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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-04-17, Page 2Times -Advocate, Apri117,1996 Clinton may get new pumper resuce truck CLINTON - A new pumper rescue truck may be purchased to replace the 1969 model now used by the Clinton and Area Fire Department. According to the Clinton News -Record, council has agreed in principle to the pur- chase of the truck, with a price not to exceed $250,000 Fire Chief Dean Reid told the Record the truck no longer meets safety standards for carry- ing extra firefighters to a call. Also, he said, it is difficult to find replacement parts for the &der "ehicle. A new truck would carry five firefighters and a driver. "It's going to increase our effi- ciency," said Reid. The fire department now sends four trucks to a call including a pumper, a tanker and two vans. If a new truck is purchased, both the old pumper and a van wail be sold. A committee consisting of six firefighters is investigating the purchase of the new truck. Chief's criminal charges a priority• MITCHELL - Before his five charges relating to the Police Services Act are dealt with, sus- pended Mitchell Police Chief Chick Zehr's criminal charges of dhreatening will be addressed firs. According to the Mitchell Ad- vocate, Zehr is to appear in Stratford court on May 1 for the charges under the Criminal Code. His charges under the Police Services Act include purchasing personal belongings with police funds, keeping a jacket belong- ing to a clothing supplier, de- stroying police documents, col- lecting double mileage expenses and threatening to cause bodily harm to Const. Rudy Hartfiel. Tuckersmith to provide Seaforth with Internet SEAFORTH - Despite the fact Bell Canada can't provide Inter- net access to Seaforth, Tucker - smith Communications Co- operative Ltd. can, reported the Huron Expositor. The communications co- operative hopes to become an Internet service provider by the end of April. Tuckersmith Communications provides telephone service to customers in an approximate area of 140 square miles. "We will have to increase our rates because we are lower than Bell," General Manager Karen Chuter told the Expositor. Tuckersmith upgraded to a digital swith during a six-month period in 1987 and 1988. This switch is able to handle the tech- nology needed to access the In- ternet whereas the switch in Sea - forth can't. No tax increase HURON COUNTY - The overall tax rate in Huron County will not increase this year, re- ported the Huron Expositor. County Council recently ap- proved Huron County's $27 mil- lion budget including a zero per cent increase in the tax rate. Cycling fun Four year-old Justine Pfaff gets a little help from her friend Carlssa Desjardine, 9, on riding a two wheel bike while her brother Christopher, 2, masters a tricycle. The three youngsters were enjoying the sunny weather Thurs- day afternoon in Exeter riding their bikes at a walking pace down their neighborhood sidewalk. Lightning strikes steeple Lightning strike. The stee- ple at St. Patrick's Church, south of Lucan was de- stroyed after it was struck by lightning and caught fire on Friday night. Damage is estimated at $50,000. Consultant to determin.e if amalgamation is viable Ministry facilitator says committee meets regulations of Bill 26 for restructuring By Heather Mir T -A Reporter EXETER - It was decided at last Wednesday's meeting, chaired by Facilitator Keith Glaze, the Exeter, Stephen, Usborne, Grand Bend Amalgamation Committee will re- quest proposals for consulting ser- vices to identify the impact of amalgamation to each community. After municipal councils have been given an opportunity to re- view the draft request for proposals and give input to the co- ordinator, an amended proposal will be pre- pared for review by the committee prior to its next meeting on April 26 at 9:30 a.m. at the Grand Bend Legion. "I think its time the councils have an opportunity to contribute," said Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle. The goal of the consultant's re- port, targeted for the end of June, is to determine how much money an amalgamated municipality will save taxpayers and if amalgamation 4 j viable. The consultant will need to conduct a rigorous analysis of costs associated with providing services and may also give advice regarding the most appropriate governance structure for a new mu- nicipality. "I think the financial is as im- portant as the governance," said Be going this Grand Bend Mayor Carn Ivey. "If the numbers don't work, Grand Bend's not going to be at this table," added Grand Bend Coun- cillor Phil Macguire. Before a final document is re- leased, the public will be given an opportunity to provide the com- mittee with ideas and opinions. When discussion led to concerns about services currently provided by the county that may be provided by an amalgamated community, Mickle said, "I per sonally believe in most cases, counties will be restructured after their municipal- ities have been re- structured." "Service migration needs to be ad- dressed," said Min- istry of Municipal Affair Fa- cilitator Liz McGrath. "A move to a single tier would require County Council approval o. a commis- sion." McGrath also discussed Bill 26 Regulations expected to be re- leased to Ontario municipalities by Monday. The minister or a • com- mission can give effect to an amal- gamation proposal. However, re- structuring proposals require ' a majority of municipalities named in the proposal support the amal- gamation. When asked if the four municipalities at the table meet the regulations of Bill 26, McGrath re - "If the numbers don't , Grand nd's not to be at table." work sponded they do. Other regulations of Bill 26, ex- pected to be filed soon, include a sttucture minimum of five mem- bers on local councils. Types of restructuring permitted by the leg- islation are annexation, amalgama- tion and to some extent dissolution and incorporation. Local councils must be elected and will have an opportunity to appoint a member to County Council. The new mu- nicipality must be given a name and status, including town, town- ship, city or village, that is not al- ready in existence. The status will not affect funding. Types of boards such as police, hydro, li- brary and school cannot be dis- solved under restructuring. Jan. 1 1997 has been set as a tar- get date for amalgamation to be- come effective. During the period at the end of the meeting, reserved for public questions and comment, one mem- ber of the gallery suggested it may be time for taxpayers to lower their expectations and create a "no-frills government". "Less government may not be a bad thing." Suggested