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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-10-18, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, October 18, 1995 IN THF. WFW' egiona wrap up New c;erk installed in Bayfield HAYFIELD - Glen R. Knox began his position as the new clerk -treasurer for the Village of Hayfield on Oct. 2. Knox comes to Bayfield from the Peterborough area, where he was involved in the local gov- ernment of the Township of North Monoghan, reported the Clinton News -Record. He expects that although re- sources in a small community are different than larger munici- palities, the ratepayers have sim- ilar expectations. Separate school against board reduction GODERICH - The Huron - Perth Roman Catholic Separate School Board is opposing the provincial plans to amalgamate it with another area board, re- ported the Goderich Signal -Star. The board is trying to prompt local residents to get that mes- sage to the government and is holding meetings across the county to educate the public about proposed amalgamation with the Bruce -Grey separate school board. A task force to reduce the number of school boards by 45 to 50 per cent was set up by the former NDP government. Police warn "Drano" bomb can cause severe injury WINGHAM - Wingham OPP are investigating a number of mischief and disturbance com- plaints over the past month in the Village of Brussels in which a homemade explosive device known as a "Drano bottle bomb" has been used, reported the North Huron Citizen. A number of charges have been laid and the investigation is continuing with further charges pending. • Area business owners are told to be careful when selling this product to anyone who would not have a legitimate reason for purchasing it. When mixed properly, these bombs can cause severe injury. Police ask parents to warn their children about approaching or touching theses devices. Be- cause there is at least a 30 sec- ond delay before detonation, un- suspecting victims could be caught in the blast. National Trust Branch closes WINGHAM - National Trust closed its doors on Saturday. The trust company will be merg- ing with operations in Listowel, leaving the highly saturated Wingham banking community with one less choice, reported the Wingham Advance -Times. Officials said the highly com- petitive nature of the Wingham market played a factor in the closure. Local customers will have their accounts moved to the Lis- towel location should they choose to remain with the com- pany. Disgruntled pumpkin grower Bob Reynolds of RR 1 Hensall was a victim of the "pumpkin snatchers." Over 75 white pumpkins were stolen from his orchard last Friday.' Pumpkin patch thefts Youths from SHDHS involved in pumpkin stealing contest Chris Skalkos T -A staff EXETER - Who would do such a thing? This is what Bob Reynolds is asking himself after he discovered more than 75 white pumpkins sto- len from his pumpkin patch last Fri- day night. I'm really ticked off. I can't be- lieve people could do such a thing. It's like stealing money out of your own pocket," said Reynolds who estimates his loss at $200. Reynolds said the theft occurred between midnight and 6 a.m. and he believes there had to be more than one person involved in order to haul that many pumpkins away. Exeter OPP reported a rash of sporadic pumpkin thefts throughout the area over the past week. They have confirmed the thefts stem from a contest between South Hu- ron District High School and North Middlesex High School in Park- hill, to see who can steal the most pumpkins. Lucan OPP apprehended 14 male youths from Exeter, Kirkton, Woodham and Granton areas at- tempting to load 330 pumpkins from O'Shea's Orchards into pick- up trucks. Police have not yet laid any charges. At Reynolds' the thieves targeted the white pumpkins still growing in the two acre field and didn't take any pumpkins piled along the side of the house. The white pumpkins stolen are less common and more difficult to grow than orange ones. Reynolds said he has never wit- nessed a theft such as this in the 13 years he has been growing pump - Exeter declines request to assist with severance EXETER- Exeter Council finally received a request to assist finan- cially with the severance package for the Gode- rich police dispatchers. When Exeter decided to move to OPP polic- ing in 1993, the Goderich Police Services Board was advised that Exeter would assist in the financial compensation of the county police dispatchers who would lose their jobs, but Exet- er cautioned the board there was ample time for notice then, and Exeter's offer was contingent on speedy action by the board. Exeter Council decided Monday night not to participate in the sever- ance package for the following reasons: i) Exeter gave one year's no- tice as provided by the Huron County Police Communication (HCPC) Agreement in 1993. The dispatchers are employees of the Town of Goderich, not the HCPC System. Goderich negotiated and was responsible for all union contracts. Goderich had ample time to serve notice of layoff on the appro-priate number of employees because of Exeter, Clinton and Seaforth's move to the OPP; ii) Wingham was also part of the HCPC System but is not being asked to pay a share of the severance; and iii) no compensation is being returned to the participating municipalities for the capital cost of the system. Streetscape Committee created by BIA EXETER- Exeter Council learned Monday night that the B.I.A. created a "Streetscape Com- mittee" to look at the possible uses of the present municipal offices site. Council has first right of re- fusal, and the committee wishes to delay council's formal rejection of the property until after a study is completed on what options are available for its use. Reeve Bill Mickle asked who would buy it? "Down the road we don't know what the future has to offer. 1f this property is sold to a third party, there might be a loss of prime park- ing space or excellent park land. Let's not be too hasty in saying 'No' to our our purchasing the property ourselves," Councillor Roy Triebner replied. "But if we buy the property, de- molish the building and build a park or parking lot, we could be looking at $100,000. I'm not op- posed to 'the idea, but where will we get the funds?" Councillor Thom Hughes commented. Tri- ebner replied, "That's the point; we don't know yet." "If the committee wants the building, it should know up front that Council does not want to pur- chase it," added Mickle. Again Triebner answered, "When council decided not to buy the property - that was under a dif- ferent set of thought processes. We should keep an open mind here, and the circumstances have changed." Council approved the Executive Committee recommendation: as council made a decision not to pur- chase the property occupied by the Municipal Office and have given notice that the town will vacate the building December 31, 1995, and the Streetscape Committee would like council to contact Public Works Canada advising that as studies are being undertaken con- cerning the parking lot and along tete street, Public Works Canada be advised to postpone any sale to third parties until the Streetscape Study is completed. kins and he's not sure if his in- surance would cover his loss. Although Reynolds grows pump- kins more for pleasure than for profit, it still costs him at least $300 a year in seeds and fertilizer to enjoy a hobby which was passed down from his father. "Growing pumpkins is a lot of hard work and fast year I barely broke even. Now I'm asking my- self; why I should bother?" he said. The theft has discouraged Re- ynolds but he still plans on grow- ining pumpkins again next season hoping' that this was just an iso- lated incident. "If somebody was hard -up and needed a couple of pumpkins I would give them away, but don't steal from me," said Reynolds. Various video equipment stolen HURON PARK - A television, VCR, video camera, movies and music discs were taken Saturday from a Huron Park residence. Also stolen the same day was a VCR and small amount of beer and wine from a Centralia residence and two televisions from house trailers in Turnbull's Grove. Taken from a residence in Hay Twp. Thursday was a red and grey riding lawnmower. On Oct. 8 a small amount of alco- hol went missing from a residence on Richmond Street in Hensall. As well, a set of electronic weigh scales.was stolen from the office at W.G. Thompson in Ailsa Craig on Friday. An Ailsa Craig resident is suspected in the theft. Local Halloween events promise spooky surprises EXETER - The BIA, the Recreation Centre and the Optimists have joined forces to give little ghosts and goblins a treat and hope- fully a scare for Halloween. On Oct. 27, the Recreation Centre will host a Hal- loween Party from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. for local chil- - dren. Drama students from South Huron District ( High School will provide the acting ability for ll a "haunted hay ride" planned by the Rec. Cen- tre staff. The charge for a ride and hot choc- olate will be $1, with proceeds to be donated to the SHDHS drama club. The first 60 chil- dren will receive a free slice of pizza donated by New Orleans Pizza. Children under the age of nine must be joined by a parent or adult. Adults who accompany young children will not be charged The Optimists have also planned a 0„,„,,11;.11.2•”- "tunnel of terror" inside the Agriculture Building where Mark Heimrich guarantees a "dark, gloomy and creepy" setting for the activities. Special thanks are extended to the Hensall Optimists for their as- sistance with this event, in particular President Alex Irvine. The Ex- eter Scouts will also be on hand to help take young children through the tunnels. In conjunction with other Halloween activities, the BIA has or- ganized a post decorating contest for Main Street businesses. The judging of lamp posts will be held on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 27 and 28. The public may vote for their favorite decorating effort at local stores. Although there will not be any prizes awarded for the best post, merchants are encouraged to participate. 