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Home My WebLink AboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-03-13, Page 1SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 ,gt.f CbildreQns deo Rentals k,-;_ 49$ Honhre 235-3535 Weclnt:sday.March 13 1996 SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Ibis Week on - Video: • Brauebea►t - Assassins Hodtue 235-3535 i`) . 7c G s r ONF DOLLAR If army subscribl to The Rural btandS to iOF 1 Times -Advocate, youcouyou'res out. 1 low and subscnbe today! 1 Name: --. 1 Address City 1 Prov. IP 1 1 1 • Conde 1 was to • rIMbr ardor addresses 1 *OO pow $2.31 G.S.T. 1 Wade 40 next • (66 Am) or wY Isasr c W adeno $e3.00 + $4.41 G.S.T. Ou2104111141499.00sa MAO MONO LIOUCIOULIO 1 uClor0000 card No. 1 Expiry Date ❑ Visa Ci Master Card 1 1 ° sue enclosed 1 ROfsmh : TIMES ADVOCATE i424 Main St. Exeter O. NOM 136 s umate — i —.ti r, Blindness no obstacle to local curling enthusiast See Crossroads Experts page 18 Announcements pages 22-23 Classifieds pages 24-26 OFA callsfor action in meat inspection standstill as public workers strike drags on Wither Mir T -A staff a i :e - The Ontario Federa- I n Agriculture is calling for im- te action from government Ontario'Public Service Em- U1iion 40. put provincial gspectgrs back on the job af- lirodters'began striking Feb. 26. •i>44potjntietl owe limited basis are a maintained by managers essential workers, as well as al or emergency services in - meat inspections. Killing dipped 8t plants staffed by pro- vl. meat inspectors and this I' meati less choice on super - shelves. ing to Denfield Livestock the lack of killing plants open dueto the public workers' strike is having a definite impact op the market. Denfield traded un- dtr. ressure last week with Amer- tean orders SI to S2 lower. :.It is unfortunate the public sec- tqr would have such disregard for le private enterprise, in an in- ietry that is•already struggling to survive," stated a recenf Denfield p$ess release. .The OFA reports farmers are be- coming increasingly concerned about the serious economic effect forced upon them as a result of the provincial strike. Mike Veal of Veal's Abattoir and Meat Market near Exeter is one of several rural businesses affected by the public' employees' strike. • Resitteithi council's bag tag rates People express disappointment with a program they say they were not informed of Brenda Burke T -A staff HENSALL - Council chambers were . packed Monday night with residents who voiced disapproval over $2 bag tag fees slated to begin April I. Issues raised included double billing, illegal dumping, landfill site users and council's failure to gather public opinion before imple- menting the waste management prograni. "Everybody was upset because it was thrown in their (faces)," com- plained one woman. "This (bag tag) meeting should have been called. We knew noth- ing," agreed a man who claimed he found out about the system by read- ing a local newspaper. Many residents believe they will be double billed for waste collec- tion and disposal, claiming they are already paying for garbage costs through their taxes. "At first I saw this as being double billed for my gar- bage," explained a woman. "We can't get a handle on this to control it...until we (direct) our an- ger at the pack- aging...I would like to be rewarded for trying to cut down on my garbage." "I think you're jumping the gun a little bit at $2'a bag," said another resident. It was suggested council charge $1, per bag to begin with or perhaps distribute free tags to introduce res- idents to the program. It was point- ed out Exeter gave 'free' bag tags to stain residents on its system and that Zurich's rates are cheaper at 51.50 per bag. • Maty were uplift about the gar- bage disposal ' move that came shortly atter assessments were raised. A lengthy discussion broke out about allocation and jusdflca- tion of tax dollars. "What do you think, we all pock- et the money?" challenged Reeve Cecil Pepper, who explained gar- bage fees were implemented in an effort to reduce landfill garbage, adding half of the village's garbage goes directly to its landfill. The village was told to reduce, he said, and he wants to keep the land- fill open rather than resort to trans- porting waste to, another com- munity. As for taxes, he indicated citizens will not pay for garbage costs twice, and that taxes may, rise due to a combination of factors. He ex- plained while many assessments in- creased, some decreased, later sug- gesting perhaps all residence assessments were hiked while amounts for the area's larger com- panies may have been lowered. Was also expressed about the Hensall landfill site in regards to the belief Usborne Township residents are using the site but will not be required to pay fees. Pepper as- sured only Hensall is using the site. ' And many were un= der the impression those who resented the bag tag sys- tem would dump their garbage else- where. "There's going to be garbage from here to London," suggested a man. "They're gang to dump it on any open road the see." Bluewater Recycling Association President Francis Veilleux attended the meeting and answered some of the public's questions. . "As for illegal dumping, that's a total myth," he said. "(It) usually drops after user pay." While explaining benefits of the wa%te management system, Veil- leux listed blue box items, adding Bre number of recyclable materials Concern "There's going to be garbage -from here to London. They're going to dump it on any open road they see." is now expanding to include tex- tiles such as clothing and shoes. "What you're doing by a user pay system (is) you're giving control to the residents," he said. "We have cost savings and they're passed onto you." He also suggested businesses that find a tag system too expensive re- sort to using recycling bins. ' "We want business in Hensall. We don't want to lose it," said a lo- cal business man who disposes of, five bags of garbage weekly. Although