HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1998-10-07, Page 2Regional
wrap up
Group to
improve
Clinton
CLINTON — The
town is full. of great
ideas on how Clinton
can prosper and a 'lo-
cal
lo -cal committee is striv-
ing; to put these ideas
to work. according to
the, Clinton . News-
Reord. .
The second • meeting
of .the group which is
informally known as
the "prosperity com-
mittee" drew 30 • peo-
ple.
. Meeting chair. Dred
Lobb.. said that since
the first meeting, , he
has been approached
by people willing to
share their suggestions
on how the town can
get ahead. .
Jake Defuyter sug-
gested that one ,ueth-
od of hell) at 110 (0St
•would be to -help with
research • to. get pro-
jects off the ground.
Lobb added that • busi-
ness people could sit
.and talk with those in-
terested in • starting 'a
business in town. •
-
• - lour committees will
be formed: industry,
- small business, promo-
tion and tourism. •
Harbour land
swap in the •
works
GODERICII = 'The
town ' has agreed Co-
sign a. letter of intent
for the exchangeof
lands at' the Goderich
,harbour; according to
the Goderich Signal-
Star.
After several meet-
ings between town offi-
cials, the Goderich Ele-
vators . and • a
representative of a
group of citizens who
want to build a hotel
complex on the water-
front. fhe letter of in=
tent for 'an agreement
to swap the harbour
(rent lands was Pre-
sented to town council.
The exchange. Would
give the town- a consol-
idated waterfront
property• suitable for
development. Goderich
Elevators would re-
ceive lands owned by
Goderich which in-
clude the CPR station.
As a • condition, the
building will •be pre-
served and remain
.opon to the public.
The letter of intent is
not a binding agrec-
meht but it does show
.promise for a future
agreement between
the ' two sides. it also
allows the hotel group
to proceed with a fea-
sibility study for the
harbour area.
Exeter Times -Advocate
Wednesday, October 7, 1998
In the News
Old Pryde Street sewer gets the blame
By Kate Monk
TikeiS AI)VOCATIi STAFF
•
EXETER — 1 feel the biggest problem we
have during periods of high flow is •the old
Pryde sewer," B. M. Ross ongineer Bruce
Potter told Exeter council 'and members .of
the public on Monday night. •
Potter gave a status report on -.the ••in •
-
vestigation of basenunt needing in te Uow
subdivision. -
Alttwugh the investigation is not yet coin-.
Otte. Potter was willing to divulge anticipat-
ed recommendations.
The first set of recommendations will be•
aimed at.dec:reasing inflow and infiltration
• and (nay include -the following.
- • Force homeowners to disconnect._eaves
troughs, roof drains and other direct connec-
t tions. •
.• Consider the possible disconnection of
window wells, stair wells and footing drains.
• Encourage homeowners to- direct storm
water away from buildings and to, improve.
lot grading.
The second set ofsrtrconunendatious will be
aimed at improving the 'sewer - system with
the- snipe of, the various pipes determining
the extent of the work and • ntay include the
following.
• Repair partially blocked services.
• Repair/replace portions of sewer On
Kingseourt. Churchill :end Sherwood.
• Repair some of the cracked -pipes.
• Replace or abandon the old Pryde sewer.
with' services being connected to the new
sewer. •
• Additional connections between any old - •
Pryde sewer remaining and the new trunk
sewer. - •
Potter reported the sewers are generally in
good condition in that the pipes are good
and there are . few cracked pipes. I lowever; '
some stretches of sewers have relatively
large dips and small grades.
- Much 'of this .problem dates back "to the
technology available at the time the- sewers
were built. it was difficult to ensure a
straight sewer with -a consistent grade in the
1960s when.the sewers were constructed, • -
The quality of construction improved when
laser technology was introduced in the '70s,
according to Potter. .
Als) in the '60s.• companies were pro-...
nesting pipes that were so smooth the con-
tents could flow with 'a 0.3 percent slope.•
Unfortunately, the pipes could -not live up- to
the promise. Now, a minimum of 0.4 percent. •
. slope. is acceptable. .
The new Pryde?' sewer is -in "excellent 'con-
dition" and ..can handle the flows from the
old sewer. Some members of the gallery sug-
gested crossing connections hetween the old
and new Pryde sewers 'to allow for extra
flow but ('otter wanted to study that optign
further before committing to it.
Using the new Pryde sewer will allow the
'.grades of connections from houses on the
side streets to' be improved which should
also reduce flooding.
Potter doubted repairing the sewers would
-completely sglve the flooding problems..
"We still have to address inflow." Potter
said, adding all the measures • he identified
will reduce flooding.
• Potter is also concerned about lot grading -
in the subdivision.
"'!'here are areas where lot grading is ex-
ceptionally poor," he explained, adding in
one. instance, yards fr, ; . fight other lots
drain into one yard. .
