Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1999-01-06, Page 2Exeter Thrbee-+Advocate Wednesday, January 6. 1999 In the News Regional wrap up Seaforth council cautious about county -wide policing SEAFORTH Seaforth council approves pro- ceeding with county -wide Ontario Provincial Police contract negotiations but wants more specifics, re- ports the Huron Expositor. Council wants assurance areas covered in the previous contract would continue. The proposedcost-allocation approach calcu- lates savings to Seaforth of $42,613 from what was budgeted for police services this year in Sea - forth — the town actually spent less than was bud- geted. Council's support for continuing to proceed with the county -wide approach was contingent on OPP detachment headquarters becoming more central and moving to the Huron County complex at Va- nastra in Tuckersmith Twp., as proposed, from Hwy. 21 near Goderich. ' Council also wants more clarification on how municipal bylaws would be enforced, what the structure and representation will be on the police services board, exactly how costs will be appor- tioned among municipalities and what the status of Seaforth's store -front OPP office would be. A report from Huron County Administrator Lynn Murray to Huron County Council said the activity in Clinton and Seaforth .does not provide enough reason to maintain their store -front police offices. Wingham-area fundraiser helps farmers and food bank WINGHAM — In a unique, double fundraising ef- fort, Virginia O'Brien has launched a project that will help both cash-strapped pork farmers and area food banks, reports the. Wingham Indepen- dent Plus. For the new Hope for Heartland project, O'Brien. is selling single cassette recordings of l'Ite Field Behind the Plow, by Canadian legend Stan Rogers. Although O'Brien admits the song is not a happy one, it shows the heart and deterniination of farm- ers. The song is. based on real people, such as the East Coast fishermen and Western farmers who have suffered financially during recent years. Now, the pork industry is in turmoil and all pro- ceeds from -the tapes will be used to purchase pork from area farmers: -O'Brien will then donate the purchased meat to local food banks. She is seeking help from abbatoirs willing to pro- cess and package the pork at a discount price. • O'Brien has had 500 tapes produced but is will- ing to order more, depending on demand. Local 'cad mills and others are sponsoring the produc- tion of the tapes. She hopes to give $100 to each local farmer and is busy making contacts in the industry. She has started the fundraiser in : towns sur- rounding Wingham and plans to expand to other areas. Children' s- piggy banks stolen HANOVER -- South Bruce Grey police are aggre- sively investigating . a series of residential break- ins and attempted break-ins in Hanover over the past few weeks, according to the Saugeen City News. On Christmas Day, a home on 13th Avenu entered through an unlocked door. The thieves made off with a Nintendo 6 $1,200 cash. Even the children stolen. Police believe this crime is rel lar break-ins in the area. On Dec. 16, a• 50 lb. safe containing Canada Sav- ings Bonds, stock certificates and other personal papers were taken from a Hanover residence. In this and similar break-ins, the thieves gained en- try through basement windows. Police say residents should take precautions whenever leaving their homes unattended, includ- ing leaving lights and a radio on, keeping a vehicle in the driveway and notifying neighbours when the home will be unoccupied. Above all, residents should secure all windows and lock all doors before leaving home. Snowmobile snowfence, noise and speed upset. Exeter residents By Kate Monk TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Although Ross Ballantyne doesn't have any solutions, he believes he shouldn't have to put up with snowmobiles trespassing on his McConnell St. property or any barriers erected on neighbouring properties to stop the machines. Ballantyne and his wife Alma, who live in the southernmost house on the east side of McCon- nell St., attended Mon- day's Exeter council meeting to voice their concerns. - Ballantyne started his presentation to council by stating he didn't have any solutions, only prob- lems. Ballantyne said that on New Years Day, 81 snowmobiles crossed his property before he stopped counting at 6 p.m.. Based on comptftints from the Ballantynes, Pineridge Snowmobile Club erected a snow - fence on the property south of Ballantynes on Saturday to prevent snowmobiles from cross- ing the Ballantyne lot. r' Ballantyne told council Monday night he did not approve of the fence be- cause it would create a dam for water which would then flood his basement. "I'd like to know who's going to be liable be- cause insurance will not cover surface water," Ballantyne told council. "As long as they're (snowmobiles) on my property, I don't have to put up with it." Coun. Peter Armstrong has been acting as a liai- son between the town and Pineridge. He ex- plained the snowmobile club has posted the main trail which passes south of McConnell St. He said snowmobilers who aren't familiar with