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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-12-17, Page 34Page 2 Times -Advocate, December 24,1997 Regional wrap up Restructuring talks still on NORTH HURON North Hu- ron areas are still split on re- structuring. .due to cost-saving measures and improving the ef- ficiency' of amalgamation, re- ported the.North Huron Citizen. Morris and Turnherry Twps: . have refrained .from • discussing. options with the rest of the mu- nicipalities. These two town- ships instead ,vatted a :meeting between themselves. Winsham and Howick Twp. They refused to join the .discussion, because they felt.it was a waste of money until more information was known.. about - what to expect from restructuring... Stricter custody conditions at Bluewater GODERICH '- -.Recent vio- lence -seen • at Bluewater. Centre for Young Offenders may result in stricter '• conditions. Living conditions •could he tightened. there may he 'Mager. 'more rigor- ous days. no pool tables or cable television -and uniti►rms and shorter haircuis•will he adminis- tered. stated the Goderich nal -Star. A proposal is currently 'before - management and is expected to be given to Solicitor doh Runci- 'men in January:'with implem'en- tatign taking place.as- earls. as' this spring. the article said. res been - n m 11-1E E Enhancing Grand Bend Beach) Main Street Advisory Committee approached council on how to improve the Main Beach by the 2001,Summer Games By Chantal, Van Raay TA Reporter • GRAND BEND - What will Grand Bend Beach look like in the year . 2001? Will there he a new 'hath- ' house? A boardwalk from the bath- house' to the pier? Will a trellis he . huilt for people to enjoy the sun- set? Will a play- area or a hancequc area he part of the• peach when beach enhancement has been com- pleted? .' Thee -were some cif the questions asked at last Tuesday's council meeting. Perhaps the biggest ques- tion. .was, "When • should the project_ he- cc ,tin?" A board "We've just owned the property for a. • little over a -month." said. Mayor Cam Ivey. "We need to first. make some • inherent de- cisions on this prop-, the 'construction of a bathhouse as well as the construction of a. hoard- walk- from the bathhouse to the pier.' Paulgcr said. "A boardwalk will he designed to accommodate a Rumher of seating areas along that stretch ' with appropriate cosmetic enhancements. heing• it lightitfg or shrubbery, •or what ever. That stretch of boardwalk may he di- vided into) 12 equal sections and we can go to various limns and attempt No sell thein. This will st,e them an opportunity to . demonstrate , their name. whether it he. on a plaque or install it on,a park bench." Paulger said- the walk will committee decided h would he hest to .The .Grand Bend Main Street Advisory Cour-' mutes have heen meet- ing for over a year to discuss what should he done ur enhance the be designed to accommodate a number of seating areas along` that stretch with ap- propriate cosmetic enhancements.' .peach. "We suggest the village initiate this stage Of the heae'.h-scape project hy -constructing a bathhouse facility.' said advisory committee repre- sentative -Craig Paulger. - "The initial- stage would nr.Live • • • • break the protects down lino several ar- eas. because it would ' he rete difficult to an- swer all of the ques'- tinnx at once. "It seems 'easier to' me and to .the _rest of the members. in or-. .ter to accnnintodal the hie issues' we - havc..to start with the smaller Is-. sues." . - In order .to finance such ,a protect. the committee suggested the hath - house facility he funded through re- serves of water and other existing reserves. The project may' also he financed ;by , selling space. through contract at the 12 areas along the boardwalk. - starting the project and now it's pine • for everyone to get in- volved.' • Paulger added the committee has been .discussing the starting point : of Keach enhancement for 'over a year and "we'd like to suggest it's time to act.'' - "1 eve • everythinbelig YOU "I know you're hot guys are talking . on this. I'd love to ahrit,t'" said Ma- do something like guirc. "I' want to see it move as this, everyone of us fast. as you do but "lite committee also. considered in- itiating a "Design Build" competi- tion which would he offered to con- tractors. The contractors' would design a - concept for the beach. members of -council would choose the project they hekeve would he most beneficial ial to the beach. and the winning .:ontractt►r•-would he: awarded to complete the first phase. Another recommendation made by the committee was a turn -around concept on Main Street. This con- cept would re-route Main Street traffic. with traffic turning left at Huron Street.. right On King Street. .through the north side of -vacant. Devlon property. around the west of the parking lot and then joining the . turn -around uuo Main Street. east. This recommendation was. seen .as . something that might he considered in the future when more funds are made available. "My real 'concern is that l 'would hate to see the first step taken un- - less we •haves real idea of what it's going -to Zook like in. the end.' said councillor Pfiil Magetrc.