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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-09-11, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, September 11, 1996 TN TNF WEWS Regional wrap up Weather decreases yields HURON COUNTY - A dry August, reported the North Hu- ron Citizen, has affected both corn and bean yields. Brian Hall, soil and crop ad- visor for the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Af- fairs office in Clinton, told the Citizen there are only three beans to the pod instead of five or six, now that soybeans are finished flowering. Insects, blight and white mold have also hurt bean yields. As for corn, Hall claims it is six to 14 days behind and could use a good September. Police investigate response time complaint CLINTON - Following a com- plaint by a local resident, report- ed the Clinton News -Record, the Ontario Provincial Police have launched an investigation into response time. Resident Sharon Laing in- formed council it took police two hours and 45 -minutes to re- spond to a suspicious car hidden in her neighborhood. "The way this was handled maybe is usual but to the fami- lies and especially the children in our. , • 'rhood the effi-. cienwas greatly taddii'g) &Ave. " Council expressed an interest in receiving a reply from the po- lice services board regarding the incident. The board will be asked to respond to the concerns by the Sept. 16. When first contacted on Aug. 30, Staff Sergeant Brian Bald- win of the OPP Goderich De- tachment, which is responsible for policing in Clinton, told the Record it was the first he had heard of the complaint. The following day he said he had concerns regarding the inci- dent and stated an investigation into the slow response time, which would take a few weeks, would be underway. South Huron features grand illusionist EXETER - Canada's largest illu- sion show will be coming to South Huron District High School to- night at 7:30 p.m. The show is open to the public and will feature at least two of Claude Haggerty's exotic cats including a 200 -pound cougar and a 400 -pound Siberian ti- ger. The show will also visit four ele- mentary schools for free previews prior to the evening performance. Haggerty uses large exotic cats instead of traditional rabbits and dove for his magic act. He began his career in Woodstock where he studied magic and later performed a large-scale show. Claude Haggerty Magic Inc. was selected eight years ago from 2,000 groups to open the West Edmonton Mall. In 1989 the show was invited by the Edmonton Oilers to intro- duce the All Star Game. The Oilers were impressed and Haggerty re- turned to Northlands Coliseum a month later for a second show. One of the highlights of Hagger- ty's act is the old sawing a woman in half trick - with a twist. The trick features a 30 -inch power saw which Haggerty uses to add excite- ment. Admission to tonight's show is $8 per person and discount coupons will be given to the schools that arc visited for previews. Lucanputs library issue on hold until amaigamation By Brenda Burke T -A Reporter LUCAN - Local petitioners got their way last Tuesday night when council decided to postpone the possibility of acquiring new library space until after amalgamation talks between the village and the Township of Biddulph have reached a conclusion. In a 3-2 vote following an in camera session, Deputy - Reeve Harry Wraith as well as Councillors Reg Crawford and Martin Chittenden wanted to table the issue while Reeve Rob Brady and Councillor Rosemary Gahlinger- Beaune did not. Works Department Superintendent Doug Johnston, Arena Manager Paul Dykeman and resident Gary McFalls gath- ered more than 750 names for their petition. "I hope that council will listen to 50 per cent of those that pay their wages," Dykeman told council. He explained many residents don't feel the timing is right for a bigger library, nor do they feel the proposed location is suitable. The handicapped and the elderly, including "lit- tle old ladies," he pointed out, would not have direct access to the facility. 'This petition is about timing and location," he said. "It's not about the library." More people signed the petition than voted in the last election, he noted, adding in London this number would represent at least 100,000 people. "Actually the petition has helped us," said Mary Lynn Hetherington, who is chair of the newly -formed Lucan Friends of the Library, one of many similar fundraising groups across the province. The Lucan group has raised more than $4,000 - enough to cover the extra rent money required for the first year of a lease if council chose to move the village library to a Main Street location owned by residents Men and Muriel Cul- bert. The group also has enough funds for the second year of the Culbert lease, which, presented to council on Aug. 30, was changed from a five to a three-year term. Although Hetherington declined to indicate how the second year's pledges of 54,000 are guaranteed, she said Friends is will- ing to post a bond or letter of credit if required. The group also has fundraising plans for the third year of the lease. "I'm glad to hear that Friends of the Library are in for the long haul," said Dykeman. Nearly 55 people attended a meeting the group held on Aug. 28 to discuss the organization as well as the Culbert's library proposal that council had agreed to enter into nego- tiations with at its last meeting. Hetherington told council Friends is prepared to enter into a lease along with the village. "Friends of the Library is just a club," and would have to be incorporated before entering into an agreement, pointed out Administrator Ron Reymer, to which Hetherington replied the group could quickly become incorporated. "We're preparefi to back that library," she said. "We're going to try to go to every house in Lucan." She also mentioned what she described