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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-03-15, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, March 15, 1995 Cardboard recycling potential BLYTH - Village Council is considering a proposal to recy- cle business cardboard put forth by Larry Rutledge. Rutledge has been contracted to explain the service by John Rinn, village foreman. At the present time, the card- board is shredded for use as live- stock bedding but a different shredder will open up options for various uses. The North Huron Citizen re- ports any cardboard will be picked up at a cost of 24 cents per cubic food, provided the ma- terial has no contaminants. If the village is able to do the pick up and delivery the charge will be reduced to 14 cent a cu- bic foot. Works shed to commence within month MITCHELL - The Public Works & PUC Equipment Cen- tre will be adding a new works shed which is scheduled to begin next month. Town Council approved the low tender put forth by J.T. & T Contracting of Staffa for the shed to be built on Arthur Street in the new industrial area. The Mitchell Advocate report- ed that the winning tender was $502,000, the lowest of 14 sub- mitted. Petition supporting mall lists 500 signatures GODERICH - A petition which supports the expansion and revitalization of the Sun - coast Mall has already received the backing from more than 500 individuals who have put their signatures to the document. The Signal -Star reported orga- ni-^r Roxanne Griffin will ent the petition to an Ontario iicipal Board hearing which is scheduled for May. A provincially -appointed board chairman will listen to ar- gument from the proposed de- veloper, Nutak Holdings Ltd.; the two objectors Shoppers Square Association and F&P Strickland Investments and the Town of Goderich. Plans for modular home community underway ST. MARYS - A 71 -unit mod- ular home retirement park is pro- posed for the site of the former covered race track in the west end of St. Marys. The develop- er, Phal Holdings Ltd., still has to apply for a change to the Offi- cial Plan as well as a zoning amendment. The town's Planning and Ad- visory Committee held a public information hcaring during which, several area residents had an opportunity to ask questions, reported the Journal Argus. The entire property would be owned by the developers, in- cluding the roads. The individu- al modular homes would be pri- vately owned and the land the homes sit on would be leased. Site plan approved in Stephen CREDITON - Stephen township council meeting on Tuesday, March 7 approved a site plan for construction of a proposed water pumping booster station to be locat- ed at the townhsip shed property, just west of Crediton. Earlier in the meeting, road su- perintendent Eric Finkbeiner pre- sented a revised site plan for the station to be operated by the Onta- rio Clean Water Agency. Also on matters of water, a new valve wil be installed in Mount Carmel to facilitate the transfer of McGillivray township water cus- tomers in Stephen onto the town- ship of Stephen water system. A draft schedule "B" screening report prepared by Spriet Asso- ciates for the Grand Bend Airport Area Sewage Colleciton System was accepted and will be circulated for agency comments. A meeting of the committee of adjustment under the Planning act was held during the regular meet- ing to deal with a minor variance applciation from Victor Dinnin. The application allowing for a rear yard setback of five meters and a lot area of 9,500 square feet was approved despite a comment from councillor Wilmar Wein that the township had originally object- ed to a residence being established on such a small lot. A zoning amendment applicaion was considered from Don and Don- na Woolcock for their property at part of Lot 8, South Boundary Con- cession to allow a salvage yard. A neighbour Gerry Wieck ques- tioned if any environmental testing had been done to the property. Council requested that the bylaw be amended to restrict partially dis- mantled vehcicles from being stored at the front of the property adjacent to the township road. and that the fencing around the yard not be limited to wooden boards. In the amendment reference to the wooden fence was removed. While the amendment was of a mi- nor nature it was agreed further recircualtion would be unneces- sary. Gerald Zielman was present to discuss his proposed consent appli- caion on Lot 14, Concession 15. He was asked by council to prepare a legal survey for their considera- tion. Council registered no objections to consent applications from John Muller and Wayne Regier and comments will be forwarded to the county of Huron. Council will be requesting B.M. Ross and Associates to respond to comments regarding deficiencies noted in a letter from the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority concerning the storm water man- agement plan prepared for the J. Van Haarlem development on El- gin street in the police village of Centralia. A bylaw was adopted to enter into an agreement with 1028094 Ontario Inc. (Ken Palen) regarding further consents on part of Lot 10, Concession 6. Flu epidemic expanding EXETER - Could the