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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-05-15, Page 1Don't Drink and Drive r Serving South Huron North Middlesex & Lambton Since 1873 G: Gainer-Kneale Insurance Call us for Comprehensive Competitive HOMEOWNERS 235-2420 Wednesday, May 15, 1991 75 cents No deal with Gibbs means no beach washrooms for Victoria Day rush GRAND BEND - The tourists will return to Grand Bend this weekend and once again Archie Gibbs will have his parking lot open for business on the main sec- tion of beach. But there will be something miss- ing the first long holiday weekend - public washrooms. Late Monday night, Grand Bend council met to see if a last minute deal could be reached with Gibbs who owns the bathhouse which contains public washrooms. "There was no deal cut so we have no agreement. I'm not saying it won't change but we're back to where we were a month-and-a-half ago," said clerk -treasurer Paul Turnbull. Councillor Dennis Snider said it took a recorded vote to decide to break off all discussions with Gibbs. "We had a long discussion on whether we should or we shouldn't," said Snider. The only public facilities availa- ble this weekend will be those at the harbour building and at Elber Street. Snider said the village is sending out tenders to have washrooms con- structed and they could be in place very soon, but not in time for the Victoria Day rush. "We've taken care of the problem and it's going to be fixed," he said. "There will be good washroom fa- cilities and they'll be in place in a month." On Sunday, Gibbs was busy cleaning up his beach and getting ready for a busy summer. "It's nice and clean and ready to go," said Gibbs. He would not elaborate on the washroom situation but did say, "I'm not going to run private wash- rooms." Gibbs said he did try to reach and agreement with the village, similiar to the one they had last year. "This year I said I'll pay the $6,000 in taxes and you can lease the thing under a lease agreement the same as you lease the old town hall to the OPP." But during the winter, a public meeting was held and residents of Grand Bend told council that they wanted all negotiating with Gibbs broken off. Zurich gas may be no more than pipe dream Hot number - Louise Auge and Ryan Good perform in the finale of Fame. Story and photos on page 11. Inside OSUM Bill Mickle plans his year page 2 May Day Dash Flower campaign in park page 3 Pent Canada Automating today's offices page 5 Ministerial Tackling spiritual issues page 8 Hot team Royals still unbeaten Second front Hawks Annual banquet photos page 20 Groups call for action on transportation for rural elderly, handicapped By Fred Groves KIRKTON - "It docs work, it wilt work." That strong message was brought to a Rural Transporta- tion Workshop last Wednesday by Joe Pickering, of the Grey - Bruce -Huron Disability Trans- rortation Corporation. The purpose of the workshop, which was sponsored by the On- tario Ministry of Community and Social Seri'ices and the On- tario Ministry of Transportation, was to bring those people to- gether who currently have, or want to have, better transporta- tion for the elderly and the dis- abled of rural communities. "In each of the counties, we're all experiencing difficulties in getting something started to ru- ral transportation," said Bev Brown of the Huron County Health Unit. She, along with six other indi- viduals formed a planning group which was set up by the Minis- try ,of Community and Social Services. Although there were only five counties originally in- vited to the workshop, it mush- roomed. "All over Ontario people arc struggling, the only places that have done it is Grey -Bruce and down in the region of Niagara," said Brown. She said there is transportation available in Huron County for certain target groups, such as the South Huron Community Liv- ing. Brown said any vans these groups do have, have been pur- chased with grants from the Ministry of Community and So- cial Services. "The time has come for rural transportation for seniors and disabled," said Pickering. "In order to have rural trans- portation, it can't be like an ur- ban system - it won't work. It has to be flexible." Sherry Campbell knows the difficulty of getting transporta- tion when in a wheelchair. She used to live in a rural communi- ty with her parents but had to move to Stratford so she could be accessible to better transpor- tation. She says now she can go shop- ping as long as she wants and someone is always there to help her get home. "1 had to use the Paratransport system when I was going to school in London and I had a few problems with that," saki Campbell. Pickering explained that his service, which has 11 vehicles ranging in sizes, works on the basis of demand of those consu- mers which use it. He said 70 percent of those who use it, do so on a regular basis. Pickering says he's glad to see an increase in the casual us- ers. "That's way up from what it was five years ago, it was only five percent." Funding for the Disability Transpor*ation Corporation comes 80 percent from dona- tions and the rest from grants from the Ministry of Transporta- tion. Pickering said the grants from that ministry have to be applied for by one of the communities which are involved in a cost- sharing program. He encggod Continued od psge 2 ZURICH - Although council Zurich does not have a major indus• - arees that bringing natural gas ser- trial user. vice to Zurich would be a definite Reeve Bob Fisher concurred that advarrtsge-toe.the.41,ll tgs jc-,s1so.