as one means of changing the delivery of service, franchising raised concern by Ste- phen Councillor Harvey Ratz. "You hit a raw nerve with hiring out. We've been told we have the best employees." Five participate in cafe trial' Applicants mq gdnPliratttnn GRAND BEND - Council agreed at last Tuesday night's meeting to enter an amended encroachment agreement with five Main Street busi- nesses interested in operating a sidewalk cafe on a one-year trial basis. "We are prepared to go with five, if five meet the requirements," said Mayor Cam Ivey. Provided each operator meets the terms and conditions of the agree- ment, the test market will begin after the May 24 holiday weekend. Council agreed to remove item 16 of the agreement which Ivey feels " gives council far too much latitude." This condition permitted the vil- lage to revoke the agreement for any reason. Instead, council agreed it should be in a position to terminate the agreement only in the case of per- sistent complaints that are not dealt with satisfactorily. "If we have a problem with one op- erator, we don't want it to impact on everybody," said Ivey. The Main Street Advisory Com- mittee April 2 meeting minutes rec- onunends the pedestrian boardwalk be no larger that two parking spaces and the encroachment for the cafe be no longer than the length of the building. These site specific recommendations will be included in "Schedule A" of the encroachment agreement. et- all the term Added to the agreement was the stipulation all beverage containers used on the patio should be ma a of non -glass material. Also, wood slat inst `ti 'it" t 'st barn* is to be used fotr'tIr iiSadviAy ii&'oo erzn•the cafe 7'. n0_. •/,1!1 • "If we have a problem with one operator, we don't want it to impact on everybody." tt Establihlihieitt�s rtl~ti3t� fuse expressed interest in okriltlij''a sideZJirljl' cafe include Coco's Bar & Grill, Finnigan's Restaurant, Gordy's Beach Club, J Dee's Summerhouse and Lakeview Cafe. Each business will be dealt with individually by the administrator and building official and must adhere to the terms and conditions laid out in the schedules at- tached to the encroachment agreement. Main Street enhancement A special council meeting was held on March 27 to deal with Main Street enhancement proposals. Council accepted the tender of First Choice Interlock Inc. to remove asphalt and concrete from the boule- vard, place required electrical conduit and install paving stones at a to- tal cost of $41,248.50. A second resolution was carried to authorize the additional sidewalk and curb replacement in conjunction' with the First Choice project up to a total net cost to the village of $50,000. Special Events Application Marcia Swain, operator of Durty Gurty's made a Special Events Ap- plication to council to erect a marquee tent on May 18 and 19 for a "Burger Festival." The tent will increase the establishments capacity of 210 by 150 persons. Included in the application was an outline of the washroom facilities, security and waste disposal that will be required for such an event. Council deferred making a decision on the application until Monday after members have been able to discuss the issue with OPP and the by- law enforcement officer. A special council meeting will be held if nec- essary in order to made a timely decision. "How far are we stretching the use of this property?" asked Coun- cillor Bob Mann adding, "It's a new venture and a different idea." Swain requires a non -objection letter by April 16 to apply for an ex- tension of the current liquor licence. Flood control workshop is i of a flood, he pointed out, is cipitation and snow pack condi- through use of a flood damage pre- tions. Communication through vention plan that includes emer- flood advisories and warnings is a gency planning, warnings, projects key part of the system. and regulations. "All of the flood forecasting used "Basically the idea is to keep to be done in Toronto," said Scott, people out of areas that would explaining this service has been de - flood," he explained, adding it is centralized. also the most cost-effective method Now provincial alerts, weather forecasts, a computer model and a main weather radar access in Exet- er provide more accurate data. "A lot of larger (farms) in this area are connected to DTM (Data Transmission Network)," Scott added, referring to an information service that includes weather de- tails. As well as showing a video about floods and providing information about monitoring watershed condi- tions and completing flood reports, he gave an overview of local wa- tershed areas including the Bayfield River, Ausable River, Parkhill Creek System and a group of small- er watersheds. The four watershed areas, he ex- plained, will respond differently to flooding and the management of water systems affects other systems downstream. EXETER - In a time of govern- ment cutback, the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority aims to ed- ucate area municipalities about flood control. With less staff available to work directly with potential floods on site, the authority wants to ensure strong communication exists be- tween itself and its municipal mem- bers. The workshop, held last Wednes- day at ABCA by Water Resources Manager Alec Scott, provided in- formation about the au- thority's flood mon- itoring system. "Flooding does hap- pen," Scott told work- shop participants largely consisting of Local road superintendents, adding, "Given the location, flooding is rel - of flood control. While the Ministry of Natural Re- sources is the lead agency in flood- ing and forest fire dis- asters, said Scott, the Ontario Provincial Po- lice are known to han- dle such cases quickly. And although MNR is- sues provincial alerts for potential flooding conditions, he in- dicated "that role may change too, with cut- backs," atively infrequent." "The municipality is ultimately Ards such as Port Franks, he responsible for the first action in an said, are prone to more frequent emergency situation," he said, flooding due to ice jamming and al- while the ABCA is expected to though Exeter's last flood was in monitor watersheds and provide 1969, precautions must be taken to warninp as well as advisories and the impact of potential flood follow-up information. "The man - disasters. date The key to preventing lou of life, The ABCA monitoring sys tem wildlife and property in the event keeps track of water levels, pre. "Basically the idea is to keep people out of areas that would flood," t. Scott, Water source, Manager at the B Ausable ayf/eld Con- servation Authority, con- ducts a flood control work- shop for area municipalities last Wednesday afternoon.