residents were angry about bag tags fees, they admitted they support recycling and consider a bi-weekly winter pick-up a good idea. "I don't feel (the system has) been communicated very well to you tonight," apologized Coun- ' cillor Jeff Reabutn, who opposes the bag tag system, considering it unfair. -'TM a little bit leery of user pay, period. I dtsn't know. where' we're going to draw the She." When public members left the meeting, council proceeded to fi- nalize the tendering of its Wednes- day co -collection to BRA- with a one-year contract. At that point Councillor Butch Hoffman expressed his opposition to bag tags, he explained,"because we didn't work with the public." "Generally it's done through a public meeting," agreed Veilleux, advising council to hold public meetings on future issues. He also explained when residents are supplied with some 'free' bag tags, (which are paid through taxes) they tend to continue using the same garbage system. "If you give them too many tags," he warned, "the system is useless." Council will hold a public meet- ing at the Hensall Arena an April 17 at 7 p.m. to discuss waste man- agement, 911 street name changes and amalgamation. "Without meat inspectors, pro- vincial meat plants are unable to accept livestock and it is fanners, small business and rural people who are suffering,"' said OFA Pres- ident Tony Moms. Len Gamble owner Brussels Livestock Sales said farmers are selling their cattle at a 20 year low in prices. "We need every packing house in the business we can get to keep our livestock going. It's af- fecting our veal prices and our way through, it's whole thing. We working." Jim Darling, of Darling's Food and Meat Market in Exeter, said -there is no shortage of meat on his shelves but it is not the quality nor- mally provided by the store slaugh- tering its own product. "Since the strike started, we stockpiled beef...because you have to age cattle. We've got enough of beef to do us until probably the middle of next week. But pork, we ran out of so we've had to buy from federal packing plants," said Darling. He said rural businesses that rely on custom killing are affected most by the strike. His own slaughterhouse kills for the retail market ex- clusively. "A lot of my friends that are in the same business, they rely on custom killing for farm- ers. They are virtually out of business," he added. Mike Veal, of Veal's Abattoir and Meat Mar- ket, just east of Exeter,. said employees slaugh- tered cattle Saturday before the strike and the shop still has a cooler full left to cut. A •means around the strike would be to send live- stock to a federal plant to he killed. "We can get around it, but it's costly," said Veal, adding he ex- pei`ts"the municipality will hire a contract inspector if meat in- spection is not ruled as an essential service. The provincial government ap- or Continued on page 2 "Without meat inspectors, provincial meat plants are unable to accept livestock and it is farmers, small business and rural people who are suffering." lambs. All the affecting the need everyone • Jury rules Crediton Recommendation included safety features such as a hand rail and harness EXETER - The jury at a coroner's inquest, held Feb. 28 in Goderich, ruled John Edward William - son's death as accidental. Williamson, 26, of Credi- ton, died Oct. 20, 1995 as a result of asphyxiation after falling into a manure holding tank at Lot 10 Concession 9, Stephen Township. An inquest does not assign legal responsibility but according to a report by the Goderich Signal -Star, relatives of Williamson said the recommendations were missing one important element - a penalty. The jury, comprised of four men and one woman, advised the existing bylaw be amended to include the following recommendations: •work area be properly lit (other than the head- lights of a vehicle) from dusk until dawn •warning signs should be posted at the work area along with the fact sheet from the Farm Safety As- sociation •work area should be well maintained and clear of excess debris to ensure personal safety *operators (including maintenance workers) should be educated and certified with operating li- cence for safe handling and pumping of liquid ma- nure to ensure •only qualified people are handling this substance *annual inspections of the work area made by by- law enforcement officer *the jury strongly agreed with the exhibit pro- duced by Dean Reid including the addition of a safety harness attached to the rail during any time the worker or maintenance personnel is inside the hand rail •at least two internal metal ladders be installed from floor to top of all existing and future liquid manure storage facilities, with the minimal re- quirement increased for larger manure pits •a ventilation system to be installed in all liquid manure tanks to reduce the high level of poisonous gases The jury further recommended the above be ap- plicable province -wide The exhibit produced by Clinton Fire Chief Dean Reid included recommendations for improving safety around manure tanks. His report indicated it would be "quite easy to walk right into the hole" when open to allow pumps to enter the tank and re- move the manure. Recommendations will be sent to Ontario's Chief Coroner and other relevant agencies that may either implement or disregard them. Those having standing at the inquest ordered by coroner Dr. J.S. Spiers of Milverton included fami- ly of the deceased as well as counsel of the owner of the property where Williamson died. According to OPP, a person designated as having standing at an inquest must have a substantial and direct interest and may be represented by counsel or agent. They may also call and examine wit- nesses, present arguments and submissions and con- duct cross-examination of witnesses relevant to their interest. McCurdy Public School students celebrate report card day and the beginning of March Break on Friday afternoon. At left, Shari Becker, Crelene buck, Ben Hlndmersh and Justin Ducharme. A