Times-Advocate, 1999-02-03, Page 1816
Exeter lienos-Advocatti
Wednesday, February 3, 1999
Commufiity
Amalgamation group almost finished
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — They're
almost done.
After a meeting Jan. 26
in the Exeter council
chambers, the organiza-
tion committee for the
amalgamation of the
Town of Exeter and the
• Townships of Stephen
and Usborne has complet-
ed most of its work.
While the biggest issue
involves Exeter's proposal
to annex the parts of Hay
Township which include
the cemetery and the
landfill site (see related
story) the group managed
to reach other decisions
concerning the proposed
Town of South Huron.
Concerning taxes, the
committee — consisting of
two members from each
of the three municipal
councils — decided to
area rate sidewalks and
parking. Sidewalks and
parking were to be taxed
under a general tax rate
but Usborne Reeve Robert
Morley didn't think that
was fair since Usborne
has no sidewalks or park-
ing.
In addition to mainte-
nance of municipal park-
ing lots, the parking cate-
gory involves snow
removal in front of busi-
nesses.
Morley said the issue is
"an urban problem," and
one for which Usborne
won't pay. Exeter and
Stephen agreed to charge
sidewalks and parking on
an area rate basis.
Another discussion at
the Jan. 26 meeting
involved representation
on county council.
The group eventually
decided to send the
mayor and deputy mayor
to county council,
although there was some
confusion because Exeter
deputy reeve Dave Urlin
said he thought the issue
had been decided at the
group's last meeting on
Jan. 12, when Urlin and
Exeter Coun. Robert
Drummond argued only
the deputy mayor should
attend county council
because the mayor of the
new municipality will be
too busy with local issues.
Stephen Township
Reeve Harvey Ratz,
though, argued that in the
corporate world, the top
person is always sent to
meetings.
The committee also
decided the Town. of
South Huron's municipal
office will be located in
Exeter because of its cen-
tral location.
Now that the committee
has basically resolved all
of its Issues for the draft
proposal -- with the
exception of boundaries
— committee coordinator
Larry Brown will send the
proposal- to the three
municipal councils and
the Ministry of Municipal
Affairs for input.
When the organization
committee finalizes its
work a transition board
will be formed to hammer
out the tough details of
amalgamation such as
staffing and property.
The new municipality
becomes official on Jan.
1, 2001.
The organization com-
mittee's next meeting is
set for March 3 in the
Exeter council chambers
at 7:30 p.m.
Board makes French immersion available
by Michele Greene
STRATFORD - French
immersion will be avail-
able to Grade 1 and 4 stu-
dents in the Avon.
Maitland district this fall.
Last Tuesday night,
trustees approved a plan
to implement the pro-
gram in four schools
across the district.
Enrolment Is expected to
take place in February.
Grey Central will offer
the program for elemen-
tary schools that feed into
Listowel District
Secondary School and-
F.E. Madill Secondary
School.
For elementary schools
that feed into Central
Churon S.S., Seaforth
D.H.S., Mitchell D.H.S.,
South Huron D.H.S. and
Goderich D.C.I., French
immersion will be avail-
able at HurQn Centennial
or Seaforth Public School.
Now, students in the
district will have the same
opportunities to become
bilingual as students with
neighbouring boards.
"We are losing students
to neighboring boards.
We can't afford that,"
said Director of Education
Lorne Rachlis.
With funding based on
enrolment, the board
loses funding each time a
student chooses to attend
a school with another
board.
The board will receive
additional funding for stu-
dents enrolled in French
immersion. On top of the
regular grant per pupil
from the province, it will
also get between $260
and $291 per pupil.
In her.--trpdate to
trustees last Tuesday
night, Superintendent
Janet Baird -Jackson,
cited the implementation
Lucan pielsp
By Craig Bradford
TIMES ADVOCATE STAFF
of French immersion as a
way to boost the board's
revenue.
Although almost every
trustee voiced support for
giving students a chance
to become bilingual, they
had some concerns.
"I'm just a little fearful
of the costs," said Trustee
;Nikki Culbert. Marie
Parsons, assistaflt
superintendent, -said
determining the costs was
impossible before regis-
tration. At least five addi-
tional teachers will have
to be hired for the pro-
gram.
