth burn, have bccn called away to deal with the dangerous fires. "With the fires up north, some of those personnel have been pulled out to deal with the emergency situ- ations," Crabc said, noting that none of thc fire fighting personnel who wcnt north wcrc local. Crabc did say, however, that if the northern fire situation worsens, Pinery Park personnel could poten- tially be called upon. The burn will likely be put off until next spring if fire personnel aren't available in the next week be- cause the foliage will be too green. DAY CARE Tuckersmith one of first in Huron page 3 SUMMER Student employment gears up page 5 BACK IN TIME Weekly feature on series of yesteryears begins page 5 SOCCER Centennials oft to a good start page IA Villagers hope petition will spur Lucan water project LUCAN - A large delegation of citizens arrived in council cham- bers for the May meeting of Lucan council, apparently to take council to task over the harsh water restric- tions imposed for the summer months. Starting in Ma), a complete ban on outside use of municipal water has taken effect, enforceable with a 5250 fine. Colette Acres asked council if any good would come of circulat- ing a petition to request the mini- stry to speed approval and funding of the water pipeline project. She said she had hcard someone was circulating a petition already. Reeve Norm Steeper replied he thought the petition was demand- ing removal of the water restric- tions bylaw. "The reason we have that restric- tion is to preserve our fire protec- tion," Steeper explained. Acrcs agreed the resticlions were essential, but asked how many summers they would be needed be- fore lake water was available. "We have approval for the plans as laid out by the engineer," said Steeper, noting that the only stum- bling block is funding. The mini- stry of the environment has prom- ised 79.8 percent funding, but Lu - can really needs 89 percent funding to be able to afford the water and sewage projects. Steeper didn't know if any more funding would be available. "We're probably desperate enougii we'll take it," he said, adding that M.P.P. Doug Rcycraft had hinted no funding for Lucan was scheduled until al least 1990. However, Rcycraft had also sug- gested that the minister has emer- gency funds for cases of dire need. Steeper said he hoped Lucan could prove that need, and that any peti- tion from ratepayers could help that cause. Some of the citizens asked coun- cil if the water project could be funded and put through before the sewage treatment plant. Steeper disagreed. "You cannot separate the water is- sue from the sewer issue," he said, noting that effluent readings from the lagoons arc already way too high for ministry standards. Ile continued by explaining that with- out additional sewage capacity, Lu - can could not allow further con- struction anyway, tax dollars from which would be needed to pay for the water project in the first place. He also said the ministry is un- likely to give approval for one pro- ject without the other. "I don't think we're going to be given a choice, Steeper said. Council told thc audience that Glencoe lived through eight years of restrictions before their water pro- ject got under way. "We've got everything approved, except the minister :.aying 'go ahead and do it and here's the money to do it with'," said Steeper. One citizen questioned why the•re- strictions prevented him from water- ing his flowers or washing his car. when his i.cighbor could still hack - wash his pool every day. Council agreed the issue was diffi- cult to resolve, and hoped pool owners would,show some restraint. However, it was exp1aincd that Lu - can's pools are valuable reservoirs for use in case a fire coincided with a lack of water. Council pointed out that Lucan properties without adequate fire protection could not be insured; without insurance they could not be mortgaged. "We're treading on thin ice," said Steeper. Osborne ends year with surplus USBORNE TWP. - Auditor Eu- gene Bender attended the regular May 3 meeting of Usborne town- ship council to present thc 1987 statement of operations. The township -ended -last year -with -a surplus of $21,550. Bender commended clerk -treasurer Sandra Strang, saying the extra ac- counting work she had done had saved the municipality about 52,000. Council approved amending the lease for the Kirkton-Woodham Community Centre to exclude the swimming pool property, and that —is managed -by-a- board -consisting -of representatives from Blanshard and Usborne townships. Council also approved the pro- posed change in the regulatory flood standard from the present one based on Hurricane Hazel to that of histor- ical observance. Material and posters relating to the safety program "Exercise Cau- tion" will be forwarded to Usborne Ccntral-Public School. Strang will attend the AMCTO spring meeting in Exeter on May 19. Five building permits with a total value of $72,000 were issued in April. 14. A s WELL STOCKED -- John Schwlndt of the Ausauble-Bayfleld Conservation Authority dumps a bucket full of young trout into the Morrison Dam reservoir. More than 600 fish ranging between eight to 24 inches were introduced to the body of water Wednesday morning. Several trout were tagged for the fishing Derby which will be held this weekend at the dam. The stocking project, the second of its kind this season, was spon- sored by the Exeter Uon's Club, the ABCA and the Ausuable-Bayfield Conservation Foundation. BOWLING AWARDS More bowling pics from Lucan and Zurich page 3A