The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1996-07-24, Page 1SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 New Release Video Rent 1 Get 1 ,-.... - .A .T,r..+R SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 14 Kids Video Rentals '.2144 •• 49i rr — s — — — 1SUBSCRIBE! If you aren't subscribing to The 1 Times -Advocate, you're missing out. Use the coupon below and subscnbe today) 1 Name: 1 Address City 1 Prov I Postal Code ausacamouctusw MAIM11 yew $35 ♦ 2.45 OST•2 per $63 ♦ 4.41 GST QUISMaItaeern I 1 year 263. 4.41 G8T.2 yew 2112. 6.33 GST QUINGISAMDA 229.00 (iv $55.40 postage) USE YOUR CREDIT CARD 1 00000000 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 00000000 Card No. 1 I Expiry Date U Visa O Master Card 1 0 cheque endosed 1 Retum to; TIMES ADVOCATE ■ 424 Main St. Exeter, Ont. NOM 166, OM IMO sI OM - s, R Inside It's your business Rapid Water Testing See page 5 Dining for Seniors See Crossroads Second front Experts page 7a Announcements pages 11-12 Classifieds pages 13-16 Farm equipment damaged overnight HAY TOWNSHIP - Damage to a tractor and combine left in a field at Lot 10, Concession 7 with the keys in the ignition is estimated to be 512,000. During the night of July 15, the two vehicles were damaged when they were driven into trees. The tractor was eventually unhitched from the combine and driven into a ditch where it was left running. Woman tries to cash stolen cheques EXETER - Police are investigat- ing a report of an unknown female who attempted to cash a pay cheque for more than 5850 at Holtzman's IGA on July 13. The business name of the cheque was Diana's Window Cleaning, London. The cashier at Holtzmans refused to cash the cheque which was one of 50 cheques stolen from a vehicle in London. Wednesday, July 24. 1996 (93(. 7c G.S.1 ONE DOLLAR Study will evaluate possible efficlsnc%s A "Made in Exeter' study wil"allow for comparison between proposed amalgamation with surroun , ng communities and internal restructuring By Heather Mir T -A Reporter EXETER - Following the decision made at Thursday's PUC meeting to participate with the town in a "Made.ia Exeter" study, Exeter Council held a special meeting with commission members. Although the PUC believes it is operating efficiently with regulation through Ontario Hydro and did not initially feel a consultant was necessary, it agreed to participate in the joint study. "We are going to go hand in hand with the town to try and help them. This is good, I think we should be in- volved," said Commissioner Chan Livingston. Given that a study is currently underway to examine the merits of amalgamation, the town feels it is important to conduct its own study of the municipality and the PUC. 'ns goal is to have organizations that are streamlined, ac- countable, ective, efficient and properly managed. Objectiv of the study include identifying the ad - vintages disadvantages of merging planning man- - Vented, administration of town and PUC operations as well as Combining outside operations. The study will also assess 'and make recommendations regarding the size and shape 4if the municipality from corporate, servicing and community planning and management standpoints. "Implicitan the study is the idea that the current service area may: not be the most efficient," said Exeter Ad- ministrator Rick Hundey. The PUC has agreed to share 25 per cent of the cost of hiring a consultant to conduct an organization review. A steering committee for the study will be comprised of council's cost control committee in addition to the PUC commissioner, chair and vice -chair. The town's ad- ministrator and PUC manager will also sit on the com- mittee as working partners. Abcording to an outline drafted by Hundey, it is im- portant the two bodies learn whether an internal re- organization and re-engineering study will yield compar- able or greater efficiencies than the amalgamation option. The target is to complete the internal study before the +' Continued on page 2 Growers want marsh left intact Association delegates presented ev- idence vidence to support leaving the marsh area as part of Bosanquet KIRKTON - Last Wednesday's meeting of the Exeter -Grand Bend-Bosanquet-Stephen-Usborne Amalgamation Committee meet- ing proved to be popular with North Lambton residents. A delegation from the Thedford-Grand Bend Vegetable Growers' Association attended the meeting requesting the committee take a closer look at its community of interest boundary that extends south to Lambton Road 5. The current map under consideration for amalgamation includes the northerly portion of a marsh area that is bounded at the north by Klondyke Road and the south by Lambton Road 5. "Our growers feel that the marsh in its totality is a highly special- ized area of common interest and want to maintain our current marsh boundaries within the Town of Bosanquet," stated a letter from the association dated July 15. The issue of the marsh was also brought to the committee by 'Bo- sanquet Mayor Fred Thomas when the municipality joined dis- cussion as a full member during a special meeting held June 11. A drainage and pump system is operated by the municipality and involves expertise and coordination with area growers who also ir- rigate the marsh area. "Our