Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-05-14, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, May 14, 1997 TN THF NEWS Regional wrap up Murray murder trial begins GODERICH - Witnesses are placing Mistie Nicole Murray on her father'sboat the evening she is alleged to have been mur- dered, reports the Mitchell Ad- vocate. • Steve Murray has been charged with the second-degree murder, following the disappear- ance of the 16 -year-old on May 31, 1995. Following the fourth- day of testimony, Crown Attorney Bob Morris attempted to prove to the jury of five men and seven women, that Mistie was last seen in the Goderich Harbor, leaving with her father on his boat. Morris outlined' incidents of the day Mistie went missing, claiming Murray neglectedto tell police -specific details of a short boat trip he took the eve- ning of May 31, 1995. However, he explained his trips to Toronto on the following two days. Morris also highlighted testi- mony that would he given con- cerning Murray having his boat cleaned when it wasn't dirty. and about the trip_ for breakfast the following morning that would take him 48 kilometres out of his way to Toronto after getting up unusually early. Marijuana scooped from area homes , A1LSA , CRAIG/ MCGILLIVRAY TOWNSHIP - Police searches of two homes in Ailsacraig and one in McGil- livray Township on April.25 re- sulted in a harvest of marijuana products, other drug-related items and charges against seven people. According to the Parkhill Ga- zette, Ontario Provincial Police seized 750 grams of cannabis resin, 'magic mushrooms', weigh scales and other drug par- - aphernalia from a house at the west end of William. Street in Ailsa Craig. Police also. collected $50,000 worth of marijuana plants, shank and oil from a residence on Queen Street in the village. The growing operation yielded 256 plants. The QPP search warrant also led to discovery of 157 marijua- na plants and growing equip- ment north of Parkhill.. Mitchell taxes up $13 to $30 MITCHELL Municipal taxes will rise, on average, to a mini- mum of $30 this year, reports the Mitchell Advocate. Clerk -Treasurer Don .lrplett claims on an avenge assess- ment, ratepayers will pay $30 more if they are a public school board supporter. or $13 more if they choose to hack the separate school board. For the foodbank's sake, help stuff a van SEAFORTH - Toronto radio station 1050 CHUM holds a 'stuff a bus' food drive twice a year, urging residents to fill two buses with food donations. According to the Huron Ex- positor, Seafonh resident Dave Staffen is organizing a similar week-long van food drive begin- ning on June 8 for the Seaforth and District Foodbank. Changes to BIAS will transfer authority By Chris Skalkos T -A Reporter EXETER - Purposed changes to provincial legislation governing Business Improvement Associa-. tions will 'not only transfer greater authority to local municipalities, it syill also determine who will he el- igible to sit on decision-making bodies. Given a first reading in January, Bill 106: The Fair Municipal Fi- nance Act, purposes the elimination of the Business Occupancy Tax, which' will _impact BIAS because business levies are calculated based on assessment. . in the absence of the ability 10 as: sess businesses, Bill 106 willAans- fer responsibility for •payment of the BIA levy from -business own- ers/operators to property owners. As a result, tenants -who have pre- viously enjoyed the benefits of par- ticipating in BIAS, will be left with- out official status as of January 1, 1998.• • Huron -Bruce NDP gear. up HURON/BRUCE COUNTIES - Ripley resident Jan Johnstone is representing the Huron -Bruce New. Democrats in the upcoming elec- tion. - Johnstone, a self -described •com- munity and family-oriented wom- an, once considered herselfa Lib- eral and worked in Paul Steckler s 1993 election campaign. Since then. she has become disillusioned with what she outlines as the par- ty's broken •promises and shift to the right. , "As I saw what was happening to my community,— she explains in a recent press release, "I -realized that the Liberals were letting us down. I now see. that the Nee. Democrats arc the only. party I can count on to work for my con- cerns." Johnstone claims Canada's so- cial programs can .be funded through full employment and fair. -taxation for individuals and the business co'mmunity.. "Our social programs contribute to the quality of life that keeps us number one," she claims. "In order to protect our way. of life for the next •generation, we need to pro- vide jobs and clamp down on the real welfare problem, corporate welfare. If • all deferred taxes owned by Canadiancorporations. were paid, then there wouldn't be a deficit and the hacking and slash- , ing of programs like hospitals, ed- ucation and libraries, would stop." • This is Johnstone's first effort. to seek nomination at the federal. lev- el. She has a diploma in Recreatioh Leadership from Fanshawe Col- lege and has been a Community Development Worker, Business Improvement Coordinator, Palli- ative Care /Support Worker and • Program toordinator for the Kin- cardine Day Away Program. Shc has also done volunteer work with organizations such as Girl Guides of Canada, the Heatt and Stroke Foundation' and the Women's House of Bruce County. Karen Pfaff, administrative chair- person for the Exeter Business As- sociation explained the change sim- ply means the property owner rath- er than the tenant will pay the BIA levy; and as a result, will gain vot- ing power. She explained there are ways around the legislation because the second purposed Municipal •Act provides municipalities with