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