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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1989-04-12, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, Ap iI 12, 1989 Ready to roll - Leanne Snow tries out one of the garden tractors at the Huron Tractor display at the past weekend's Home and Garden Show. Public meeting clinches Sunday shopping issue GRAND BENI3 - Vi1'i 'e council will be steaming ahead with its plans to introduce a bylaw in re- sponse to the province's Bill 113:. the law which allows municipali- ties to decide whether stores in their municipalities can open on Sunday. Council will be making its deci- sion partly from discussion generat- ed at a public meeting held March 31. Reeve Bob Sharon said that judg- ing from the views expressed by the approximately 40 people who met with council that evening, he saw little trouble with anticipating Grand Bend would bc open on Sun- days just as in past years. "That's probably the direction we will take," Sharen told the Times Advocate, explaining that council will address the bylaw issue within the next month or so, making it the first local municipality to respond to Bill 113. The main objection to Grand Bend's traditional Sunday openings was presented by the Rev. Stan Desjardine and his wife Pat who at- tended the meeting, but presented their opposition on behalf of the Church of God in letter form. Pat •Desjardine said later she ex- pected to sec the anti -Sunday shop- ping lobby outnumbered at the meeting. "We realized that this is a tourist arca and there are going to be stores open," she said. However, she pointed out her church had asked only that stores be closed Sunday mornings in the summer and per- haps all day in the off season. She considered the request reasonable. "It's too bad we didn't have a larg- er group to represent the church and people who are against Sunday shopping," said Desjardine, adding that she felt the poor turnout meant the issue was "settled". "We didn't want to make a rclig- ious issue of it," added Desjardine, noting that the Sunday shopping inspires many emotional reactions that are of no use in a municipal meeting. Peter Haist of the Grand Bend IGA attended the meeting to sup- port continued Sunday openings and said he was pleased with the re- sponsc'shown. He didn't consider the Church of God's proposal a serious solution to resolve the problem. "I don't think that accomplishes anything, said Haist. "Either you're open on Sunday or not." Haist said Sunday constituted one of the busiest days of his week, which he says surprises many peo- ple because he runs a grocery store. However, he made it clear at the meeting that he does not force any of his employees to work on Sun- day if they do not want to. Norene Culp, secretary -manager of the Grand Bend Chamber of Commerce, called the meeting an outright success. "It was a point we had to make that we do need Sunday openings," she said. -Culp also said that the idea of forcing stores to be closed in the off season would not be helpful to the Chamber's efforts to promote Grand Bend as a year-round family resort arca. She said the Winter Carnival activities need the support of the few village stores opcn on week- ends. If they were to close then this town would become a summer -only resort," said Culp. Culp did praise the groups against Sunday openings for presenting their views in a civilized, organized manner. She said the meeting was a potentially emotional situation that did not get out of control. "Politics and religion tend to be very touchy subjects," she said. Henzsall recycling possibilities Lucan hit LUCAN - Village council raised their concerns at last Tuesday's meeting about the dramatic increase in the county levy assigned to Lu - can this year. The rate jumps 26 percent, the highest of any Middles- ex County village. "Apparently it's the increase . in the value of our assessment," said reeve Norm Steeper. • Council found that ironic because Lucan has had a building freeze in effect since 1987 due to shortages in water and.sewage capacity. Councillor Larry Hotson did con- cede that much of the assessment increase was attributable to several houses built in late 1986, after the last county assessment. The increase means that Lucan will be contributing $76,500 to Middlesex this year compared to with 26 percent levy increase 1988's $60,700, a hike of $15,800. This puts Lucan above the average municipal levy increase of 14.4 per- cent across the county. The total levy amounts to $5.4 million. "The whole thing came from the capping of a lot of provincial pro- grams, said Steeper, who is on the county finance committee. He ex- plained the funding to replace the provincial source had to come from the municipal asses,sment. Council