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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-08-19, Page 11Ni:(l;RaTIO“ ATINC-Ta-aE B1.1 Tai ST.-t\l).ARU-THE HAI F'1F:L1) 131 (;II: No, 33 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 1987 50 CENTS 41'14 'int Ozone harming bean By David Emslie While many may equate ozone with the upper atmosphere, a different type of ground level ozone is damaging this year's white bean crops. Pat Lynch was with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food for 13 years before becoming, a private crop consultant, and he remembers the first instance of wide spread damage by ozone. "The last bad episode of ozone on the beans was in 1973. We do get it every year, but it takes a combination of weather and growing conditions (to do damage)," he said He went on to explain that ozone is not really an air pollutant, but a chemical form- ed when certain elements are mixed. These elements are hydrocarbons, or the in- complete products put out by internal com- bustion engines, and direct sunlight. If there is wind on a day of direct sunlight, the ozone is mixed into the atmosphere, but on windless, sunny days the problems begin. The plants, as well, have to be in the flowering stage before they will be harmed, because, Mr. Lynch explained, "White bean plants, after flowering, are very sensitive to ozone." Therefore, early summer ozone will not affect the bean plants as they have yet to reach the critical stage. Researchers who have studied ozone have found that the critical level for ozone is 80 parts per billion (ppb). "If it is this high for six or more hours, and the plants are in the critical stage of development, then they are quite suscepti- ble to ozone damage," Mr. Lynch stated. He has checked with the Ministry of the Environment, and found that on July 23 there was five hours of ozone readings above 80 ppb, and it peaked at 117 ppb. On the following day the readings got worse with eight hours of over 80 ppb and a peak level of 120. When levels reach that high the initial symptom for farmers to watch for is that the plants will take on a yellowing color. Mr. Lynch noted that it will look like really early ripening. It will then progress to a bronze, leathery look. This step is called bronzing. When the ozone hits, farmers will lose yield in three different ways. There will be some pods that will just drop off without full development, while other plants will just grow smaller beans. Yields will also be lost when beans are grown which are so small they are unharvestable. "We're talking 300 to 700 pounds per acre loss to ozone. Most fields affected will be the really good beans," Mr. Lynch commented. He added that because this year seems to be a good one for bean growers, "the overall yield will be similar, or better than last year. It is just that the fantastic crops won't have the yield they could have had." When the ozone levels were similar to this year in 1973 farmers were still able to have an average year as the yield was at 13.1 crops Mark Jenkins is one . rea farmer whose crops have been affected by the high levels of ozone recorded in July. Although there are documented cases of 50 pee cent of crops be- ing lost to the ozone, crop specialist Pat Lynch explained that Mr. Jenkins has such a beautiful field of beans, his yield will not drop to this level. (David-Emslie photo) bags per acre. Unfortunately, Mr. Lynch continued, "There is nothing the farmers can do. Researchers are trying to breed a white bean variety that is tolerant to ozone." Researchers have already had some suc- cess in breeding tobacco and cucumbers that are tolerant to the ozone. Before a new strain is developed, however, there is a possibility of some farmers losing 50 per cent of their white beans to this chemical. "Growers being hurt will drop $60 to $80 an acre, but on the other hand. this years' crop looks to be better than average," Mr. Lynch said. Although many may be hurt by the ozone levels, Mr. Lynch thought it was important to let area farmers know of the problem if only to save them on insecticides. Insect damage gives basically the same symp- toms, he explained, and in 1973 much money was wasted by growers on insect control. He also found one other positive side to this story. "One other factor will happen with regular weather; the beans will come off earlier. This is a counteractive positive benefit." Wild Wood cottagers fight erosion with do-it-yourself project By Anne Narejko BAYFIELD - A group of cottagers at Wild Wood Cottages, have embarked on a "do it yourself" project that will save themselves many headaches and anyone who should move into the area in the future. These cottagers have found themselves in the same situation the majority of lakefront property owners have - their bank is being eroded. The high lake level has caused the water to slap against the bank, washing the land out with the waves. To prevent this, ga- bion baskets were placed in the water last fall and results have been noticed. However, the cottagers have found a se- cond way to fight the erosion. According to Vera Jessup of Toronto, who has been spending the summers at the cot- tage with her family for the past 30 years, and Joe Houser of Kitchener, who has spent the last three summers at Wild Wood, water flooding the road after a rain or in the spr- ing, tries to make its way down into the road and then heads towards the lake. When it does this, pressure is built up and it gushes out of the bank, washing away the bank. Both Mrs. Jessup and Mr. Houser say the water coming out of the bank has made such tunnels, it looks as though it is coming out of pipe. tP e. The erosion had been eatting away at the bank so much that two cottage owners mov- ed their cottages back for fear of