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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1996-09-25, Page 2Visscher Farms Country Market MAC APPLES $10/bushel Squash .50$ ea. Cauliflower, broccoli, new potatoes and other fruits and vegetables In season. Jams, honey Open 9 -6 daily Closed Sunday 3 miles west of Exeter 4 on I4wv.83 2374442 a 1 Page 2 Regiona wrap up Bean quality in jeopardy due to rain HURON COUNTY - At 274 mm to date, September's rainfall will likely triple it's average by the end of the month, according to local crop authorities. As a re- sult, the quality of edible beans is threatened. "You not only lose on yield, you lose on quality," explained Brian Hall, a soil and crop advis- or at Clinton's Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs office. "What's frustrating is you take in a load of beans and 40 per cent are no good." Hall said normally only 2 per cent of edible beans are placed in this category. He added the beans deteriorate quickly when they are close to maturity. "'They're in a bit of trouble right now...The ground is satu- rated....There's a big investment in the industry here." Brussels health unit to close BRUSSELS - It was an- nounced on Sept. 11 that the Brussels branch of the Huron County Health Unit, located in the basement of the village's Medical/Dental Centre, will close. According to the North Huron Citizen, Beth Wilck, acting di- rector of the HCHU, said meas- ures are being made everywhere in answer to provincial budgets. The move to close, she added, is also in response to changes in public health. Local doctors informed of opportunity in the US CLINTON - The Huron County Medical Association hosted a seminar to inform local physicians of the opportunities of moving their practices to the United States, reported the Clin- ton News Record. In a press release the associa- tion accuses the Mike Harris Tory Government of creating the climate for doctors to flee Ontario by removing the Ontario Medical Association's status as bargaining agent for the prov- ince's doctors. "Mr. Harris now has the pow- er to do whatever he wishes to doctors," states the press release. "He has shown that he has no re- spect for the courts and the rule of law, if it protects doctors from arbitrary abuse by his gov- ernment. Understandably, doc- tors are looking for someone other than Mr. Hams to work for." Repair to library steps delayed again MITCHELL - Tirne is running short and only one tender has been received to fix the steps of the town's 88 -year-old library, reported the Mitchell Advocate. The tender, approximately $10,000 more than budgeted, came in at $25,000 including the engineer's study. "Contractors are too busy," Mayor Hugh McCaughey ex- plained. Deputy -Reeve Bob Burten- shaw wants the town to either block off or sign off the steps, warming users of their unsafe condition. Residents want flooding problem resolved + Continued from front page ston explained, "then there would be no problem." In the meantime he recommends a backflow valve be put on each home's sanitary sewer line. As well, foundation drains should be dis- connected from the sanitary system. In the area that was recently flood- ed, Johnston added, two residents had sump pumps that were not hooked up properly. "We've been trying to get people to do things for years," said Village Administrator Ron Reymer, point- ing out the 1987 policy permitted annual budget funds be used to cor- rect problems such as basement flooding, lot grading and in- stallation of a sump system. "For some areas of town," states a January 1993 village newsletter, "there is a policy which provides a $500 grant to install sump pumps and divert storm water from pe- rimeter drains, downspouts, etc, from the sanitary system to the storm drains. Contact the town of- fice for details." The village also undertook a pilot project that year which included monitoring the storm water flow of one home. "We've studied this thing to death," said Johnston at the council meeting, "and it's time we rectify it." "Council will be taking steps, through a pilot project, to address the infiltration problems head on," contint;es the village newsletter. "The problem is most noticeable in the Wilberforce subdivision so that will be the target of the program which will aim to reduce the amount of storm drainage getting into the sewer system through foot- ing drains, eavestroughs, poor lot grading, etc. Initially, all work will be done on a voluntary basis with landowners who will allow up- grading to their property which will allow the village to measure the re- duction in infiltration on a property by property basis. If you are a land- owner in the subdivision and are willing to discuss the work to be