Goderich flu be becoming the Huron County Flu? South Huron District High School's Vice Principal Keith Al- len reports more than the usual number of ill students and teachers of late. The numbers of ill students and staff have not been to the same ex- tent as Goderich but have steadily increased. SHDHS principal Herb Murphy said the spread of the flu has "deci- mated" the staff. Not everyone is home from work but the energy level is certainly diminished. IN THF Mickle, MPP Klopp don't agree They had a lenghty discussion about conflict of interest By Fred Groves T -A staff GODERICH - Taste great, less filling. That's how the old beer commercial went - back and forth, both sides right, both sides wrong. At a recent Huron County council session, a similar debate went back - and -forth but it wasn't about beer, it was about conflict of interest per- taining to municipal versus provincial politicians. Huron MPP Paul Klopp and Exeter reeve Bill Mickle both gave lengthy discussion about Bill 163. Mickle, the president of the Associa- tion of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) took the stand that municipal councillors and their provincial counterparts aren't having to play by the same rules. "We have met with the minister (of Municipal Affairs Ed Philip) and pointed out the differences between the two acts," said Mickle. Klopp indicated that AMO was not willing to meet with the minister to discuss the differences. "We can't continue to have a double standard like we do now. Whoev- er gave you the impression AMO wasn't willing to sit down and work this thing out is totally wrong," added Mickle. In a recent press release from AMO which represents 700 of Ontario's 831 municipal governments, Mickle pointed out that the public deserves the same level of integrity from all it's elected officials. The Local Government Disclosure of Interest Act portion of Bill 163 applies to municipal officials and the Members Integrity Act, Bill 209 applies to provincial officials. AMO's view, according to the release, found that there are 18 areas where Bill 209 is more favorable to the MPP's than the local officials. One of those areas is that an MPP can file a complaint about another member having a conflict of interest, while any individual can launch a complaint against a municipal councillor. At the recent Huron County council session, Klopp seemed to side with the municipal politicians but he was still met with some opposition from Mickle. "At one point I made it fairly clear they were just building a better mouse trap and someone will try and get around it," said Klopp. Klopp said that back on February 8 he wrote a letter to Agriculture and Rural Affairs Minister Elmer Buchanan and premier Bob Rae saying that the province should get together with AMO to hammer things but. "I think it's really time to turn up the heat. I went into the minister's of- fice and 1 laid it on the line where 1 stand," said Klopp. The MPP added that it was AMO that didn't want to discuss the differ- ences. "I want to clarify one little thing in regards to AMO's position. It must be know that AMO on February 9 asked the premier to postpone proc- lamation dealing with disclosure for municipal councils," said Mickle. Mickle indicated that not all the MPP's were aware the new bill was being passed. . "It was hustled through. In talking to a lot of Members of Parliament, they didn't even know that act went through." In the press release from AMO, when asked how municipalities would like the differences to be addressed, Mickle responded that municipal of- ficials would like the two pieces of legislation to be harmonized so that the same requirements are imposed on all politicians. By -Law officer to resign his position Alex Irvine will end his two- year term as By -Law Enforcement Of- ficer fficer effective June 1, 1995 HENSALL - By -Law En- forcement Officer Alex Irvine submitted his resignation front, the position effective June 1, 1995 during the regular session of council Monday evening. Irvine stated he finds the by- laws difficult to enforce be- cause there is often a judge- ment call involved. He has at- tempted to be fair, at the same time trying to keep business coming to Hensall. Irvine has held the position of By -Law Enforcement Of- ficer for two years and now with his own work and busi- ness demand feels it is time to let someone else give the job a try. "It is time to let someone else give a kick at it," said Ir- vine. Council discusses a number of ways in which the position might be advertised. The job must be filled by June 1 at the latest but Irvine indicated he would not oppose an earlier date if a replacement can be found. The job will be ad- vertised for at the same wage structure. Several other changes in- volving committee members were also discussed at the meeting. Due to what was perceived by some members of the Parks Board, Chair Dave Page has submitted his resignation. The issue was brought to the Strik- ing Committee. Page's will re- sign his position effective im- mediately. A position which has been vacant on the Economic De- velopment Committee will be filled by Judy Garniss. Pistol falls in class sr Continued from front page