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Times Advocate, 1994-9-28, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, September 28, 1994 IN THF. NF. W.S Regional wrap,up Plans unveiled for Kettle Point school FOREST - Kettle and Stony Point should have an elemen- tary'school by next September it was reported in the Forest Standard. Construction on the school, designed for 225 students, should begin within the next few weeks, said Bob Bressette, co- chair of the education commit- tee. The 52.3 million building will be attached to the community centre, allowing existing facili- ties such as the gymnasium to be available for student use during school time. Does recycling bylaw discriminate? BLYTH - A Blyth residents who refuses to recycle called the September 14 passing of such a bylaw "discriminatory." George Szarek contacted the Health Unit to report that his weekly garbage was not being picked since it contained recy- clables. Clerk Helen Grubb told coun- cil he had been advised by the Health Unit that a bylaw should be passed that would maintain a system for the removal of the garbage. According to the North Huron Citizen, Szarek implied there was a conspiracy against him saying that if he took his gar- bage to a neighbor's house, it was picked up. -11 Seaforth facing extra police expenses SEAFORTH - The town of Seaforth could be faced with a large spending increase for po- lice services in 1995 if it main- tains its own police force, the Police Services Board was told two weeks ago. A list of capital spending pro- jects for the police force exceeds S105,000. Scaforth Police Chicf, Hal Claus, said this cost is on top of the usual operating budget. "That doesn't include a (po- lice) facility or upgrading of the radio communications system, which we might have to share," he said. As well, the spending esti- mate doesn't include the ex- pense of upgrading the depart- ment's office which doesn't meet standards as set out in the Policing Standards Manual, it was reported in the Huron Ex- positor. Clinton garbage cub in half CLINTON - Town Council in Clinton recently received word that the amount of waste going to the Mid -Huron Land- fill site from the town is down by 52 percent as compared to 1993. "People are very conscien- tious of the types of, garbage they are disposing of," said the town's clerk -treasurer Marie Jefferson. Since the garbage fee came into effect, Jefferson said there have been some incidents of people illegally dumping gar- bage, but in each case the gar- bage was traced back to its source, it was reported in the Clinton News -Record. Election closer, but Bend busy Grand Bend Council has a lot happening, including moving works dept. By Fred Groves T -A staff GRAND BEND - The plywood may bc out, windows boarded up and some businesses have exited this resort vil- lage, but Grand Bend Council still has a lot on its agenda. With the 1994 municipal election looming on the ho- rizon, everything from hockey game proceeds to moving the municipal works department to waste management are on the table. At the recent Grand Bend council meeting, councillor Bill Uniac told his colleagues that through the village's parks and recreation committee, the OPP and NHL Pro Stars who have participated in a fund -r• sing hockey game the past two years, would like some so- on where the mon- ey goes. "They wanted to sec it lined up for a project. They arc looking for something, it's a public contribution they're making," said Uniac. The committee was asking that the 1993 revenue from the game of $1,454.90 that was used towards the north beach swing set be withdrawn. , "This is the first this council has heard of it and 1 don't think a committee should be making a commitment on council's behalf," said deputy -mayor Cam Ivey. Looking to move: For the past several years, there has been continuous talk about a crowded situation where the village's works department is located. It appears as though that department could be moving as far away as into an- other municipality. The village is looking to moving public works into the Ministry of Transportation's empty patrol yard facility at the comer of Highways 83 and 21 which is located in Ste- ' phcn Township. . "We have met with the MTO and they came back with a sketchy agreement which would be a rental agreement for five years," said Grand Bend administrator Paul Turnbull. Harbour upgrading: Thc village's Harbour Waterfront Development Study has reached another stage as the com- mittee met on September 7 and decided to endorse Option One of the study. Thc option is subject to approvals, fund- ing and land/ownership acquisition and has a preliminary price tag of S1,101,359. The option includes improving entrance to the harbour by reducing wave agitation and dredging, expanding boat moorings in the river, improvements to visitor moorings on the harbour's north side, improve public pedestrian linkage to the river and proposes relocating public launching and associated trailer parking to reduce vehicular circulation conflicts on River.Road. Waste diversion: Lambton County is proposing a rebate system fpr waste management in an attempt to keep their landfills from reaching capacity. Grand Bend has been utilizing a bag -tag system for their garbage for two years now but it seems as though the county won't acknowledge one of those years as far as a re- bate goes. "As everyone knows, we went on a bag -tag system in 1992. They want to use 1993 as starting," said Ivey. Lawson suggested the new system won't bc fair to all Lambton County municipalities. "There is no incentive for Sarnia to cut down. The other municipalities are keen on conservation," said Lawson. Other...A new row of snow fencing has gone up along the beach to stop the sand from blowing, cost on this is 51,600...The Lambton Board of Health is implementing a regulation on November 1 which states that a owner of a cat or dog three months old or older, should ensure the animal is immunized or reimmunized against rabies...The Grand Bend-Bosanquet-Stephen-Hay joint fire board has recommended that the cost-sharing formula as set out in the agreement for all net operating and capital costs be re- viewed at the Tri -Municipal level... Taking shape Landscape designer Mario Levesque (right) chats with workers installing over 100 lime- stone