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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-06-05, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, June 5, 1996 ENKWS Layoffs at OMAFRA CLINTON • Four employees have been laid off following a recent meeting at the Clinton Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, reported the North Huron Citizen. Newly appointed Field Servic- es Manager Dan Carlow in- formed the Citizen that staff were notified and are "pursuing several options available to them." It's too early to discuss details, he added. Creamery employees to unionize SEAFORTH - On May 27, employees at Seaforth Creamery Ltd., voted to unionize. According to the Huron Ex- positor, workers will join locals of the United Food and Com- mercial Workers International. The vote, which was conduct- ed by the Ontario Labor Union, was close, with 38 for joining and 27 against. Residents complain about flooding CLINTON - After heavy rains caused flooding in the Walker Street area for the second time in a year, residents brought their complaints to council on May 21, reported the Clinton News - Record. Twenty-three letters were re- ceived by council last spring af- ter residents in the area of Walk- er, James, Matilda and Gordon Streets experienced flooding and sewage back-up resulting from a downpour. Council passed a motion on April 1 of this year to work to- wards stopping future flooding. The task will include increasing the capacity of the bypass to the holding lagoon at the sewage treatment plant. Mayor Case Buffinga told res- idents tenders for improvements had been called and are to be opened on June 17. "Talk is cheap, but we need action," said resident Barb Lo- vett at the meeting. Mayor begs for library step repairs MITCHELL - Mitchell Mayor Hugh McCaughey begged coun- cil to approve a plan to repair the front steps of the town's public library, reported the Mitchell Advocate. "On any other public building, you wouldn't accept it," he told his colleagues. "This is a main- tenance item, not capital." Councillor ' Mike Van Pelt agreed the steps need repairs, but questio;, d the cost of a re- conditioning plan for the 90 - year -old building, which was discussed by council last month. In April council decided a five-year capital plan is neces- sary before funds are spent on li- brary improvements. Walton woman sings at Jays game WALTON - Margaret Mcln- roy sang the national anthein at the Blue Jays baseball game held on May 25. Amalgamating in 1995 may have saved Lucan and Biddulph property tax dollars By Broods Burke T -A Reporter LUCAN - At its May 28 meeting, the Lucan-Biddulph Amalgamation Committee discussed cost-saving results of a tax impact study recently prepared by the Ministry of Mu- nicipal Affairs and Housing. The study, based on 1995 figures, revealed estimated sav- ings on a tax bill for a single family detached home with that year's market value of $100,000. The impact, if the municipalities had amalgamated on Jan. 1, 1995, would have been a tax reduction of $41 in Lucan and $45 in Biddulph. 1995 was used as an example since it represents the most recent year for which complete financial information is avail- able for both municipalities. The study, presented by John Currie, a municipal advisor with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs in London, covers on- going savings but doesn't address capital sav- ings or one-time savings or costs. "This is very much theoretical," explanted Currie, adding it would be difficult to project costs as far as 1998. The report also included an estimated cost savings chart that outlined a total of $102,370 in savings due to potential re- duction in council, comnnittees, works departments, audit fees, insurance and office equipment. Proposed Wards Biddulph Clerk -Treasurer Larry Hotson presented pro- posed wards for the potential amalgamated municipality. Ward 1 would consist of property south and west of Rich- mond Street, Biddulph and Main Street, Lucan. Ward 2 would be comprised of property north west of Main Street, Lucan and north of Richmond Street, Biddulph, west of the centre line of Saintsbury Line. Ward 3 would include people who live in Biddulph, east of the centre line of Sainstbury Line and north of Richmond Street. Electors in Ward 1 would total 1227, in Ward 2, 1201 and in Ward 3, 978. Currie indicated the ministry would allow a 25 per cent variance in the size of the proposed wards. Public Meeting The format was discussed for the public meeting on amal- gamation set for June 10 at the Lucan Community Memorial Centre at 7:30 p.m. Biddulph and Lucan reeves win provide a brief history of the committee's findings. Then Jeremy Griggs