un- dertaken at no cost to you, please contact Doug Johnston." According to Johnston, not a sin- gle call has been received regarding the matter. The $500 grant, available only to areas identified as being at risk, was to made available if work was approved by the village engineer prior to construction. Only two res- idents have asked for the grant in the past five and a half years. Nancy Vandergulik, who was flooded on Harold Court, wrote to council enquiring about the grant but does not qualify for it at this time because her sump pump is connected in the wrong area and she has not officially applied for the sump pump grant. "In order to get the grant," ex- plained Johnston, "she has to put a sump pump in the right location." If she later qualifies for the grant, she will not be eligible for addi- tional funding the village many . come up with if the existing policy is replaced by a new one. "The more council funds people," explained Reymer, "the Less work can be done" on the overall system. Reymer is concerned people not affected by flooding will resist making an effort to help solve the problem that requires everyone hook up their system properly. "What we have to do," Brady told council, "is convince those people it has to be done. And the people that don't agree will be flooded out eventually." The role the village is willing to play includes advice and inspection while the homeowner is responsible for installing flood control equip- ment such as sump pumps and back-ups. One homeowner affected by the recent flooding plans to in- stall the equipment. "If everybody's agreeable to fix- ing the problem," said Reymer, "then it could probably be done in six months...It all comes down to the homeowner." "Is it going to solve all the prob- lems?" flood victim Dan Dunne wondered during a later interview, adding, "I think it's going to take another 18 years...I think they're trying to hide something." "We have the money available to us," said Deputy Reeve Harry Wraith at the council meeting, "but we want to make sure we use it right." He added no matter what system is in place, flooding is bound to happen, and pointed out London has similar problems. But with repair costing upwards of $20,000 in some homes, people who have suffered flooding and sewage back-up stressed they are in an emergency situation and need answers now. "1'm not going to put up with it anymore," said Martin Van- dergulik, who has lived in his neighborhood since 1980 and ex- perienced seven other instances of flooding, some of which involved extensive damages to his property. "It's a cover-up. There's some- thing going on here. 1 want the problem fixed," he told the T -A. "If it were my house," Johnston told him, "I'd start tonight." Martin said he was under the im- pression the town would take care of the problem. He doesn't want to go ahead and fix his basement, just in case another flood happens in the near future. "Can you look after the six of us?" Martin pleaded with council "We get it every time...We're going to push the issue." "I sympathize with you 100 per cent," said Brady. "We'll move as quickly as we can." When the specific problems are identified with the help of Willems' study and the sewer committee, funds allotted from a Canada On- tario Infrastructure Works Program grant will be used towards correc- tion. According to Reymer, there is approximately $300,000 left of the $524,000 grant. At a corrective measures public meeting will be held at Leprechaun Hall on Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m., the village sewer committee will present possible solutions "with a particular emphasis on sump pump disconnection/installation and base- ment flooding." But for residents who have just experienced another bout of flood- ing and sewage, this date will not arrive quickly enough. Martin re- quested the meeting date be moved up but council denied his request, saying it had already been set and advertised. "The key is to have people come out to that public meeting," ex- plained Reymer. "It just can't be the ones that were flooded out. They are only part of the problem." "Where do we stand?" asked Dunne, who is worried about his, in - Council backs fundraising efforts . Continued from front page ministrator Paul Turnbull. "We have the plans...they're wrong. They just do not coincide." However, for Hodgins to have all the property he is entitled to in- volves cutting approximately 15 feet into the road allowance. Council suggested this move might involve compensating the village for it's loss however, Hodgins stat- ed he believes compensation has been paid for the past 30 years in the form of taxes on the larger por- tion. As well, because the road leads to water, any change must be ap- proved