- Paulgcr'replied. ''The reason we're embarking on this first step is -he - cause we'll he demonstrating to people, that something isactually taking place and it gives higher firms the - opportunity to he in- volved. l see it as.a real demonstra- tion and ti's telling people: 'This is. what we're doing. where 'we're was win the hid and then every- thing would fall into place after . that. That's a deadly way to go. We lost on both bids over a period of 15 years on that basis," Mann said. "So. we got busy and built the fa- . citifies needed in the City of Lon- don in order to get one of the Games. We did that. We build a decent aquatic centre that doesn't meet all of the requirements of the hid. but at . least it was a start." Mann. explained. asking, "are we going to make the same mis- we've only just would. But how do owned the tneach you do it best t' • for little over a month now. Our main concern is , that we want to get Off on the right loot. There arc a lot of questions being asked of us." .Paulger explained the committee does not necessarily want alt of the answers Today. hut argued. "We do - ; need a bathhouse." •. - Councillor Bob Mann' gave an ex- ample of a similar situation he had while sitting on' the Games Com - Mince in London... ••1 was part of the committee in the - City of London twice when .we tried to .get the Canada Games and Once when we tried mo get a e.ouple of games another tine. We had this bullied notion that while we didn't • really' have the facilities. somehow we would come up with what the Games needed and all we had to do Exeter and ABCA pleased with Morrison meeting .EXETER - "I think it was a good• .start. It was a gond round -table • '.meeting - with an •exchanm a tit'. in- formation,'" n- formation. ' Exeter deputy -reeve Dave Grtirl told Exeter council last • Monday night: - • His comments . on rhe Dec. 10 meeting to discuss the future of Morrison Dam were More. positive creasing at Bluewater in the last rwo years. said 'Ross Virgo. a' .ninistry spokesperson. ' " "We've experienced' an in- crease in incidentss of defiant be haviout. belligerent attitude, and peer on peer violence." he said. Women, 73, dies in accident 4 PORT ELGIN - IA two - vehicle accident on Hwy. 9 took the life of a 73 -year-old -Port El- gin women and sent another. to Bruce County General Hospital with non life-threatening injuries last Monday.- ' . Loreena Geffros was driving northbound on Hwy., 9 not`th .of Clifford Monday. when she host control of the vehicle on.a snow. covered road. The vehicle turned, sideways and entered the south-' bound lane. striking the front end of a southbound truck. re- ported the London Free Press. The tone Occupant of the car was thrown from- the vehicle. and died instantry. • Kinkardtne. OPP said' . the a women was not wearing seat- belt at the time of the accident. The driver of the truck. Victor Morris, of Walkerton. was taken to hospital and treated for shock Goderich salt mine sold GODERICH - The Goderich s?': mine. one of the world's largest prriducer of rock salt,was sold for $450 million as part of the purchase of its parent com- pany, the Harris Chemical. Group. by IMC Giobal.lnc.; re- ported the Goderio:h Signal -Star., IMC. an Illinois -based compa- ny,. is tine of the world's leading pnxlucers of phosphate and pot- ash crop nutrients and animal feed ingredients. Clinton police costs jump $34,000 CLINTON - Clinton may be facing an increase 'of about $34,000 in policing costs for 1998 unless some savings are found, reported the Clinton News -Record. One 'method that may be used to lessen costs, is to meet with Seaforth to , discuss options, which are still unofficial. We;ve come a ling way from what it was the first while." Tomes sant. Morrison'Dani was built in 1959 to supply water 'Or the ":inning lac- ' tory in' Exeter and was part Of a 40 - year agreement of the ABCA. the town: tho PUC :and .Ushorne Tuwrt- ship.. Once .the aereemeni expired and the water supply was no longer -the-ettlntine-tttetH Ex etcr and the PUC discontinued their. financial support for the darn. . ; . :The, ABCA 'contended the two parties Could not walk .away from their responsibilities for the dain. The Township of Ushorne has agreed to he responsihte for the road -related cost's uJ the'dam. . months. the ,town refused to meet with the Ausahle-Bavtield Con-' •servation Authority •to-;iddress the issee of financial support for the -dam and .:onstrvation arca. 