them fall- ing in the lake. in an attempt to solve the problem, Pat Donnelly of the Ausable-Bayfield Conserva- tion Authority and Bill Taylor, Stanley Township's Superintendent of Roads and Drainage were called in for advice. The advice the cottagers were given was to insert piping, offering a path of least resistance, which the water would follow out to the lake. To give the cottagers a starting point, Mr. Donnelly walked the area and provided them with a comprehensive report on how much water is flowing to their area, a grade level, an estimation of the pipe size and so on. "Doing it themselves," and with the help of their neighbors, are Bob Roth (left), Vera Jessup and Joe Houser. Cottagers at Wild Wood have united to beat a drainage problem which is causing erosion on the banks. ( Anne Narejko photo) From there, the cottagers held a meeting, estimated their costs and formed the Wild Wood Drainage Project company with Mrs. Jessup as the chairperson and Mr. Houser as the secretary -treasurer. Doing the digging and laying of the gravel and pipe are Bob Roth and Phil Ge- meinhardt of Bayfield. They dig down approximately six feet with Mr. Gemeinhardt's 35 -year-old Turn to page 3 Clinton may get a new subdivision By Anne Nareko CLINTON - It looks as though the town may be getting a new subdivision, complete with houses and an apartment building. Following a Planning Advisory/Economic Development Committee public meeting, the committee recommended council pass the required rezoning bylaw for property located between John, North and Don Streets. At council's August 17 meeting, the rezoning bylaw was passed. At the August 13 public meeting, Scott Tousaw of the Huron County Planning Department, told those present that a re- quest from Codan Construction was made to change land from Future Development to Residential Low Density (allowing houses), Future Development to Residential High Denisty (allowing apartments) and Future Development to Parks and Open Space. Mr. Tousaw also said the subdivision would see Andrews Avenue closed and Hill Street opened which would mean a redesign of the subdivision so the lots could front on Hill Street. Speaking on behalf of Codan Construction, Ron Demers explained what is being pro- posed for the subdivision. He said there are approximately nine lots that have been proposed for family residences and another area (along North Street) that will be used for an apartment building. Mr. Demers said plans for the number of units in the apartment building have been decreased due to other building in the area. "We're not quite sure how large an apart- ment building we are going to. There's a new one across the street (Albert Street) so we don't want to compete with them. We may go smaller and more modern and ex- clusive," he said. Residents living in the area had several questions concerning the contractors choice of where to locate the apartment building. One such person was Andy Van Altena. He questioned what effect the building would have on the value of his property. "I'll have apartments on one side of the road and town houses on another. You build the apartments and I might as well forget it," he said. Mr. Demers said, "The apartment building will be well set back. There will be a tree line so it will be well sheltered from anyone's view who lives on the south." Fern Hartley asked why they did not locate the apartment building on Hill Street and put the houses on North Street. Mr. Demers replied by saying, "We thought we would be disturbing more residential people that way, and it's more convenient for us." The reason for Mrs. Hartley's concern was the increase in traffic. "I'm mostly concerned about traffic. We've lived there for many years and would hate to see that development - houses maybe." Answering Mrs. Hartley's concerns, Mr. Demers said there would be room in that location for seven houses. "If we put seven houses there, with most people having two cars now and kids, there would be more traffic then 16 apartment units rented by middle aged to seniors," he said. As for the value of property owned by sur- rounding land owners, Mr. Demers said, "As soon as it is developed, it'll increase." Another concern was raised by Gerry Holmes who lives on John Street. He feels that opening Hill Street will present further parking problems for the Clinton Public Hospital. "I would like to leave the lot beside my house (which will be opened as Hill Street) and have a cul-de-sac because of the situa- tion at the hospital," said Mr. Holmes. "I've been cutting the grass there (with his neighbor) for 28 years. You'd also be taking away three parking spots from the hospital." Mr. Demers said the cul-de-sac was not legal because the number of properties before it and also said, "The street has been there for years and is to be developed as a street." Mayor John Balfour tried to answer Mr. Holmes' concern about the hospital parking by saying, "Twenty-six parking spots have just been added to the. hospital and they won't be affected by the development." Harry Reed was concerned if a sewage study had been conducted and Mr. Demers told him one is done and has to be approved in Toronto, by Clinton Council and Clinton Public Utilities Commission before "a shovel full of dirt" can be taken. Mr. Reed expressed his like and dislike about the proposed subdivision, saying, "If it helps broaden the taxpayers in town, fine, but we should try to keep the traffic down." The problem of increased traffic is one Mr. Demers says he can not control. "When you develop and build you increase traffic. There's not a lot you can do about it. When the meeting was turned over to committee members to ask questions, Gus Boussey inquired about the height of the apartment building. Mr. Demers told him it would probably be 2.5 storeys maximum or spread out. Reeve Bee Cooke, who was sitting in the audience, asked if there would be adequate parking and was assured there would be. Mr. Demers also said a storage unit may be built, allowing residents to store barbecues, lawn chairs and such items in them. Anyone having objections to the bylaw has 35 days to put their objection in writing and submit it to the clerk. 