With the current short-
age of teachers, and
French teachers in partic-
ular, trustee Ray Ford
wondered if the board
would have difficulty get-
ting enough qualified
teachers.
Ralph Milton, chairper-
son of the French steering
committee and principal
at Sprucedale Public
School in Shakespeare,
said some of the board's
existing French teachers
can become immersion
teachers. Also, the
board's display at a
recent recruitment fair at
Queen' -s University
tttra.r ed ftve. _student.
Lucan Biddulph settles
for county -wide OPP
By Craig Bradford McGillivray took a look
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF at the proposed costs of
the county -wide OPP ser-
LUCAN BIDDULPH — vice, decided it was too
The Middlesex. County high and has decided to
Police Services Board seek their own quote
wants you. (see story on this page).
That's the word after The IMPC is looking for
the county's Inter- three police services
Municipal Policing board members from the
Committee (IMPC) met general public and will
last month and decided appoint two county
to ask each municipality councillors.
it represents to pass a Lucan Biddulph Deputy
bylaw paving the way for Reeve, Robert Benner,
a five -member police one of four IMPC mem-
services board to be cre- bers, said despite the
ated. uncertainties of how
Lucan Biddulph is one much the OPP service
of fifteen Middlesex will cost and how the
municipalities seeking a county will levy it, the
county -wide policing ser- Lucan OPP detachment
vice contract with the will keep its current
London OPP. complement of officers.
Those municipalities "We are certainly well
include the townships of situated .in the collec-
Lucan Biddulph, North tive," Benner said.
Dorchester, Middlesex Benner added the
Centre, West Nissouri, county may levy the
Adelaide, East Williams, police service cost from
West Williams, Ekfrid, municipalities by popula-
Metcalfe and Mosa, the tion or by assessment
villages of Ailsa Craig, base or another means.
Glencoe and Wardsville The Middlesex Police
and the town of Parkhill. Services Board would get
. Absent from the group administrative support
is Strathroy, Carrodoc from county staff,
and McGillivray. Benner said.
Strathroy and Carrodoc The IMPC will solicit
are merging and will candidates for the police
possibly set up their own services board Aver, the
municipal police sermice.. nextrit nmob bag t}+
jest InTinie For
Valentine's Day
Chieken .Soup for the Couple's Soul
LUCAN BIDDULPH — The well has run
dry for some homeowners in south
Lucan.
Kathy Noyes led a delegation that pre-
sented the case to extend the Lake
Huron water pipeline south out of vil-
lage limits along Hwy. 4 and Roman
Line.
She said residents to the south of the
village have experienced a water short-
age for the last two years but the prob-
lem "is now critical" due to the extreme-
ly dry year last year.
In a letter to council along with a yeti-
tion featuring 28 signatures, Noyes said
residents to the south of Lucan are
trucking water to their wells on a regu-
lar basis. Due to the demand, they are
put on a two or three day waiting list.
"Not only is this a matter of inconve-
nience, it is becoming a health concern
and something should be done about it,"
Noyes said at the meeting.
In her letter, Noyes said there is a
demand for the pipeline extension with
the proposed development on land
owned by Seelster Farms.
Reeve Earl French said he didn't know
if the township could have the pipeline
extended that far.
Deputy Reeve Robert Benner said the
project would have to be a Local
Improvement Act project, meaning resi-
dents that benefit from the project
would have to pay for the work over a
decade or so on their taxes. He also
echoed French's concern, adding the
pipeline has more than enough capacity
but the province may not let the village
extend the pipeline past where it has
been approved.
A costly engineer's report would have
to be done before the township can find
out if the project is even possible. And
the project itself could cost hundreds of
thousands of dollars or more.
"Water is a necessity, not a luxury,"
Noyes argued. "It it's thousands of dol-
lars it will have to be looked at."
Noyes said some homeowners have
had to dig wells down to 300-350 feet.
Councillor Paul Wallis said digging.
deep wells may well be the solution. He
said five to seven homes could "feed off"
a deep well.
French said the issue would be passed
on to the public works committee. •
•
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