--the- Union Gas survey was intwoo agree it may be no nftsretith* a pipe ing, but also commented ;that dream, cost of installing gas lines is very high. "It's a lot cheaper to burn oil or use electricity than to dig all your roads up," said Fisher. "People think about what gas costs compared to oil or electricity, but they never consider what it costs to get it there," agreed Thiel, who promised to contact the cham- ber further and find out what chanc- es the, village had of meriting gas service. Councillor Doug Thiel told coun- cil Thursday evening the chamber of commerce is encouraged by Un- ion Gas' current survey of Zurich residents, asking them if they would like gas service in the vil- lage. Clerk treasurer Maureen ' Sim- mons observed that Union Gas is interested in communities that show strong growth, but Thiel not- ed the chamber had initially consid- ered gas service unlikely because Subdivision stalled, ABCA worried about flooded streets ZURICH - A subdivision developer is all set to build new homes in Zurich, but council are upset progress is being stalled because the Ausable Bayfield Conserva- tion Authority is concerned the streets may be prone to flooding. Parkside Avenue in Zurich, a short street with only a few houses at present, is well under the regulatory flood level, by about a metre say the ABCA, who has asked the road be brought up to grade before construc- tion continues. The village, however, has rejected that request. "I don't think it's right in this day and age that one person can tell us what to do," said reeve Bob Fisher at last week's council meeting. Also subject to the Authority's concern is East Street which is also slated to provide access to a new subdivi- sion. The ABCA have agreed it can be left at its present level, but all future streets adjoining it will have to be higher and that another access street should be built. Council are requesting a joint meeting with Steve Haberer and the ABCA to decide on a course of action. "I think raising a road four feet is beyond imagina- tion," said Fisher. Alec Scott, when contacted at the ABCA, said a main source of the problem is most of Zurich lies in a bowl -shaped arca and is subject to flooding. On the other hand, Scott said the Authority realizes that pro- hibiting all development in that part of town is unrea- listic and is prepared to allow construction of flood - proofed homes. However, continued Scott, the elevations of roads can't be compromised. Flooding prevents emergency services from reaching subdivision areas and the Au- thority is reluctant to approve below -grade mads. "Once you get over a foot [30 cm] of flooding, it gets hard to get in and out of there," said Scou, who said the ABCA has tried to be flexible in enforcing its regu- lations. "Council hasn't agreed that there is any danger of flooding in that area, said Scott, saying that while the ABCA mapped the area in 1985-86 according to Hurri- cane Hazel floodlines, last year's rainstcm is in Essex County exceeded even those limits. Scott agreed the road access standard has been changed over the past few years due to alterations to the Planning Act, which means the present elevation of Parkside Avenue, built in the early 1980's is now con- sidered too low. 1t was once thought that a half -metre of flooding was acceptable for roadways, but the ABCA presently in- terprets the Act to allow only a depth of 30 cm. Either way, Parkside Avenue and East Street are both below that level. In fact, the homes on Parkside have been built on dif- ferent elevations . over the years because of the new considerations for flood protection. Bosanquet Township faced a similar problem with OM of their cottage subdivisions and decided it was less expensive to purchase a hovercraft for emergency use rather than raise the access road, confirmed Scott. However, Scott said the Zurich Fire Department have assured him they can drive their vehicles through metre -deep water, so the ABCA decided to be lenient towards the existing roadways. Nevertheless, Zurich council have lodged a com- plaint with the Ministry of Natural Resources about the ABCA's flood regulations, but Scott said he hoped it won't interfere with any agreement that can be reached with the municipality. Scott said he can sympathize with the developer and the municipality and understands why they don't per- ceive any threat of having residents trapped behind flooded streets. "I'm sure if you'd asked the people of Harrow a few days before the rainfall, they would have said "There's no way we could have water around here'," said Scott. Pa frald Awn* - Subject to flooding? 4 J 1