41. Community project for Foodgrains Bank ir Continued from front page Considering this was the first year in the growing project and the or- ganizing and planning committee didn't meet until February of Last win- ter, Hern said she was pleased with the project's outcome. "Anybody we asked to help supported us unquestioned. Everyone pulled together and the project went off without a hitch," said Hern, add- ing the project is not yet over since much of the paperwork still needs to be completed. Hern said the growing project was not restricted to volunteers from the local churches but encompassed their entire communities with local seed dealers providing seed while others donated fertilizers, chemicals and la- bor. "A lot of folks who helped are not regular church -goers. It involved the whole community and it really has become a community project." she said. Council appoints landfill supervisor USBORNE TWP - At its Oct. 3 meeting, council offered Frank Cole the position of Kirkton landfill site supervisor on a probationary basis until Dec. 31. The names of two applicants were presented for consideration. Council also decided it will petition for interim payment under the Pub- lic Transportation and Highway Improvement Act on expenditures of $289,975.45 up to and including Sept. 30, 1995. Approved by council was an application for a tile drain loan for land at Lot 22, Northeast Boundary Conc. in the amount of $9900. In other monetary matters, council approved the transfer of funds from the Road Department New Equipment Reserve Fund to cover the cost of purchasing a used Champion grader. In environmental matters, after discussing that the 1995 budget alloca- tion. for trees be reduced, council carried a motion to order 100 sugar ma- ple trees from the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority for fall road- side tree planting. Town council objects to county planning fees In Exeter's view the fees for planning work done by the county are outrageous By Bruce Shaw EXETER - The issue of Huron County's "grab" of application fees from Exeter again raised its ugly head at council's Monday night meeting. The on- going struggle between the two councils has not abated in the last two years. In a word, Exeter claims that the new policy of the county to charge, in Exeter's view, outrageous fees for planning work done by the county is immoral and probably illegal. "I may be living in the past, but the County is try- ing to break an honourable agreement that we es- tablished to deal with conflict such as this. It was a compromise to resolve a major disagreement be- tween ourselves and the County. And now they're trying to break it. We should be doing our own planning; we are capable of it," said Reeve Bill Mickle. Chief Administrative Officer, Rick Hundey, ad- vised council the director of the Local Government Branch of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs at- tended a recent Executive Committee meeting as the liaison between the county and the town. The committee report states the town needs to convey to the county five important ideas: i) Exeter would like to see a reduction in the county levy if the county takes ap"lication fees that would normally go to the local municipality, ii) with a fee for ser- vice, a reduction in the county levy should occur, but this has not been the case, iii) in most situations, the county has no authority to charge or collect the application fees - all municipalities must passing bylaws allowing application fees to go to the county, iv) the details of the survey of other county departments should be considered by county coun- cilors and by all municipal councils and v) it is fun- damentally unfair for the town to pay twice for planning services - once to the county and once for the local service. The director, Doug Barnes, identified four on - tions: i) the county should adopt a full charge -back system (user fees for all services), ii) Exeter should use only the county service, iii) do nothing and i>.) negotiate a com-promise position, Councillor Thom Hughes asked which option council prefers. Both Deputy -Reeve Dave Urlin and C.A.O. Rick Hundey agreed that option "1" is the only option council has ever agreed td. Council then voted unanimously to ask Barnes to present Exeter's concerns to the Huron County Planning Committee and Exeter present its position, as well, ata later date. A