•• . As for a timetable, Potter encouraged the
• town to . get started witli the inflow rec-
otnii 'ndations immediately and to complete
dye testing on cave trough down spouts'con-
nected to the ground especially where no
smoke appeared from the plumbing stacks.
Potter believes the sewer work will require
a Certificate of Approval from the Ministry of
the Environment but wanted a legal opinion
first. It may take the MOE four to six weeks
to approve the request. He suggested the pa-
perwork get started immediately.
The town- can complete the tendering pro -
Teachers and board
ratify two-year deal
Continued from front page
because she said they are
an important part of edu-
cation.
She added that while
students were aflccted by
negotiations, the affect
was minimal because the
beard and the union were
able to reach a deal early
in the school year.
Judy Cairncross, presi
dent of ,OSSTF District 8,
said she is pleased about
the contractbut expressed
worries about the
province getting involved
in education.
She said the union's.
fight was never with Avon
Maitland but with the gov-
ernment. -
However, as talks
dragged on. Cairncross
said a teachers' strike was
a possibility because the
union had an 8.8 per cent
strike mandate from its
teachers.
Cairncross said the unity
shown by the teachers in
not volunteering for extra-.
curricular activities was
effective and added that
people are finally starting
to realize teachers do a lot
of extra work.
'Cairncross. admitted,
though, that the refusal to
volunteer. for extra-curric-
ulars did have adverse
effects.
"1 unfortunately think it
was hurting the kids," she
said, adding she -has a
daughter in high school
and knows'a lot of stu-
dents need outlets such as
.sports and other activities.
Realizing this,; she said
OSSTF wanted to get the
contract settled as soon as
possible.
Avon Maitland teachers
have made some conces=
sions,• Cairncross said,
such as giving up .close to
half of their prep time per
week. •
In 'exchange, the board
has.promised the union it
will begin implementing
changes as quickly- as pos-
sible to ensureteachers
aren't teaching four class-
es a day.
Despite the settlement,
Cairncross said the union •
will continue to remain
active in education, say-
ing, "We don't want to see
the public school system
destroyed," and said the
union wants to ensure
teaching remains a profes-
sion young people still
want to enter.
coss for the contracts and stipulate the wort
can start once MOE'approval is. received.
' This leaves a short window of opportunih
for construction • this autumn. While con
struction can be completed during' De
• cembor, 'Potter said, that would• mean (hi
street and lawns would be disrupted for the
rost.for the winter. Council encouraged staf •
and Potter. to communicate to the MOE the
importance of completing the project w
. spun as possible: -
Counci) directed Potter to proceed with the -
remainder. of the investigation and to pre-
pare' the necessary documentation to get the.
MOE's approval for -'the sewer work.
Pryde Street residents . prossed,. council for
a decision on compensation for • the sum-
mer's 'flood damages. '
Acc:ending to . Dave Partridge, the Co-
operators is spearheading• a movement by
insurance companies to noionger insure Ex-
eter residents for sewer back-up damages.
Mayor Ben • Iloogenboont said council
hasn't had time to address the claims for
- compensation •by •residents but promised to
-consider the issue. •
Partridge requested the town' "send a. letter -
to insurance companies indicating plans are
underway to address the flooding problem.
- . 'Administrator Rick tlundey agreed to send
a letter to specific insurance companies as
requested by the: property owners.
Gail Little expressed her concern that sev-
eral.residents in the area are senior citizens
on fixed incomes who may not be to afford
repairs. '
41 don't think these insurance companies
have much of a commitment to the con-
munity, she said and encouraged council to
get involved..
Partridge said- the Citizens Against - Re-
current Flooding may have a meeting to .de-
cide how to proceed. -
"People are looking for answers, he con-
cluded.
Biddulph fish kill
Pollution in the Little Ausable River (Elimville Drain) in Biddulph Twp. is un-
der investigation by the Ministry of the Environment. Dead carp were present
on Monday morning at the intersection of Adare Drive and Saintsbury Line.
The MOE had been called out to a'farm on Saintsbury Line on Sept. 25 fol-
lowing a complaint. Wateramples are being analyzed in Toronto and the re-
sults were not available at press time. A source has not been determined but
the investigation will continue.
Pearen found guilty in
Grand .Bend United theft
SARNIA — Cheryl Sue Pearen, 53,
was found guilty of stealing more than
$1,000 from Grand Bend United
Church between '87-92 in Sarnia court
on Monday.
The Crown alleged Pearen stole more
than $150,000 in cheques made pay-
able to cash on the church's accounts
and deposited into her own account.
Tho trial spanned nearly a .year after
lengthy adjournments. -
Pearen defended herself during the
last stages of the -trial after firing her
laytryer at the end of the Crown's case.
The judge presiding at the trial said
Pearen's case "melted" when she was
confronted with 17 invoices she held
out were items paid in cash.
Pearen will be sentenced on Dec. 3 in.
Sarnia court.
- with files from the Sarnia Observer.