the au- thority. to establish .certain powers to BIA's such as budgeting and op- erational procedures. • • "There's nothing to preclude the local municipalities to change a by- law in the constitution, so people who are tenants could actually sit on the executive, '..said Pfaff. The Ontario Municipal Board - will no longer be'involved in BIA's and objections will be made direct- ..ly to the local council. Each BIA may therefore acknowledge prop- erty owners and business owners/ operators. all have a stake in the community and, through their own constitutions, designate board com- position to give voting status to ten- anis who are not being assessed.. The EBA has a. stipulation in its constitution stating only business - owners can sit on the executive. Al- though, people who manage stores can participate by voicing opinions,_ but they can't vote. 'A number of EBA executives are now business owners who lease their store spac- es. . "The municipality could enact a bylaw that would allow people who just rent their premises the op- portunity to participate in the day-- to-day decision-making because BIAS no longer operate under a provincial structure," said Pfaff, who feels the legislation will not have a• significant impact on Exet- -er's association. `EIAs in this prov- ince were created as committees of council, so to me, nothing much .has changed. " - • Fashion for a cause Grand Band Public School held its 5th Annual Fashion Show in the Gables Blue Room on Thursday night. From left, Shelby Musser,9, Mallory Overholt, -3, and Susan McCann, 11 were modelling for•Rosi's Children's Wear. Pickitt's Mens Wear, Randi's .Distinctive. F4fh- ions for Women, DeJong's Clothing and Beauty n' the Beach also participated. Grand' Bend Public School students and local residents volunteered to model at the fundraiser. l i Council changes track bylaw or Continued -from front page Changes include temporary fenc- ing to separate camping from pri- vate airport use to the south. Also, camping is not permitted south of the- 13/14 lot line. Camping lot siz- ' cs remain at 150 square meters. Lights at the sprint track arc to he directed away from the residence to the west and shut off when not needed. As well, quiet hours are be- tween midnight and 8 a.m. Council was informed pro- fessionals have been hired to com- plete traffic, noise and -environ: mental studies. . Restructuring In other council news, it was de- cided a letter will be forwarded .to Exeter, Usborne, McGillivray, Hay, Bosanquet and Grand Bend, in- dicating Stephen's willingness to meet for restructuring discussions as advised by the Minister of.Mu- nicipal Affairs' letter of May 1. Also, a motion was moved that Larry Brown, Eric Finkbeiner and Rob Funston review the advantages and disadvantages of restructuring the arena and roads department`to- gether into a single public works organization. Their report is due to council by May 20. Arena Chiller . The tender for the arena chiller replacement was awarded to • low kidder D.J. Diamond Refrigeration Contracting_ Ltd.. for - $31,313.90. Funds from arena capital reserves will be transferred to cover the cost. ucan Council seeks parking space By Chris Skalkos T -A Reporter LUCAN - Lucan mayget mote parking space along its Main Street if Petro -Canada allows it. At its meeting last Tuesday coun- cil addressed a letter from Douglas Cassan, president of the Lucan and Arca Business Association, _ re- questing measures be taken to re- duce the congestion on Main Street caused by insufficient parking spac- es. The LBA wants the village to ne- gotiate with Petro -Canada for the use of its vacant Main Street lot. According to Cassan, Petro -Canada indicated it is willing to discuss measures to allow the village use of the_site if a form of tax incentive or payment equal to tax collectible.is'' considered. "It would be of great convenience to Lucan/Biddulph shoppers and travellers and contribute to the health of all downtown businesses if additional parking could be ar- ranged," the letter stated. Councillor Harry Wraith didn't agree with giving Petro -Canada a tax break and didn't think extra parking was necessary. - "I don't think we have a problem with parking. If the business own- ers want more parking, they should pay for it instead of asking council to take it over," said Wraith. Council agreed to write a letter asking Petro -Canada if it is willing to allow- its site to be used as a parking lot. Streetlights In other news, Lucan council turned down a resident's request to install a streetlight on the Saints - bury Line between Duchess Street and Market Street. Council acknowledged the arca is not as well lit as other village streets but deemed thc $536 ex- pense was unnecessary, especially sine the area doesn't have side- - walks. • Bill 107 discussed During the meeting council re- viewed a letter from the Ministry of the Environment and Energy re- garding Bill 107 and the Transfer of Water or Sewage Works to Mu- nicipalities. Last year's Who -Does -What pan- el recommended municipalities be responsible for the delivery of wa- ter and sewers services, including ownership, financing and opera- tions. . • Lucan is serviced by OCWA (the Ontario Clean Water Agency) and when the legislation is passed it will allow the minister to transfer ownership of the Lake -Huron Pipe- line, however, Who -Does -What Panel didn'tsay who -gets -what. Reeve Rob Brady said nothing .has been confirmed yet but outlined four possible scenarios. He said the pipeline could be privatized, sold to London or a consortium of mu- nicipalities including London, or it. could remain a crown corporation