'At :an ,ABCA meeting on,Thurs- day night. ABCA chairman Tom Tomes agreed the meeting was worthwhile. . • ' "1 thought• a was. productive' and thought there was -.a slut of hope. New misconduct regulation • TORONTO - A .'new regulatil>n governing the professional conduct mor•e•than 163.1N)0 members e of th .Ontario College of Teachers came into -force Thursday. December 4 and is now posted on the College'. web • • • site at • hop://www.octon.ca/englishinewb tm. The regulation is also available by phoning the media. relations -officer at the number below. The' misconduct fegulauud. developed by the College and approved by this Ontario Cabinet. i_ives. parents. students and teachers a dear , det,iniuon - Of the rules - government teachers' cpnduct..The.. Colleges Discipline' Committee and Fitness to Practise Committee • will use - the regulation . when dealing with complaints of misconduct or 'incompetence 'against College members. The Ontario College of Teachers. • has the authority to license. govern - and regulate the practice of teaching in Ontario. Its .Mandate includes setting out clear standards of • practice. ensuring sound professional learning goals and accrediting professional learning for teachers. Contact: Denys Gigucre, Media• Relations Officer. (416, 9,I -Y800, ext._221.f-SSM-534 's Fire destroys home in Crediton area To find out how you can donate articles or funds to the Flnkbeiner family please see page 19 During the meeting, sei,'eral de= vnlvement -options were discussed ranging from the, potential rec- reation benefits of the conservation area to :the flow augmentation of the Exeter reservoir from the Mor- rison Reservoir. The minutes - from the meeting. listed three recorginendatrons. . rya I. Cepti-legal-apinntn-t-+n-wtteth ur not the Exeter PLC .can simply walk away ,from the project. In- dividually. organizations may pur-' sue this issue. ' .2. Keep dam maintenance. li- ability-, and capital costs Separate from the reereational costs and c' up ,t .;ist-sharing agreement :ac- cordingly. 13.• Establish .t new 'The Friends of Morrison"• -group with reprc- sent~ation from each municipality: Its inundate would he to raise funds •to .:aver the recreational portion of Morrison Dam - and the Exctcr- Morrisorn Corridor would he in-', - cr tuned-as-part_ot.:.t)tesvhcil The des'olvcment eoininittee will. meet again on Feb. 4. I99ii. • - take in Grand Bend?" Ivey added there• are issues that need to he considered before jump- ing ahead with -staring the. -project.• He said there are commitments .with the Games Committee that must he understood. "1 know you're hot on this." said Ivey. "I'd hive to do something like his: everyone of us would. But hoiv do you do it hest," he asked. Council decided to review the cur- rent reserve funds and which funds could he allocated for the beach en- ' hancement project. They decided to consider and defer the three other recommendations of -the committee including undertaking a turnarnund concept at the end of Main Street. the design and building of the hath- 1 - house and boardwalk and a "De- - sign Build" competition. Thieves go on crime spree in Exeter or Continued from front page :teed:- a '9S Chrysler Cirrus LX I had its passenger door pried open • setting_ off the -car .alarm. an '39 Jeep YJ had; its ignition and steer- ing ,:dlumn smashed and a '98 Du- rango had its- locks pried hut • thieves.didn't gam entry. A '92 Plvrhouth Sundance stolen from Londomon Dec.• 16 was found . behind • Exeter Produce at- 215 - Thames Rd. the saine night. Mar- shall salt' if anyone has intimation- on any of the above incidents. please con- tact their nearest OPP detachment or Huron County Crime Stoppers at 1- t00- 222-"17PS (R477). Ship the T for' that`lost ininute atiivintas, ft! Changes to Middlesex fire services coming Changes to several key fire protection policies may threaten Lucan area ambulance service $y Craig Bradford T -,t Reporter •LL AN ' - , Darn that provincial `d6wn- loading, especially when rt .:ernes tit- Luetic area .unhulanee services. • • . Than wits the feeling .titer Lucan-Bidd'uiplt -Fire Alta chairperson Dave Goddard tilled tit• Lucan L'uuncrllors on -changes' 101 lire . pro- tect en policy. maipped out hy the ,pt'ovtncc', 8iN34.• - Goddard said he was tilled'rn un Ole hill's unplicarnins at the Oct. -16 ininrmuuun crest- . ing of the Middlesex Fire Chiefs Association , in Newbury. ' While the hill Jaesn't.itsclf.say much shout ambulance scr'vtce. the'. 'tiered response' part ..of the -bill has tire rescuer personnel..acquiring .12 more training hours tfundjed by Clic ince► called "patient stabilization training - 10 , handle Zile-thrcalcnrng medical ,locations if an ambulance can't he dispatched to the scene Within three minutes. What.puts a monkey wrench Ino the works is • the. province is also downloading am- ,bulalory respunstt)thites onto municipalities. if firelighters receive advanced first aid training and if providing ambulance ', rvice proves tix> costly torr a municipality. that municipality may choose not to spend tax dollars on ;in aro, hulance service. kioddard said local firefighters atren't•tnter-. ested in getting the extra training it it means Lucan'., ambulance service, is threatened. The pulley change. would mean the. Lucati- Buddulph Fire Department would respond to about 40-60 more calls per year and have the most effect on the lire departrnent.hudgetof any of the three essential changes to fire pro- tection policy mapped Out in the hill. Goddard said. While Lucan-Btddulph firelighters may not he interested in the extra training. Biddulph- Blanshard firelighters in Granton may he since their conunupuy doe. sn't have its own am- hul•'nce service. Goddard said. The final decision will be made on whether Lucan area firefighters will gel the training at - ter all provincial downloading plays out Over the next year. Goddurd said. "It's for own own good if -someone knows something to help people," Goddard said of the training. • The other two changes to lire • protection policy include what the mandate of tire de- partments becomes and what's called "auto- matic aid." • , • The new mandate of fire departments is to provide fire -protection and prevention, God- • dant said. That description doesn't include - what firc'cleriartments-have lopg telt to he their • primary ,tory — tire suppression "or fighting. 