the the Ministry of Mu- nicipal Affairs. The issue will be brought back to council at the Oc- tober planning meeting. Sewage system Bids were opened last week for the Southcott Sewage Collection System. The low bid submitted by Doug Jennison at $278,771.74 was accepted and work is expected to begin by the end of the month. The quotes ranged from Jenni- son's low bid to a bid of $417,300 submitted by OMEGA. Road Closure Subject to a road allowance ap- praisal, council approved the clo- sure of Kitchener Avenue as it abuts the Coyle property. The move will deem the property as a single block of land. The proposed closure will be ad- vertised for four consecutive weeks before it is adopted. Council said it will not make any arrangements until Coyle agrees to make ar- rangement to purchase the land. A portion of Kitchener has al- ready been closed and the re- maining portion has not been used as a through street by the village for many years. An agreement was also made in principal to transfer a minimum 40 ft. road allowance to Jim Love's property on Kitchener Street. Run participants keep pace despite rain EXETER - Steady rain kept ap- proximately half of those registered in the Exeter Terry Fox Run from participating but organizer Jane Hundey was pleased with the mon- ey raised." The people that ran were there 100 per cent," said Hundey. "I think we did really well con- sidering the weather." Exeter raised $1,178 in compari- son with last year's run which gen- erated $1,743. However, Hundey anticipates many people will sub- mit donations directly to the Terry Fox Run through local banks. Approximately six people ran, biked and walked the route and everyone who participated was able to dedicate their efforts to someone. Many dedications were made to the memory of a friend or family member who died of Can - Zurich Wendy Rowan, organizer of the Zurich Terry Fox Run, was sur- prised that despite the weather, 10 Robbery at ABCA USBORNB TOWNSHIP - Com- puter equipment valued at $4,000 was stolen from the Ausable Bay- field Conservation Authority offic- es on September 17. Two windows were pried out and screens re- moved to gain entry. more people participated in the run than last year. Approximately 30 people entered the run raising $1,500. Last year's event brought in $6,000 but Rowan said this was due to heavy sponsorship from lo- cal businesses." Everybody said they had more fun this year," said Rowan who has organized the Zurich run for the past six years. Lucan Only in it's second year, the Lu - can Terry Fox Run was supported by 31 participants who raised $2,000 in pledges. Although last year 104 people ran, walked and cycled, raising nearly $3,000, organizers were please with this year's turnout. " Terry Fox ran in the rain and the shine and so we thought we'd bet- ter too," said Organizer Lois John- ston. SOUTH HURON CHIOACTIC CENTRE 493 MAIN ST. S., EXETER HOURS*, Mon 8-12; 1:30-5:30 • Tues., Thurs. 8-12; 1:30-5:30; 6:30-9 • Wed. 8-12 • Fri, -3 • Sat. 8-12 Member of the ACUPUNCTURE COUNCIL OF ONTARIO E. JONES PHONE 235-4892 FAX 235-2589 4 surance. "I'll tell you where you stand," Martin told him. "You put your stuff back together and hope it doesn't rain." Kelly believes a sump pump by- law will be enforced before any ac- tion is taken to help the flood vic- tims. Corrective measures recommended by the sewer com- mittee at its Sept. 9 meeting in- clude disconnecting sump pumps connected to the sanitary sewer. It was advised residents be sent a let- ter "and correction completed within six weeks or subject to a fine." A resolution was moved "that the Village of Lucan accept either an up front payment of the $2,500 Capital Levy and/or Frontage or offer a 10 year loan added to the homeowners' taxes at 8 per cent in- terest rate. The loan may be paid off between September and January 15 in each year." If the recommendation is ac- cepted, the village will inspect the corrections and/or obtain a certif- icate from the contractor. If not complete, a contractor will be hired to make further corrections. An in- formation sheet will accompany the letter including advice on in- stallation and unhooking pro- cedures. Wraith recommended the com- mittee obtain legal advice on get- ting authority to carry out annual inspections of homes "as elim- inating this infiltration will help keep the plant working properly." Tractor prototypes Clients of Huron Tractor in Exeter had the opportunity to test two new tractor prototypes from John Deere during Customer Day on Friday. The Track Tractor, above, shown here with an eight furrow plow is a highly productive and powerful tractor which is being hailed as the workhorse for the next century. 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