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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-04-26, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, April 26. 1995 IN TI -IF NEWS Tree planting in Grand Bend Sewage sludge might solve a global crisis Looking at global environmental problems for Earth Day Ingrid Nielsen T•A Staff Mix a little sewage sludge and a little ash, and what do you get? Possibly the answer to some of the world's most pressing problems. Michael Powell from the University of Western On- tario, attempted to draw common environmental concerns in his presentation at Exeter Public School on Thursday night. The speaker se- ries was part of Earth Day festivities, or- ganized by the Ausable-Bayfield Conserva- tion Authority. Powell is an international researcher of en- vironmental issues in developing countries. He spoke in particular of his experience in India with soil re- mineralization, energy consumption and land degrada- tion. "This is an awareness presentation," said Pat Don- nelly, from A.B.C.A. "It is to get local people more aware of environmental conditions at home and in the world." Powell started by comparing Canada to different re- gions in the world. "Canada is the best place in the world to live," says Powell. "North America has 15 percent of the world's population, while India and China hold 40 percent." Extreme differences like this were described in terms of energy consumption, wealth and education. Powell used them to illustrate the critical inequities that are growing between the developed and developing world, and how this relates to environmental degradation. India poses one of the worst problems in terms of poverty and inequity, says Powell, as he described his experiences in this part of the world. A large part of the problem centres around the trees, or the lack thereof. "In India, the trees are not a place to camp out or to visit for a picnic. Indian people are not having their ba- sic needs met, and they consider the forest a crucial factor in their survival, part of their livelihood," said Powell. The trees, says Powell, are virtually depleted in In- dia. With a growing population and a drastic lack of education, technology and wealth, this means a main source of their income is also being depleted. The few remaining trees are now protected by armed guards. Powell has been working on a project that may be able to help India, and other areas of the world, to grow trees faster and to remineralize damaged soil. The project involves mixing sewage sludge and ash from coal. Both are readily available in countries like India. Sand and composted wa- ter hyacinth are added to hold it all togeth- er. The mixture is run through a cement mixer, and then put into pots for growing • trees. The pots are necessary during the testing phase so the mixture won't come in contact with the existing soil. While it may be an unusual mixture, "sewage sludge is a darn good fertilizer," said Powell. The project has had very promising results, and it "looks good," says Powell. He has sent a proposal to CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) for further implementation. There are many other issues involved with this sort of a project. An important one is to put "the ownership back in the hands of the people," says Powell. This means giving people in countries like India a stake in the rebuilding of their environment. "We have a tendancy to believe that people in de- veloping countries are not as bright as we are, or don't know what they are doing, but that is very wrong," says Powell. The only time Powell had a little bit of difficulty dur- ing the presentation was on the issue of agriculture and its affect on the environment. When Powell suggested that agriculture caused sig- nificant problems to the degradation of thereat lakes, many people in the audience were quick to disagree. "You are way over your head now," said one member of the audience. However, .someone else pointed out that blame is not the most important factor in saving the environment. We must find solutions. The 1st Grand Bend Beavers, Cubs and Scouts planted trees at the Whipple Tree Stables for the 'Trees for Canada' program. Shown above are Baloo John Love and Beaver Jeff Boy - es. Being a fireman not a conflict CREDITON - At the April 18 meeting of Stephen township coun- cil, deputy reeve Tom Tomes cleared up a misunderstanding re- garding a perceived conflict of in- terest. Tomes said he has confirmed with the Ontario Ministry of lytu- nicipal Affairs that his service as both the deputy reeve and a mem- ber of the Stephen township volun- teeer fire department was not a con- flict of interest. He requested that his statement be filed with the township. Engineer Steve Burns of B.M. Ross Ltd. was present to discuss the proposed storm water manage- ment plan for he VanHaarlen subdi- vision in Centralia. He indicated the plan circulated by his firm was preliminary and the Ausable Day - field Conservation Authority com- ments were not excessive. He ex- plained the "holding pond" concept and will provide a list of subdivi- sions where councillors can inspect this type of structure. Tenders were opened and con- tracts were let for dust control for 1995 on township roads. Cliff Holland of an Ontario num- bered company will supply the brine at $19.50 and the calcium will be provided by Pollard High- way Products for $212.19 per tonne. In both instances tax will be added.' Administrator Larry Brown was instructed to prepare a sewage ser- vice agreement for Oakwood Inn and Golf Club requiring a frontage fee of $10,000. Based on the recommendation of Lions receive $4,600 in one week toward MacNaughton Park project EXETER -Lions MacNaughton Park project chairman John Stephens' list of donations in one week was one of the longest ever as $4,600 was added to the list