as "clarifications" regarding the petition. The library issue, she wrote in a recent letter to the editor in the Times -Advocate, "has nothing to do with amalgamation." Some council members voiced concerns about the loca- tion of the proposed library, citing lack of safety, access and parking as potential problems. They also enquired about heat and GST costs. "What if the library burned down?" added Wraith. Muriel Culbert replied the fire code would be extensive for the proposed facility targeted for completion by De- cember. Wraith was also concerned about potential noise from apartments above the proposed library space as well as what he thought would be limited use times of "two or three days a week or short hours in the afternoon." Claire Anderson, an Ilderton Friends of the Library mem- ber, assured him the facility would be open 23 hours each week. "Is the (Middlesex Library) board in complete agreement with this move?" asked Crawford. Anderson replied the board would likely approve it. In March the board approved "in principal the relocation of the Lucan Library to a suitable facility of 2,500 to 2,800 square feet in size as provided by the Village of Lucan and to be rented by the Library Board from the Village of Lu - can." The proposed space is 2,766 square feet. Dykeman was concerned more funds spent on an en- larged Lucan library would mean either less money would be spent on other libraries or an increased County Library levy would incur. "You have so many dollars in a pot to spend on libraries," he said. Gahlinger-Beaune disagreed, stating al- though the county would pay more, Lucan taxpayers would not face increased costs due to a larger library. Anderson indicated the county may begin to download the cost of subsidizing library facilities at the cur- rent rate of 54.70 per square foot. This means the mu- nicipality the library is situated in may be requested to bear more of the facility's cost. "We're talking a lot of money here," said Dykeman. "The money the Friends of the Library will raise will only go to rent, not books, etcetera...You can't have everybody run- ning in a different direction...There's poor communication here on both sides." Would seniors sign the petition, enquired Gahlinger- Beaune, if parking was not a problem and if all the facts were given? "Why have you chosen but circulate a petition?" Dykeman replied a petition would be an effective way to encourage council to put the library issue on hold. "I hope that council will listen to 50 per cent of those that pay their wages... This pe- tition is about timing and location. It's not about the library." not to communicate with them Investigation turned down By Blake Patterson GODERICH - A suggestion to have an independent third party in- vestigate the conduct of Huron County's administration died on the floor Thursday at Huron County Council. '' ;•'gib .tesponse to a series of anony- ':letters alleging misconduct by county officials. Coun. Tom Cunningham of Hullett Township requested that the county consider supporting a motion passed by the Goderich town council recom- mending an unbiased third party be asked to investigate the allegations. Cunningham has spearheaded ef- forts to have the accusations and the county administration investi- gated. The Goderich motion was based on a similar motion issued by Cun- ningham's township council. So far, Colborne Twp., Turnberry Twp., Brussels, Blyth, Bayfield and Goderich had supported the Hullett motion. "They are afraid to come for- ward, they feel it would jeopardize their employment," Cunningham said, adding that the issue has gone far beyond the letters and now deals with the public perception of the council. "Until we put (concern) to rest, even though there may be nothing wrong, the public's perception of us is that we are dithering and not looking after their interests." After listening to Cunningham's comments, Warden Bill Clifford asked for further questions from the floor. Cunningham's request for an independent review was never re- visited. Some support was offered by Coun. Mason Bailey and Coun. Bob Hallam, but the council took no further action beyond approving a recommendation by the Adminis- tration, Finance and Personnel committee stating that any council- lor who has a specific question or concern is welcome to bring it for- ward at any time. County council takes on province over highways By Blake Patterson GODERICH - Give us your mon- ey or you can keep your highways. That was the message some members of Huron County Council want to make clear to the provincial government regarding the transfer of Hwys. 83, 84 and 87 to the county. M the regular meeting of council on September 5, council was told the county will receive a one-time grant of 54.4 million from the prov- ince to help compensate for the April 1 transfer of the highways. Some of the councillors, howev- er, think the county is being short- changed. In 1995, a county -commissioned study of the three highways indicat- ed it would cost S6.4 million to ad- dress the immediate needs of the transferred roads, and council want- ed to know where the county will be able to find the extra 52 million. Coun. Bill Mickle from Exeter said increasing property taxes to support the transfer of provincial highways to the county is unaccept- able. "I think we should fight the in- crease," he said. "Taxpayers are al- ready up to the tops of their heads with taxation." Earlier this year, the county sent a letter to Huron -Perth MPP Helen Johns expressing concern about the highway transfer, but Mickle said the time for words has passed. "I think it goes beyond written objections," he said. "We need to take action. It's time for someone to stand up and say, 'No, find an- other way." Mickle's comments opened a flood gate of cerement from other councillors. Coun. Marton Bailey of Blyth said he was deliibied that