cannot be determined. If the parents do not sign for informa- tion to be re- leased, they are not required to appear before the committee. How the issue will be dealt with, or if it is taken out of the hands of the board remains to he seen. Much depends on the case .history of possihility been a runping like :ceding as Rowland. "I have school administrator for 23 or 24 years and neverIhave into anyt this." the student and the of some habitual ac- tivity. Until all the information is available to the committee the decision regard- ing consequences for the student cannot be deter- mined. "We are kind of in a vacu- um...we are pro - fast as we can," said Lucan reeve reports on small Middlesex tax rise LUCAN - At the March 7 meet- ing of Lucan village council, reeve Tom McLaughlin reported that he expected the Middlesex county budget for 1995 would be up by about 1.3 percent. McLaughlin said full council would be voting on the budget yes- terday, March 14. He added, " This budget would allow for the place- ment of $200,000 in reserves". The reeve explained, "This re- serve money is being built up to make up for the losses' we suffered during recent annexation by the city of London. At that time we lost 28 percent of county assessment to the city, but with our steady growth which is now running around 3 to .3 percent for the last two years, we should have 26 or 27 percent of those losses regained by the year 2001 when provincial compensa- tion ends." The reeve also reported that a lo- cal government structure study meeting will be held April 5 in Thorndale. This will be followed by public m ings in late April or early May. One of the options of the restructuring study is to de- crease the number of municipalities in the county from the present 21 down to seven." McLaughlin reports that the 911 emergency system should be imple- mented in Middlesex county by January 1 of 1996. All the road and street designations have been set- tled and road signs for changes are now being made. The only changes in the village of Lucan will be on Concession 4 which will now become Saintsbury road and although William street will remain with the same name, numbers will change. In other county business, it appears as if the township of West Nissouri is the only municipality in the county asking for help in phasing in of market value reassessment. The county is compiling a county -wide business directory which is scheduled for completion next month. Lucan may be able to obtain an extract of this directory regarding Lucan and area. Reports from fire board Fire chief John Riddell reported on the recent Grand Central Hotel and Thompson barn fires and thanked the Granton fire depart- ment for their assistance during the hotel fire. He said the fire marshal) was very impressed with both Lu - can and Granton's performance during the fire at the hotel. Riddell reported that the fire- fighters should be, given a Hepatitis "B" shot to prevent them from con- tracting the disease from an injured victim. The cost could be as high as $140 each. Board chairman Dave Goddard stated that since Lucan was desig- nated a heavy rescue department by the County Fire Liason Committee, maybe they should be paying at least part of the cost of the shots. Some of the firefighters may be covered for the shot by their drug plans at work. Riddell added, " Maybe one of the requirements of becoming a fireman is to be immu- nized against Hepatitis "B". Both Goddard and Harry Wraith felt this was a very important issue and should be dealt with out of this year's budget. Wraith called a local doctor, Dr. Apderson who estimated the costs of each shot at $100. and the board approved payment of the shots. In a discussion of wages and a possible wage increase in light of the fact there has not been an in- crease in three years, chief Riddell noted that some firefighters must "punch out" at their regular place of employment to respond to a day- time fire call. Harry Wraith asked if there could possibly be a different rate of pay for daytime working hour fire calls. Riddell proposed that the board pay $14.50 an hour this year and ' $15 an hour in 1996. Jim Shipley countered with a five percent in- crease. Wraith felt that the chief, deputy chief and captain should be getting a substantial raise due to the increased responsibility of their position and chairman Goddard agreed. A new set of rates for the next two years was finally agreed upon. The chief will receive $1,200; the deputy chief $900; the captain $700; secretary -treasurer $500, firefighting $14.70 per hour and $5 each for practices along with an at- tendance bonus of $125 and a meeting rate of $45 for three meet- ings per year. The Lucan-Biddulpfire board budget for 1995 was Ropted with net total expenditures of $49,000. The annual rate of coverage with respect to Workmen's Compensa- tion was set at $40,000. Legion donates The Exeter Legion Brpnch 167 have again donated to community efforts. Shown above, 1 to r, Sgt. at Arms Jim Merrylees, Sandi Skinner, representing the Rainbow Program at McCurdy School; Joanne Moyer from the Exeter Saddle Club; Charlene Edwards from the Stephen Central PTCA and Bill Wilds, Legion president.