under OCWA. "I think the government would like to see all the beneficiaries (the municipalities that use the pipeline)_ purchase, but having a repre- sentative board would be im- possible because London uses • 94 • per cent of its capacity and we would have less than one vote on a 10 -person board," said Brady, add- ing he is concerned London will get exclusive power to set rates and' deny extra capacity. • Infrastructure program . Council received a notification from the -Association of Ntunicipal- ities Ontario regarding the second phase of the infrastructure program. On May 2, the Provincc.and thc Federal Government reached an • agreement' to renew the Canadian - Ontario Infrastructure Works pro- gram designed to provide funds for the renewal ' of physical infra- structure and. to generate employ- ment for the 1997-98 fiscal year. The $459 million available from the program will be allocated to transportation. water and sewer. or community health facilities. From that total, $263 million will go to- wards municipal -related programs, however, council estimates it will only receive a small portion be- cause allocations to municipalities - will be.hased on a per capita basis. • "We'll be. lucky if we' get - $50.000," said Brady, adding coun- cil may use the funds to complete the sewer line on Kent Street or ex • - tend the infiltration/sump pump project ' Biddulph says no to moto-cross races Council turned down a rezoning request that would allow sanctioned moto-cross races on the Bitz farmland in a recorded unanimous vote, both sides say public outcry was a factor By Chris Skalkos T -A Reporter BIDDULPH TOWNSHIP - A local- property'owner will not be able to host sanctioned moto-cross races after Bid= dulph Council turned down a rezoning proposal in a re- corded unanimous vote last Tuesday. . Mungo Bear Ltd., owned by Martin Bitz, applied for a temporary use permit to rezone a portion of his land in or- der to host three organized moto=cross races during the summer. The property is located north of the Clandeboye bridge off the west side of Highway 4, across from the St. James Church. - • "Although an estimated 50 people attended a public meet- ing at council chambers recently to express concerns about noise, property values and traffic safety on Highway 4, however, council deferred a vote on the - proposal that was still waiting for documents from the Ministry of -Trans- portation.• Nineteen people attended the May 16 council meeting to hear council's decision. According to the recorded minutes, Reeve Earl French asked if anyone had new information. Alan Patton, a lawyer representing Charles and Scanna Ross claimed the proposal did not conform to the Township Official Plan and council couldn't pass it without an Of- ficial Plan Amendment. Without an amendment, he said it would fail if appealed to the OMB and offered several OMB precedents to substantiate his opinion. Also, a letter from the MTO stated the entrance lane to the property would have to be moved to a location de- termined by the ministry. Don Pletch, who reported he had contacted the Ministry of Environment and Energy, was in- formed maximum noise levels can't exceed 50 decibels at adjacent outdoor living areas. ( A moto-cross bike engine registers approximately 96 decibels) Property owner, Martin Bitz, defended his proposal, stat- ing farm tractors arc louder than 50 decibels. He said he had met with the MTO and had agreed to construct a new entrance west of the present location. He also agreed to lim- it the race days .to Sunday after church in an effort to allevi- ate potential conflicts with funerals. Councillor Jim Shipley was concerned the proposal would not generate additional revenue for the Township, but if the neighbors successfully appealed their assess- ments, it had thc potential to produce a net loss to the mu- nicipality. Councillor Herman Steffens agreed there -was no benefit forthe Township. Tom Ritz said he wasn't surprised at the outcome and does not have plans to appeal council's ruling. "1 respect their decision. It's not what 1 wanted but 1 un- derstand their position," said Bitz, who believes council would have passed theiapplication if it wasn't for the "bumped up opposition" it faced from numerous residents. He said there is a general misconception about his in- tcntions and. people think he N.ants 10 build a permanent' commercial race track "Our application is not for a rezoning but kir ancillary use. The property is Toned agriculture and will remain ag- riculture," said Bitz, adding the noise factor of motel -cross bikes has been exaggerated. . Although he will not be able to host sanctioned races, he can use his property for pleasure riding. . Doug Cassan, who lives on the Courscy Line. said he and many others were "overjoyed" about the decision He was concerned, however. about a suggestion the site may be moved to McGillivray. Drive. According to the minutes, Councillor Paul Wallis expressed his opinion that Biti had land better suited for this development and French said he would support this proposal t+i a better location. Cassan was glad to sec fatten rcnund council it could not pass the requested proposal without ..n .uiiendment to the Official Plan. which is designed to t rotect residcnts and farmers from intrusive 'and incompatible land uses. He feels, however. the yoice of the opposed public swayed council's decision. "I don't think they expected such an organized resistance but it really wasn't organized. We didn't 'forfit any com- mittees," said Cassan. "This was just a case of many in- dividuals saying 'no' and council having the good grace of listening."