blocks at the MacNaughton Park scenic garden Friday aftemoon. Now that the blocks for the central garden are in, the overall shape of the project becomes a lot clear- er. The gardens are being built with private donations, plus funds the Lions Club is con- tinuing to raise for the $150,000 project. Planting in the gardens is to start next spring. Site chosen for new reservoir The 2.5 million litre tank will be built across the river from MacNaughton Park in Exeter EXETER - A site has been chosen for a new reservoir to comple- ment Exeter's future water pipeline. Roy Triebner, PUC commissioner, said the 2.5 million litre res- ervoir would be constructed on the river flats near Riverside Drive. The reservoir will provide additional emergency water supplies for the town, currently served by the water tower, and a similar res- ervoir beside the dam in MacNaughton Park. Councillor Ben Hoogenboom told council that residents on River- side Drive have expressed no concerns about the new reservoir, which will be covered over with soil and grass. Triebner said of two proposals being considered by the PUC, the Riverside Drive plan was selected. The other proposal was to build a second reservoir beside the dam, but it would have been a metre and Omit' higher than the existing tank. "That would have been completely unacceptable," said Triebner, adding it would have spoiled the view in the park. Putting the reservoir on the far side of the river will allow the res- ervoir to be blended into the bank "so you would not notice any modrtti bf dirt," said Triebner.`- The reservoir is part of an overall water system upgrade to ac- company the $3 million pipeline project to join Exeter's water sys- tem to lake water supply lines in Stephen Township. Sidewalk cyclists face fines EXETER - Riding a bicycle on the sidewalk in Exeter could cost you $53.75, warn the Exeter OPP. The dangers of bicycles on the sidewalk was brought up as an area of concern at both the Community Oriented Policing meeting and council's review of the OPP con- tract last Monday. Some motorists have complained about nearly hit- ting cyclists riding on sidewalks on the wrong side of the road, and pe- destrians have complained about nearly being struck by the riders. The OPP have announced they will be watching for violators and those caught will be fined $53.75. The police are also warning that children have been seen playing around the old'Exeter Chrysler building that is ready to be demol- ished. Police warn this is a very dangerous activity, and are patrol- ling the area as often as possible, but are asking parents to caution their children to stay out of the. arca. Beer bottle drive for diabetes EXETER - A bottle drive is planned for Saturday in Exeter - beer bottles. The Exeter Beer Store is working in conjunction with the Canadian Diabetes Association for the fund- raising drive. Volunteers with the local chapter of the Association will be on hand to collect donations of beer bottle empties - the money from which will go towards dia- betes research. The beer bottle drive will take place at the store from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. New Co -Op store plans in the works Can a deal be reached with Hay Township to prevent annexation? EXETER - Even though the construction and opening of a Co -Op "superstore" in Exeter is eagerly anticipated by some, Hensall and District Co -Op manager Earl Wagner says it is "a little premature" to expect construction to start in 1995. Wagner said the Co -Op hasn't even purchased the land that has been earmarked for the new store: the former loca- tion of Hurex Tool and Rental. Because the property lies just outside the town's northern boundary, Exeter council has been paying close attention to the relocation plans for the Co -Op store. Informal and closed -door sessions have been devoted to the issue, as the town deals With the issue of retail developments outside its borders. Annexation has even been discussed as a possible solution. The town is arguing that such a store would be an urban - oriented retail operation, and should be Hilly serviced for water, sewage, and fire hydrants. Hay township is expected to counter with an argument that, as it argued for Hurex, that the Co -Op store is agriculturally-orieflted and qualifies for the agriculturaUeommercial zoning the lot now has. Wagner said he wasn't aware that annexation of the for- mer Hurex property is being considered. Although taxes on the property could increase if inside town boundaries, Wag- ner said that isn't a prime concern for the Co -Op. "That's their [municipal] business," said Wagner. "We have to go by their decisions." Other decisions that will affect what shape the store takes, if on that property, will include planning matters such as minor variances, said Wagner. The Co -Op manager said work on the proposal will con- tinue and a better picture of where it stands will be pre- sented to the Co-Op's general membership at the annual meeting in November. "That's probably, from their point of view, a really good location," said mayor Bruce Shaw of the Co-Op's plans, and added that town council does not want to stand in the way of the project. However, he did say that if a new Co -Op store would be better served as a part of the town, then council should pur- sue that option. Annexing the property should not be seen as a "tax grab" from Hay Township, said the mayor. He said it is more an issue of protecting businesses already in the same market in town. To extend services to the property without annexa, tion would be "unfair competition" to those Exeter busi- nesses that have helped pay for those services, insisted Shaw. He did say, however, that annexation is a last resort, and he hoped a compromise can be reached with Hay Township to suit all parties. Fighting with the town's neighbours is "old thinking", said Shaw, adding that better cooperation is needed in the future. On the other hand, he did say the province is more likely to grant annexations to urban centres than in past years. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs asks municipalities to reach cooperative agreements, but if they fail, then annexa- tion is granted, said Shaw. The mayor acknowledged that development along the town's- north boundary has been a contentious issue for some time. J P