concerns are that the split jurisdiction could reduce the time- liness and synchronization of operations and endanger our live- lihood," stated the letter. "There is much benefit for all in leaving us intact as a viable unit without limitation of normal farm practices." Usborne Reeve Pat Down made a motion asking committee repre- sentatives to discuss the issue with their councils and be prepared to give a response to the vegetable growers at the next amalgamation meeting scheduled for August 7 in Bosanquet. Public participates in workshops By Heather Mir T -A Reporter KIRKTON - Amalgamation con- sultant Mike Follett from KPMG believes the turnout for public workshops held on July 11 and 12 in Exeter and Grand Bend "were adequate to give a good crossection of public input." The workshops had the public participate in a SWOT (strengths, weakness, objectives, threats) analysis in or- der to give the Exeter - Grand Bend-Stephen- Bosanquet-Usbome Amalgamation Committee an op- portunity to gain public input in the study process. "This meeting was not intended to give a lot of information," said Follett who added KPMG is still in the process of gathering financial information. Although a higher percentage of politicians attended Exeter's meet- ing, approximately 50 people at- tended each meeting. Follett ex- pects the momentum of interest will grow as the committee pro- ceeds with its amalgamation study. The workshops were divided into three sections including quality of life, core service and vision and guiding principles. Participants listed strengths, weakness, op- portunities and threats in each of the first two sections and were asked to provide a vision statement and guiding principles to the steer- ing committee. The committee moved to accept the re- port and will discuss it further at the com- mittee level when ap- propriate. Although the con- sultants seemed to be relatively pleased with the out- come of the workshops, some members of the committee were less than enthusiastic about the re- sults. "My impression was that the questions weren't very under- standable," said Exeter Ad- ministrator Rick Hundey at the town's last council meeting. "I was very disappointed in the format of the meeting," added Ex- eter Councillor Bob Drummond. "I thought more people should have .r Continued on page 2 "I was disapp fo me very ointed in the Ormat of eting. Ryan Pullman from Ailsa Craig poses with his turtle "CuJo" after he crossed the finish line first during the first round of the children's turtle race on Saturday. More than 130 kids and 150 adults participated in the 22nd annual Ailsa Craig Turtle Race and Gala Days over the weekend. The popular three day event has been growing and this year organizers have in- cluded a "turtle awareness program" to give people a better understanding of the Mid- Westem Turtles which were released back to their natural habitat after the race. Last chance to enter EXETER - The Times -Advocate invites area farm owners to submit a photo of their farm for our first ever "Best - looking Farm Photo." The photos will be fea- tured in a full page advertisement which will appear on Wednesday, ■ ■ ■ July 31. All farm photos will be numbered and our readers will be asked to choose their favorite. The owner of the farm which re- ceives the most votes will win a 5100 credit which can be used at any of the participating sponsors. As well, everyone who enters our contest. Ign will be eligible to win a 5100 certif- icate. A minumum of 10 entries must be received by Monday, July 29. They can be dropped into the T -A or mailed to "Best Looking Farm Contest" c/o Times -Advocate, P.O. Box 850, Exeter, Ont. NOM 1S6. Huron Woods delegation opposes amalgamation Residents that oppose annexa- tion of a portion of Bosanquet stated their case at last week's amalgamation meeting KIRKTON - A group of Huron Woods/Bosanquet residents attended last Wednesday night's Amalgamation Committee meeting to make clear their opposi- tion to amalgamation or annexation of a portion of Bosanquet. "I am not able to foresee any major benefits to the Town of Bosanquet, that amalgamation/annexation would provide as being currently con- sidered. The benefits are strictly one sided: one large tax grab for Grand Bend. This I am opposed tol" said Huron Woods resident J.S. Stalker. The three delegates that spoke to the committee also addressed concern regarding a group called Grassroots for a Unified Grand Bend that has re- cently distributed an information brochure. The Huron Woods residents who attended the Wednes- day's meeting wanted the committee to know this group does not represent the feelings of all res- idents. "The benefits are strictly one sided: one large tax grab for Grand Bend." "Recent comments and brochure ma- terial issued by a group calling them- selves Grassroots for a Unified Grand Bend declare that their interest is only in having the 'entire Grand Bend' com- munity of interest with its surrounding neighborhood remain part of any mu- nicipality. I do not agee with Grass- roots and I do not want them speaking for me," stated a letter from Huron Woods residents Ron Van Horne. The delegation also addressed con- ey' Continued on page 2 R& Video Specialists Expect the best... receive better