of MMAH will present results of the Tax Impact Analysis, afterwhich Currie will discuss possible financial impacts to municipalities as a result of Bill 26. At the meeting's end, a question period will be provided. Questions committee members are unable to answer will be directed to township offices. Biddulph Reeve Earl French warned the committee the public meeting is "not to promote either side of (amalgama- tion) but to listen." "All we can provide is facts and figures," added Deputy Reeve Herman Steffens. "The last thing I want to do," said French, "is go into that meeting unprepared." Currie suggested the group not only simplify its figures to include cost savings, but that it ad- mit costs will rise. Lucan Administrator -Clerk Ron Reymer mentioned how frustrating it will be when the public sees costs rise due to fund- ing cutbacks and downloading from the county level. People will assume numbers are climbing due to amal- gamation, he pointed out. The committee mentioned how members of McGillivray Township, who were to vote on amalgamation on June 5, don't believe the measure would provide enough cost sav- ings to justify putting in place. "I can seriously say we are the only ones in Middlesex County that are actively promoting amalgamation," said French, adding Middlesex is slow to move on the concept of restructuring. The committee also discussed the fact amalgamation would be a decision of council rather than the result of a pub- lic vote. "I can seriously say we are the only ones in Middlesex County that are ac- tively promoting amalgamation." "We're not doing it for council," said Steffens. 'We're do - Orphaned squirrels always have a home In Exeter The DeBoers of Exeter adopt orphan squirrels every summer By Chris Skalkos T -A Reporter EXETER - Andy DeBoer of Ex- eter runs an orphanage, but the or- phans he cares for are not children. ;Every summer_.peBoer and his ' wife Gloria find themselves caring for wayward squirrels that are brought to them by local residents. This year was no exception. Recently, they received three baby squirrels from a young couple who found them abandoned under a tree. The retired couple have been adopting white squirrels for 18 years and gladly took them in to nurse them back to health. "They weren't well when they came to us," said Andy DeBoer who put them in a small cage with a heating pad at the bottom covered with towels. Despite their best ef- forts one died, a loss Gloria took to heart. "It just breaks my heart...we couldn't save him," she said. "When they get cold and wet it's difficult to bring them back," Andy added. The remaining two, one grey, the other white in color, are making a speedy recovery and will soon be healthy enough to be released. The DeBoers credit the help of Exeter Veterinarian Dr. El- len Shapiro who quickly donated powdered milk and a feeding bot- tle for the young furry critters. Andy believes the mother of his two new squirrels was run over by a car, a common fate among squir- rels in Exeter. "It happens every spring, people don't slow down for squirrels, but I give them the right of way all the time," said Andy. Gaining a reputation of being somewhat of a specialist in the matter, Andy receives many phone calls from property owners seeking advice on what to do with squirrels that are a nuisance. They common- ly seek shelter in attics, something home owners don't want. He uses a live trap to safely cap- ture them anti transports them to the Morrison Dam or MacNaugh- ton Park. The trees on his own property house many squirrels year-round in small nesting boxes. Andy's fascination for squirrels goes beyond the ones he nurtures every year. He estimates he has more than 50 brass, glass and cast iron squirrel figures he collects at yard sales and craft shows. One of his most prized collections is a wood saw painting of three white squirrels frolicking in a tree. His oldest collectible is a 1934 mag- azine featuring an illustration of a squirrel on the cover. "It's squirrel heaven in here," he said. The DeBoers feel the town should protect and promote the squirrels, especially the white ones which have become an attraction among tourists. The Exeter Busi- ness Association has adopted the image of the white squirrel, dubbed "the White Wonder" as the official town symbol and use it on letter- heads and business cor- respondence. The town has also de- voted a calendar day to it declaring June 29 this year as White Squirrel Day. "They are very unique, they can be found in other places but they are few and far between," said Andy. "People come from all over just to see them. It's fun watching them play...they can really put on a good show." A town in Illinois called Olney