'Goddard:aid die hill puts more emphasis'nn ' tire 'departments: providing tiro code enforce Hien. through bylaws/inspection ;uid CiIucatioe pr Bruns. • , With automatic aid. the Uosest tiro de- partment to .t lire. accidentor usher emergency situation will he dispatched first rather than: that Junsdicnun's depamnent, - . - For example. there's a auto accident just 'south of Exeterwhich tally into Lucan- Biddulph, Fire Department's area hut Exeter's department can get there. faster. The dispatcher wiiuld send the Exeter Department .out first. then die Lucari:Btddulph department. Exeter would ,tate till Lucan-E3td(1ulph arrived on the scene. then at thle fire cluefs Jiscretturi, Exeter ' would either leave or stay u>'continue ter help Out. The Exeter department charges Lucan- Biddulpn 'S300/hour for their services. hut tioddard said 'costs to each lire department for automatic aid will. likely balance out over time. . In 'tiller fire department .news, ,Middlesex ' County . council' recently. 'approved _paying $80,000/scar for London Iire'inspectors to do all county inspections: The money will cuinc out of the county. Ievv. Other Lucan council notes: - Permits, permits, permits 'Rte North Middlesex District Building Sys• - tem released building pennit statistics l'rotn Jan. '97 to Oct. 3-l. 1997. Biddulph Township - 37 permits issued 05 total in '96) worth $1,278,400 t$3,983.591) in '96); Lucan-25 (29i, $794.(N0) (456.400); McGillivray Town- ship -49.147), $2,237.000 1$2.222.400). Gobble, gobble Lucan•Connunity Memorial Centre staff wily receive Christmas bonuses for 'lobs done well. "ihc arena board okayed the bonuses at last month's meeting. Arena manager Paul Dykeman will get $300, Nunn Goldie, Keith McFarland and Dick Jeurgens all get $200. Jennifer Junes $150, 'Kathy McFarland $125 and Karen Holden 525. 'ihe 'arena hoard members made the de- cision during an in -camera session that ended 'with no report. Though the resolution made in public after the cltised session dealfvith what was discussed behind closed doors, the hoard should have tiled a report in accordance with the Municipal Act. The seven staff will also receive either a turkey or a hum for their family Christmas din- ners. Council approved extending the gesture to its staff. Holiday garbage pick-up -.Due to Christmas and New Year's Day (all- ing 'on Thursdays. Lucan's .regular . garbage surd Blue Box- p,c,k-up day., garbage/recycling will he picked up on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31. Public works superintendent Doug John- ston said people should take their Christmas trees to Nicholson •Greenhouses alter the hol- idays so (her can•.he mulched. . Two per cent. raise? Village. employees will get a raise: in '98. but how much is .;till in question. •A•.reu- umrnendatiitn to hike salaries across the hoard on the pay grid by two per cent was sent back hy council after councillor Perry Caskanette' asked JIM' figures on a one per cent hike. • Lions to get plagued Council approved giving the Lucan Lions Club arplaque to -he presented at the Jan. 5 cer- 'emuny 41 the Community Centre recognizing the club's 50th :anniversary. Write off explained Council approved writing .off $11,246 in taxes (54s0(X) of which was due to Lucan alone) after Reymer received an explanation of why an appeal was won by Scott's Elevator Ltd.'s Allan Scott over the sum due. 'Rte Ministry -of Revenue. decided since business at the mill had -fallen to it being used only once a week. the elevator's value is much less than what the village had thought.. Council had deferred the issue at the last council meeting. How much? Lighting the Lucan water tower two and a half hours a day costs the village $1,825 a year or SI/hour for power and SI/hour for the hal- last. Johnston told council the tact after Benner requested the information at the last council meeting. Council will look at cutting the tower lighting as well as many other items when budget deliberations begin in March. HoMepsge coming Lucan will•soon have its own homepage on the Internet at no extra cost to the village if. Benner and Caskanette have their way. The two computer -literate councillors will work to- gether on the .project. The homepage will in- clude infortnation on village 'programs and policies plus much more. Casual council Benner and/or another counvillor will be available for casual discussion in council chambers the first Saturday of every month from 9 a.m.-11:30 a.m. The one-on-one casual alrnosphcre is meant to provide a more relaxed environment for people to bring their concerns to council.