is running into further obstacles in its plan to build a new water tower on land presently under the control of the community cen- tre. Hotson told council the commu- nity centre committee has relaxed their former position that the water tower not be on community centre land. "The committee certainly prefer that you don't put at there, said Hotson, noting that'the committee also felt a new public works build- ing does not belong beside the com- munity centre or soccer fields. Steeper argued that much of the community centre land remains un- used, despite longstanding plans to create new soccer fields or other fa- cilities. "If there are reasonable assurances that land is going to be developed in the near future, then fine, I can accept that," said Steeper, but he. noted a joint Lucan/Biddulph com- mittee could be called to override the arena board's objections should an impasse be reached in the negoti- ations. Councillor Tom McLaughlin suggested council forget about the public works building concerns for the time being, pointing out the new works building project is a few years down the road, but a new wa- ter tower is a priority in the imme- diate future. "You're going to have some pret- ty upset people if you just walk in -- and take it," warned Hotson. Hotson said that since the water tower on the community centre property would wipe out one soccer field, adjacent land could be bought to meet the needs of the village and the centre, and could provide future land for an industrial park. Steeper considered the sugges- tion, but said funds for the water - project would be limited enough without buying more land than the village actually required. Delay third reading Stephen -considers adult entertainment bylaw CREDIJON - Stephen township council has deferred third reading on a bylaw to prohibit adult entertain- ment parlours in the municipality. The delay will allow officials to receive further clarification of the bylaw. Jim Parker of the Albatross Tav- ern at Huron Park was in attendance to ask for exemption of the bylaw to allow four events a year which he has planned. The Wein municipal drain 1989 bylaw was given third reading and contracts for the construction were approved. The lowest of the open work tenders was submitted by Robert Nicholson Construction of Sebring- ville for $9,977.70 and the closed portion of the contract was awarded to Robinson Farm Drainage of Ail- sa Craig for $10,295. The 1989 budget of the Grand Bend and area fire board in the amount of $45,000 was approved. Stephen's share is $15,000. A development agreement has been completed with Mark and De- borah Darling to expand their CC Rentals commercial property at Mount Carmel. Minor receiving and official plan and zoning amendments were ap- proved for Gerald McBride at part of Lot 19, Concession 1, just south of Exeter. The zoning change is from agri- culture to highway commercial for property occupied by Becker's Farm Equipment. The county of Huron will be in- formed that Stephen has no objec-, tion to the official plan change. A minor variance application from Ron Riley at Lot 12, Conces- Two cases on docket Doug Wedlake handed down two decisons in JP court in Exeter on April 4. Jeffrey S. Hudson, Goderich was given two months to pay a $250 fine after pleading guilty to driving while under suspension for a previ- ous unpaid fine. He had been stopped on Exeter's Main St. on March 24. A six-month suspen- sion also imposed won't start until the first unpaid fine is paid. Wilfred M. Mostrey, 40 Alexan- der lexander St., Exeter, pleaded not guilty to speeding 95 in a 50 zone on Oc- tober 6, 1988. He had been clocked on radar on Huron County Road 4 in Stephen township at speeds ranging from 102 to 98. ccused said his speedometer HENSALL - Village council is examining all alternatives in its quest to bring garbage recycling to ' Hensall. ' Hensall's small popula- tion in relation to large urban cen- "'-'•'•""Ges makes the task all the more dif- ficult when trying to keep a even drinking glasses for recycling. Chamney didn't know why. He recommended that papers, not currently collected separately in Hensall, be considered a critical part of the program to make it more fi- nancially viable. However, only program cost-effective, but council newsprint is accepted. heard a presentation Monday even- "Some companies are taking plas- r''' '7V ' irtg-aimed at makine rcevd ' in tic,- but it's so bulky and it. really the village a reality. " i t h tt " Bud Chamney, whose company ney. Chamney Sanitation handles nor- Council agreed that such a bin mal trash collection in Hensall, told would have to be placed somewhere council he could provide a specially in the village because it would not compartmented bin so residents