also has white squirrels and Andy is impressed with how they have in- corporated it into the town's im- age. Their white squirrel is depicted on the official town flag and the police wear white squirrel arm badges. However, their white squirrels• are, albinos, easily identified by their red eyes and pink skin. Exet- er's White Wonders are true white squirrels with black eyes and dark pigments in the skin. This rare breed is indigenous only to our area and attempts to breed them in out- side communities have not been very successful. They have also gained their fair share of media attention over the years. In the early 1980's a Ca- nadian television program called On The Road Again, hosted by Wayne Ronstadt featured Exeter and its white squirrels on a nine minute clip aired across Canada. "They have given Exeter an iden- tity over the years. We should do our best to protect them," said De - Boer. ing It for the people out thane." Although he admitted council must make the final de- cision, he said he didn't want to go ahead with it unless the public agrees. He suggested the public meeting include a speaker who's had experience with restructuring French responded by say- ing people would want to hear from local representatives in- stead. Bringing someone in to speak who is for amalgamation would create a "stumbling block," pointed out Biddulph Clerk -Treasurer Larry Hotson, since someone against the measure would have to be included as well. The committee will also address the impact of amalgama- tion on the street names of Main and Richmond. 'This is one continuous road and should be one continuous name," stated the committee's May 28 meeting minutes. Garbage Tenders The committee has decided to keep its options open to ac- commodate a joint tender at the end of the year. User pay prices and resident complaints about bi-weekly pick-up in Biddulph were discussed. While Lucan is considering a six-month garbage tender and expects to make a decision this month, Biddulph will know by the end of summer which direction it's headed in. Other Business Reymer presented an employee benefits study outlining differences between village and township packages. If amal- gamation takes place, the new package will be negotiated with employees of the joint municipality. Lucan Reeve Rob Brady reported he advised the North Middlesex District Building System of the possible amid: gamation between the two municipalities. Provided they con- tinue to pay the same proportional share they do now,, the building system has. no objections. Currie advised Lucan and Biddulph to obtain the necessary endorsement from the Council of Middlesex prior to amal- gamation. Lucan will host the next 7:30 p.m. committee meeting on June 25 at Biddulph's Municipal office. Grand Bend Rotary Club paves the way for nature trail GRAND BEND - The Grand Bend Rotary Club will embark on an ambitious three phase project this summer that will create a new nature/fitness trail linking the vil- lage with Pinery Provincial Park. The 7 kilometre trail designed for walkers, oggers and bicyclists, follow the MTO right-of-way from the south end of Grand Bend to the main entrance of the Pinery. "There is no real access to the Pinery from Grand Bend other than by car so we thought wouldn't it be nice if we could walk or bicycle between the two," said Henry Krech, chairperson for the Rotary Trail Committee. The first phase will see a 3.1 m wide bike path stretching 7.1 km from Pinedale Road to the Pinery. The second phase proposes a na- ture trail follow the Ausablc River from Pinedale Road South then wind back to Highway 21 re- connecting at the bike path. The third phase will include a walking path branching off from the bike trail and looping behind the Dalton subdivision and into dip , Pinery. „.., The Grand ttei 1. notary. Clutl will maintain and clean the en- vironmentally friendly trail which will be surfaced with limestone screenings with rest areas planned along the path. Krech said the club has raised $40,000 of the total budgeted cost of $182,000 and they have received an incredible amount of support from MTO and Ministry of Natural Resources as well as the local mu- nicipalities of Grand Bend and Bo- sanquet. All phases of the project are ex- pected to be completed by the mid- dle of next year. 100th birthday Andy Dillow poses with an Exeter nursing back to health. white squirrel he Is Luella Hall, a resident of Queensway Nursing and Retire- ment Home, celebrated her 100th birthday on May 28, Iva Reid, president of the Hensel! Legion Ladies' Auxiliary, pre -1 sented her with a dozen roses on Friday. Hall taught in her home town of Blyth and was also involved with the ladies' auxiliary. 1''