the town use McConnell St. He estimated half to three-quarters of the snowmobilers use . the trail while the rest use ell. �� s the Ballantyne yard. Ballantyne replied the snowfence was an "ag- gravation" because he could see it from his house but didn't think he should have to look at posts either. "I don't think 1 should have to put up with any- thing," he said, adding there are fence bylaws and "if you put up a fence, it should be a proper fence." He said he stopped snowmobilers ,to tell them they were tres- passing but they "took off." "I've lost any patience completely," he said. A number of Pineridge Snowmobile Club mem- bers were present at the mdeting. President Rick Van- denbussche said there is a problem in Exeter with young children driving in town who aren't li- censed. He explained at age 12, childrencan take a course and receive a li- cense which allows them to drive snowmobiles on trails but not on a road. ' Trail co-ordinator Ivan Norris said he has staked = he trails 'hi the nd said 'the 'club . ore than willing" to do what- ever is needed to "allevi- ate the problem." "I still think it's been a good trail that's been es- tablished and with a lit- tle policing; we can keep them off Mr. Ballantyne's property," Norris said. Reeve Roy Triebner was concerned so many snowmobiles are trav- elling on McConnell St. which is not a snow- mobile route. Deputy -Reeve Dave Ur - lin said 70-80 snow- mobiles went past his house on Marlborough. St. on New Year's Eve even though it's not a route. Urlin went on to say that snowmobiles are a part of living in Can- ada. On the topic of the Bal- lantyne problem, Urlin said an agreement has to be reached. "To eliminate looking. at a fence, you look at a post," he said. "(Pine - ridge) offered to put in posts but it wasn't ac- ceptable (to the Bal- lantynes)." Armstrong agreed posts would be a better method than the snow - fence. "If there's any po- tential for liability, I say pull out the fence and post it. The fence comes out not because it didn't work," he said. Triebner said he could sympathize with the Bal- lantynes but thought the wooden stakes would be a compromise and would only be there for three months. Mayor Ben Moo genboom suggested more signs be posted. "I just don't like to see an eyesore," Ballantyne replied. "I don't think you'd like stakes driven on your property for the winter even if it is on your neighbour's prop- erty." Triebner also st g- gested the _ s owni nb' Club conimutllcate to members that they should keep their speeds down and stay on the trail. Ballantyne also has concerns with the ex- cessive speed of snow- mobiles in the area and the danger posed to pe- destrians on McConnell St., children playing in Elliot Park and on the hill south of his property. Noise is another con- cern. "We cannot rest in our own home," Ballantyne said. "We are under stress in our home." He added snowmobiles pass his house as early as 6 a.m. and as late as 2 a.m. "I see it because we sit there and see every move. We see it every day," Ballantyne said. Hoogenboom said the town needs to eliminate the snowmobiles "roar- ing around" and get them out of town. Coun. George Rob- ertson reminded council he had warned them earlier in the year there would be problems frons funnelling the snow- mobiles towards the newly built bridge that crosses the Ausable Riv- er. "Now a lot of the prob- lem is enforcing laws," Robertson .said with ref- erence to children snow- mobiling without li- censes. "We have a responsibility here to provide. enforcement." Triebner said he sees the relationship with the ,snowmobile club as "rea- sonably productive." "We have to give it an opportunity to resolve it- self. We'd rather see if we can resolve the prob- lem rather than seeing a ban," Triebner said. Coun. Robert Drum- mond said part of the ef- forts should be to ask the OPP to increase their pa r � z �i�� ,Wi• . les. Norris . said snow- mobiles have a six -digit registration number on the hood which people should record if they are having problems with a snowmobile and then pass the information on to the OPP. Norris also said Pine - ridge would supply man- power, equipment and materials to stake the area but would like it done under the super- vision of the town. Town staff and council representatives • were scheduled to meet with Pineridge reps and any- one interested in at- tending on Tuesday at 10 a.m. after the T -A went to press. • i•ua'�ILK'.[.t'yfij'' ,.._. a _ii., — `-"+iv - _ h .r •GI cro the h dro pole ather than the' left" which delineates the cor- ner of tIi Ballantyne property. He added snowmobiles have "every right" to travel on McConnell St. as a mo- torized vehicle. Armstrong proposed the snowfence be re- placed with wooden stakes which would not block the snow but would prevent snow- mobiles from crossing The snowfence at the end of McConnell. St. in Exeter was erected on the week- end to prevent snowmobiles from crossing Ross and Alma Ballantyne's lot (left side of photo). Ross Ballantyne wants the fence removed and another method used to prevent the trespassing. The marked trail goes down the hill to the Aus- able River bridge at the right of the photo.