likely see much use at the village could take their separated recycla- landfill site. bles to it. "Right not that's the best we can • . "aBaJia tii3; :;p, -f d Ti Ili -----"1,-- . t%z 1 c+ paper, glass and tin," said Cham- for," said Chamney, adding that alu- ney. "We have a market for it. minum could also be collected scp- Right now the closest market is arately if council so desired because Stratford." it too can be sold by the ton. '- 4hv,j..nce:_J ,s.have j?eeve Jim Robinson thanked to be manned to make sure articlr.r,-jaarallickpatiekkiavrte are properly separated. When not explained that council was only attended they have to be sealed shut. gathering ideas on various recycling Chamney recommended a specific programs. day be set aside for collection. • Robinson told council that new "It's doubtful if you.mill-make.. ..;,n •redeye,' ins -pre --- pay," ye,'ins-pre--•- pay," he said, explaining that his grams, either on a municipal or company charges $40 a monthfor county level, may become available the rental of the bin and $100 for in the next few months. each delivery to Stratford, but pays Council will be sending a dclega- $25 a ton for the recyclables re- tion to Bpsanquet Township to dis- ceived. cuss the merits of the Blue Water Chamney pointed out that in or- Recycling Association's multi - der to build a bin for Hensall, he material recycling program. The would need the guarantee of at least Association plans to begin opera - a three-year contract. He explained tion in September this year and is he has just set up a similar program seeking member municipalities for in East Wawanosh Township. support and participation. The recyclers in Stratford have "I think it would be worthwhile their restrictions. For example, going to sec what they have to they will not take window panes or say," said councillor Peter Groot. Wedlake found Mostrey guilty, but as a gesture of sympathy be- cause the case had been adjourned on January 3 in the absence of a court reporter, the fine was reduced from the normal $105 to $60. Mostrey will also lose the pre- scribed number of points for the offence. Usborne Continued fmm front page grant. The purchase of a used, 65 -hp Allis Chalmers tractor and loader from Hyde Brothers Farm Equip- ment in Hensall was approved at a price of $14,500 plus lax. sion 20 was deferred until more in- formation is obtained on a tempo- rary use bylaw. Similar applications were ap- proved for Ridge Pine Park Ltd. at Grand Cove Estates and Ronald Merner at Dashwood. One from Hoggard Investments was with - Police investigate five collisions EXETER - Five two -car colli- sions were investigated by .Exeter police between April 1 and April 6. Tracy Humphreys, Exeter and•An- drea Stines, Dexter, Michigan, were both northbound on Main St. when their vehicles collided on April 1. Two collisions occurred April 4. One involved vehicles driven by Jeremy Finkbeiner, Crediton and Wayne Noble, Hanover. The other was between Exeter residents Jane. MacLean and Wayne Shapton. Vehicles operated by Shelley Bur- don, Hensall and Wayne Burke, Ex- eter, collided on Main St. on April 6 while each was going in reverse. The last collision of the week in- volved Edna Caldwell, Exeter and Michael Vincent, Dashwood! drawn. Road superintendent Eric Fink- beiner was authorized to purchase two pagers for emergency use by his department. The annual tour by councillors of township roads will be held April 22. Reeve Tom Tomes will be at- tending a meeting on recycling April 27 in Bosanquet township along with representatives from Hay township. Linda Oliver of the office staff will be attending "the Ontario Clerk Treasurer Association Convention in Kitchener from June 18 to 21. The 1989 requisition from the county of Huron has been received by the township. It calls for $531,996. This is an increase of 23.65 percent. Last year's figure was $430,228. Part of the increase is due to a rise of $2 million in assessments this.year. Motor home damaged by fire on Highway 83 EXETER - A motor home was extensively damaged by fire in the only motor vehicle mishap investi- gated this week by officers of the Exeter detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police. The motor home driven by James Paratchek of Dublin caught fire Sat- urday while travelling on Highway 83, about three kilometres east of Exeter. The Exeter fire department re- sponded to the call. No injuries were sustained. During the week, local officers investigated 51 general occurrenc- es. They laid 57 Highway Traffic Act charges, eight under the Liquor Licence Act, five under the Crimi- nal Code, one. impaired driving charge was issued and two drivers were charged with driving while their licences were suspended. Lucan will be seeking water