someone had finally stood upend Called for action. Coun. Tom Cunningham of Hul- lett Twp. said, "The province will balance its books, but the munici- palities are going to have to pick it up„ He suggested placing signs on the roads saying, "Use this road at your own risk because the province can't afford to maintain it." Coun. Pat Down of Usborne Twp. jokingly suggested the county may have to consider putting up tolls on roads leading into Goderich and Exeter. The only discord came from Coun. Jack Coleman of Stanley Twp., who reminded council the provincial government was elected with a mandate to balance its bud- get. He said people generally ac- cept the need for the provincial cuts and downloading measures. Maintenance on the highways is expected to cost the county an addi- tional 5367,120 per year. -- " The Council deferred further dis- cussion until after the annual road tour September 10. Street names to change Gidley Street East and Mill Street Extension undergo changes EXETER - Exeter Council decided to go ahead with its plans to change street names in accordance with the requirements of the 911 service. As a result, both Gid - ley Street East and Mill Street Extension will undergo name changes, but not until June 1997. Gidley East will become Hardy Street (after the first Reeve of Ex- eter), and the extension of Mill will become Willis Way (after the first settler in Exeter). Several objections were raised from residents who opposed the inconvenience and the perceived costs, and two opposed the selection of names. Two others in attendance at last week's meeting stressed the need for clarity in street names and numbers so that in cues of emergency, there would be no ambiguity, especial.. •1110,+14► P. ly since dispatchers may be unfamiliar with the town. Agnes Cottrell observed, "In the last nine years I have experienced difficulty in service agents finding my home... You may or may not be aware neither the Canada Post Directory, nor our own Times Ad- vocate telephoned rectory know the post code or rec- ognize Gidley Street East." Cottrell added she prefers a street name which would recognize two long-term residents of the street rather than the first reeve. Council, in delaying the changes until the first of June, noted the problems facing at least one business if the changes were implemented immediately. 6 Stephen Township Council briefs STEPHEN TOWNSHIP - In the absence of a mutual aid co- ordinator for the County of Huron, council passed a motion at its August 27 meeting to give the chief of the Stephen Township Fire Department and the Chief of the Dashwood Fire Department dis- cretionary authority to respond to requests for mutual aid. These re- sponses are recognized to be under the direction and authority of Stephen Township Council. The chief will provide township coun- cil with appropriate notice of any response to mutual aid requests. Council agreed to proceed with camera work to identify water ser- vices in Crediton that may have damaged the county storm drain on County Road 4 during installation. In other business, the township passed a motion stating it has no objection to the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority request to install a culvert on the Ratz Drain on Lot 17, Concession 18. This motion is subject to the installation conforming to the township's drainage engineer's specifications. Council passed a motion accepting the Walker Drain petition and appointing Bill Dietrich of W.E. Kelley & Associates to complete the report as requested. Council accepted the proposal from Joe Regier Roofing for re- placement of the Ausable Park pavilion roof at the bid price of 51,498.74. Subject to conditions as noted to the County of Huron, a motion was also passed indicating council has no objection to the Johannes Govers severance application. Stephen Council also approved the proposed Centralia Inter- national Academy Inc. restricted weapons firing range. Council minutes indicate the use does not contravene the township's zoning bylaw. The resignation of Wayne Brunzlow as Crediton Police Village Trustee was accepted by council. Extra -curricular activities important to South Huron Despite funding cuts, the school hopes to keep sports and oth- er activities an integral part of secondary education EXETER - Although there is some worry that a coach for the South Huron District High School hockey team won't be found in time for the sea- son, Principal Bill Gerth is optimistic about the sur- vival of extra -curricular activities. Last year's coach has re- quested a year off from coaching hockey and the other staff member who has been involved with the team in the past is on a medical leave. 'Me question is whether or not another staff member will come forward to pick up the slack," said Gersh. "We have a couple months yet before we are in any major panic." Education funding cutbacks will have an impact on school activities but South Huron believes it is an integral part of a student's educa- tion. Students may have to pay a slightly increase activity fee which are capped at 550. However, stu- detns who can't afford the fees wil not be prevented from par- ticipating. "We arc going to do our very best to ensure that the same activities that we had available last year will for the most pan be available this year," said Gerth. One of the teams under the new structure at the high school will be responsible for fundraising and has plans to increase the level of fundraising at SHDHS. Combined with a higher stu- dent activity fee, this should make up for funding short- falls. The proposed cut in teacher preparation time may initially cause a drop-off in par- ticipation by staff in extra- curricular activities but Gerth an- ticipates this will even off. He be- lieves teachers are committed to students and will supply them with the valuable experience these inter- ests provide.