17 Mayors recommend increased representation for Huron County towns Increase representation for towns on county council was the major recommen- dation of a brief recently submitted by the five mayors of Huron County, to the Ad- visory Committee on County Government. "The fundamental problem faced by the residents of Huron County lies in the com- ponent structure of the council as com- pared to the types of communities in which our people live. To be specific, about 40 per cent of our population live in the five towns and yet their representation at county council is approximately 20 per cent," said the brief presented at an Advisory Com- mittee hearing in London on Aug. 6. The committee, which includes Albert Bouwers, Mayor of Osgoode Township and a member of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario Board of Direc- tors; Doris Brick, Reeve of Ennismore Township, and also a member of the AMO board and Ron Eddy, Reeve of South Dum- phries Township and a former president AMO, was formed by the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs. The committee's mandate is to examine the representaion and responsibility for functions within the present county government system and make recommendations back to the ministry. The mayors of Goderich, Clinton, Seaforth, Wingham and Exeter said the shift from rural to urban living in Huron County has been so dramatic in recent years that the emphasis on concerns at the local level has shifted from municipal drainage and roads, to planning, waste disposal, policing, recreation and "a host of other problems that are foreign to the original reasons for the formation of towns — namely to serve the agricultural community" The mayors' brief suggests each town within a county receive at least two votes or more, depending on population. Cur- rently towns are allowed either one or two votes, depending on population. The mayors indicated they are "of two minds," regarding the inclusion of mayors on county council (currently reeves and in some cases deputy reeves represent municipalities) but agreed if it "becomes an either-or situation," mayors, as heads of council should represent their towns. The mayors also suggested the elimina- tion of the positions of reeve and deputy reeve in the towns. "The titles are anachronisms with no meaning, especially in three towns (Seaforth, Clinton and Wingham) which can nevers send their deputies to county council because of their size," said the brief. They suggested each town be represented by the mayor and 'deputy mayor' (the councillor who receives the greatest number of votes), but all municipalities should have the power to substitute their representation for valid reasons. They also called for a secret ballot in elections for the position of county warden, instead of the current "open vote" method, but agreed with the current system of an- nual elections for the position. EXETER In a separate brief, the Town of Exeter knocked the ministry for not having a representative from a town on the ad- visory committee. "The committee's lack of represenation from the small urban sector could produce an unbalanced approach and possibly a lack of valuable input in the preparation of its report," said the Exeter brief. The town also suggested a change in the emphasis of power at the local municipal level. "It is Exeter council's opinion that the local municipality is the 'first level" of government. We believe the designations of Upper -Tier (County), and Lower -Tier (municipality) provide unfortunate con- nonations (in conflict with) what really should be happening between the two levels of government. The local municipality is where the direct contact with the taxpayer is established." Exeter also recommended municipalities be allowed the option of not participating in and paying for selected county services, to avoid duplication bet- ween county and municipal services. APPOINT OMBUDSMAN Goderich resident Elsa Haydon, who writes a column on municipal affairs for Focus newsmagazine, was one of only three private citizens who appeared before the committee during the two days of hear- ings in London. In her brief, Haydon urged the commit- tee to consider recommending the creation of an Ombudsman's office, or a similar non-partisan body, to give the public an op- portunity, on neutral ground, to express their concerns and objections relating to county government attitudes, actions and affairs, "when the concerns remain without meaningful response and attention locally" A brief submitted by Huron County Council recommended the principle of '`one representative, one vote," be adhered to as closely as possible. However, they said; there should be flex- ibility in any legislation to allow councils to dcetermine the numbers of electors before a second member ( for an individual municipality) is allowed, or a member of council has a second vote. Huron Council also recommended no substitution of representatives be allowed. Huron Council also recommended coun- ties be allowed to be responsible for waste managment, providing a majority of the local municipalites with at least sixty -six - and -two-thirds of the total assessment of the county approve the transfer of this function to county government. The Advisory Committee will be making a preliminary report to the Minister of Municipal Affairs on Sept. 30 and a second report is due in December.