bringing the total to 5137,416. Making donations this week were: Steve and Audrey Skinner 5100 Valerie Gould 5100 Bev and Elaine Skinner 5100 Ji1n and Elaine Pinder 5100 Pete Armstrong 5100 MacLean and Varley families 5800 Gordon and Jean Munn 5100 Jean Mason 5100 Anmari..Hoffman and Margaret Butler 5100 Annonymous 5 100 Jack and Anita Riddell 5100 Iry and Lois Armstrong 5250 Jim Sweitzer 5250 Ron and Marlene Moore 5100 The Bogart family $100 Iva Wells $100 Huron Tractor Ltd. 5500 Cliff and Lori Orasdahl 5100 Peter and Gloria McFalls $100 John and Sueann Rascnberg 51,000 Marg and Bill Inson 5100 Gerald and Carol Mills 5100 Jeff and Cathy Musser 5100 the township's chief building offi- cial Milton Dietrich, council sug- gested Mr. Hewetson of Grand Cove Estates make application for a minor variance in order to pro- ceed with a proposed addition to his home. The road superintendent and drainage superintendent are author- ized to complete installation of the proposed road drain in Kingsmere North subdivision. Council accepted with regret the resignation of George Wales as a member of the trustee board of the police village of Crediton. The re- maining tustees will be asked to make a recommendation for a re- placement as trustee and by-law en- forcement officer. Thieves take two bicycles GRAND BEND -Two green mountain bicycles, a man's and a woman's, were reported stolen Sun- day evening from a Shoreline Dr. residence in Grand Bend. North Lambton OPP are still investigat- ing. Sometime during the early morn- ing hours Saturday unknown sus- pects used a brick to smash a patio window of a cottage on Juniper Lane in Bosanquet Township. An alarm system scared off the thieves and nothing was reported missing. Police are also investigating the theft of $800 in coins From a breakin at a residence on Willsie Line in Bosanquet Town- ship. Entry was gained through an unlocked rear door. Also stolen was a Sega game, a VCR and 5320 worth of liquor. Have a news tip? Call the Times -Advocate' 235.1331 Professor Michael Powell of the University of Western Ontario was the guest speaker on global environmental issues at Exeter Public School Thursday night. He is shown at the left with Tom Prout and Patti Donnelly of the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority and Steve Bowers of Lands and Forests. Road work big part of Lucan projects LUCAN - Major road work in the village of Lucan this year will be done on Duchess Avenue and Prin- cess street. The contract to pave Duchess has already been let and the work will get underway almost immediately with completion schduled for May 15. The town work crews have al- ready begun preliminary work on catch basins, manholes, etc. Motor- ists are cautioned to be careful when driving on Duchess Avenue as some of the concrete work ex- tends above the gravel base before the paving is completed. Reconstruction on Princess will also start this year. Some of the utilities are being moved and all services are being placed under- gound. This project will likely take two years to complete as progress will depend on the amount of pro- vincial grants available. At the April 18 meeting, council- lor Rob Brady stressed that as many curb cuts be completed this year as possible to improve handi- capped access throughout the vil- lage. Brady said he hoped the entire Main street could be completed this year. He added, " This will allow the growing number of powered wheelchairs and scooters to have much greater access to the core area and permit those restricted to such vehicles to get out more of- ten." Spring cleanup May 1-5 The annual Pitch -In campaign in I.ucan will be held on Saturday May 6 as the annual spring cleanup comes to an end. The Scout and Guide movements will assist in cleaning up all public land in the village. The spring cleanup begins on Monday, May 1 with metal being taken all week. General refuse which can be taken by a garbage packer will go on Monday and Thursday. Brush and tree trim- mings up to three inches in diame- ter will be collected and chipped Tuesday and Wednesday. Small amount of stone, brick, etc. will be collected Friday. Council continues to give serious consideration to implementation of a pay user garbage collection sys- tem. Before this happens there will be full public consultation and a public meeting will be held to dis- cuss the issue. Village staff to cut grass After studying a number of ten- der bids for cutting grass on village property, council decided to buy new mowing equipment and have the work done by village staff. Works superintendent Doug Johnston said the new mower would have a cutting width of 72 inches and he felt with a summer student under a provincial grant program, it could be done cheaper locally. Councillor Rosemary Gahlinger- Beaune said, "I would like to sup- port our village and provide em- ployment locally", councillor Rob Brady added, "If there is no hard- ship on the local work force, I'm in favour" and reeve Tom McLaugh- lin agreed that hiring local help was satisfactory to him. Town Hall tender accepted .r Continued from front page before we make a decision to go with the existing windows," said Hughes. Standard lamps will be looked into further. The expected pay - hack for using T8 lamps is five years, however, this may be a longer period than hoped. The T8 lamps will not be deleted if the payback is within five years. Reeve Bill Mickel assured council member the project will come in at the 5578,000 allot- ment, including the architect fe-. The bid for the project by McKay Bender was 5533,233.75 but the inclusion of new windows will bring this price up by 524,300. The T8 lamps add 51.926 to the cost of the project. Added to these prices is the architectural fees and the GST. At the end of the project, if the money is available, air condi- tioning will be considered for the council chambers.