and sewage payments LUCAN - Village council will soon be asking ratepayers how many are prepared to pay their household's share of the upcoming water and sewage projects without resorting to a 10 -year debenture. However, a few obstacles remain before council will be asking the 631 Lucan households for more than $3,000 each. Lucan's share of the two projects is expected to be around $1.9 mil- lion after provincial funding, and those households that end up deben- turing their share will end up with yearly water and sewage rates totall- ing nearly $700 over 10 years. Councillor Tom McLaughlin at last Tuesday's meeting said he didn't think many households would be able to make up -front payments, but councillor Larry Hotson disa- greed. He was optimistic many rat- epayers might be glad to pay .off their shares of the water pipeline project in light of recent water shortages, but might care less about the benefits they get from the sew- age treatment plant. Solicitor Andy Wright, legal rep- resentative for Lucan regarding the water and sewage projects, told figures before the public will have towailuntil problems in establish- ing per-unit rates can be resolved. One major obstacle to fixing a rate structure exists because the wa- ter -rate bylaw question is currently before the courts, awaiting passage of new legislation. Wright has been looking for legal precedent to allow a bylaw to be passed under a different rate formu- la. "Can we intermingle frontage and area? I believe we can, said Wright, but explained his search for precedent is taking longer than he originally thought, possibly requir- ing another two months work. Once a bylaw is in effect, perhaps by early July, Wright said council would be better prepared to ask rate- payers for their choice of payment: up -front in full, or debentured. - "1 think we're telling them enough this month already. The water's going up from $11 to $16 (a month), the sewage also, and on top' of that we're going to tell them they can't use the water anyway," said McLaughlin, referring to the re -instated water restrictions bylaw. McLaughlin suggested some resi- dents might be able to pay off a portion of their shares, but not the full amount. Wright agreed, adding that deben- turing the remaining amount is the threat of an OMR hearing is not over just because both projects -were nearing approval. "I think we can expect an OMB hearing anyway because•we can an- ticipate someone complaining about the rates," he explained. Clerk Ed Melanson told council present reserves in the water and sewage accounts are $135,000 and $55,000 respectively. Hotson added that the increased water rates would add an extra $31,000 this year to those reserves. Reeve Norm Steeper wondered aloud about possibly expanding those reserves and lessening the burden on the ratepayers with the use of fundraising. "It would be an innovative con- cept in municipal funding to see a project financed outside of provin- cial grants," he said. Hotson said it wasn't out of the question. ' "That's how Parkhill paid for their arena," he said. At the same meeting, council re- newed the controversial water re- strictions bylaw, effectively ban- ning all outside use of water from May 1 to October 31. Council asked if any restrictions were to be relaxed this year, such as allowing the washing of cars. "I'm not in favour of any loop- holes," said Steeper, noting that cusc to wet -a lawn or flower bed. Council agreed and passed the by- law unanimously. 4 s -..,;:...•_v._.,, T,wsr;•s.,,....nr,: • -.......,r•. _ Seniors care Continued from front page stry had come back with its con- cerns about the southern unit. In all . g Q s,..he.said, . Ms_ . r ir. cd. ha& never indicated the northern unit was also in trouble. But, the War- den said, he was disappointed be- cause the new recommendation '74 CAM amount to another study on the Huronview situation, which would be the fourth the county had undertaken. He recommended the original proposal be put to the Minister and let him make a deci- sion. Tom Tomes, Reeve of Stephen asked Ms. Girard if the Minister understood the position of Huron on the matter. Ms. Girard said the minister hadn't seen the detailed plans. After the council's decision it will be those plans that the mini- ster will be asked to make a deci- sion on. IR! NOS Saan supports Youth Centre - The Exeter Saan store has slated a special week with 10 percent of all their sales going toward the new Lions Youth Centre. The event will be May 1 to 6 with a variety of activities planned by the Lioness and Lions clubs as well as other local organizations. Bruce Shaw has been enlisted as a special store manager for the week. The mayor is receiving training in the retail business from manager Peter Antaya. i