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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-01-08, Page 1•• • the • Gtiderith SIGNA ,a 138 YEAR -01 Snow removal deteriorating in town Complaints about snow removal in town will be referred to the Goderich works committee for a policy determining when the town's snow plows ,should be ordered out. "It's got to be the worst job in the world to decide when the plows should be called out. It costs from $3000 to .$5000 for the plows to go out 00 a Sunday," Works Com- • missioner Ken Hunter Told 'council at its Jan. 6 meeting. Deputy -Reeve John Doherty told council he'd heard various complaints about snow removal in town. "Ninety per cent of the roads are not be- ing plowed. Either all or 0000 of the streets should be cleared," he said. Complaints about the deterioration of snow removal service were also heard by Come Glen Carey. "Other years the roads were always in great shape and people were wonderingif there's been a decline in snow removal this year. The complaints can't all he ‘vrong," he said. Come JinrSearls said he'd heard little complaints al.a se snow 'removal tla iug h ne'd heard complaints about too much salt 00 the roads. GODERICH, ONTARIO, WILDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 1986 60 CENTS PER COPY .V•• A game of shinney is as popular sport with the kids When they're one of school during the winter 1/8171,ktilM 4111(1 the lee. ,a1 3ltih Gooderham Park saw plenty of action over the holiday p Jason Lajeunesse hits the ice 111 an attempt to corral the puck in a ganie with several of his friends last Thursday. ( photo by Todd Mowatt). • Highway 21 closed Poor weather conditions hamper road crew efforts BY SHARON DIETZ. . • HigliWay 21 north of Goderich to Kincar• cline has been closed to traffic more than it's been open over the past ' three weeks. At least, it seems that way to the people living north of Goderich Who try to make it into town to work every day, Drifting, blowing -snow and slippery road conditions made driving hazardous over the Christmas and New Year's holiday when the road was closed twice, once for a period of four days. Police set ii`b barricades at Dunlop and turned back motorise; attempting to use the road 'again 00 Sunday evening and Monday until the road opened around 2:30 in the afterneon. For Huron Haven residents who live just beyond the barricade at Dunlop,. it's a frustrating experience. Police will not per- mit them to drive around the barrica(les, and some have 1)000 forced to drive up Huron County Road 2511) Carlow, and then along Huron Couety Road I to the first con- cession, to drive back to Highway 21 and then south to get home. When every other township and county . road irithe area has been re -opened follow- ing stormy weather, Highway 21 often re- mains closed. It's not a lack of technology or 'equip- ment ormanpower that keeps the road 'closed, according to Pat Scott of the Strat- ford District Office, of the Ministry of Transportation and ComMunications. Government restraint has resulted in pro- blems in some areas of provincial jurisdic- tion but this is not the case with Highway 21 Wel the Goderich Patrol Yard of MTC. It's the topography of the land, says Scott, who points .to the north - soUtIrdirec- Ron of the highway which' swings inland just north of Dunlop througii. an open area where there is little vegetation to trap snow. MTC has the equipment required and 11 is -assigned to do the job, nitlife weather conditions create such poor visibility that the road must be closed to protect the travelling public, says Scott_ The Ontario Provincial Police in Goderich close the road to traffic based on information they have from their patrols and the inforrnation they acquire from the Goderich Patrol Yard of MTC cOncerning road conditions.. Most often the road is closed because of nil visibility Mid on Occa- sion, the road is closed -beeause it is in - passable. • The plows are on the road; says 13111 Bogie, who is under contract to do snow removal- for MTC. Bogie says there is always a plow on Highway 21 ninth of • Goderich but the Visibility is so poor at times, the road' has to remain closed to prevent accidents. During the Christmas holiday period, Bogie said stiowplowoperators spent en- tire shifts removing. vehicles which were stuck in the snow or had collided with one another. When this happens, the road crews cannot devote their time and effort to clearing the road. Constable John Marshall of the Goderich OPP said there were serious accidents at Kingsbridge arid Sheppardton during the Alice and Andy Stinnissen are the proud prods Of Goderich's New Yeti's !ifty. Amanda %was born at the Alexandta Marine and General HoSpItal on Jan. 1 at 11:17n.m. She Weighed nine pounds. 12 ounces. Amanda will join heothek1; Midi:fel and Erie and sister Saralt,(pholo bY TOdd Mowatt) , 6 ., .. 4 ' • 44 • le storm Christmas week, People Were hospitalized with injuries following these accidents, 4 Constable Marshall said it seeined every time they had the accidents cleared and the road open, another accident would oc- cur and police, ambulance drivers„ and road crews were out again trying to clean ' • up,,eye-- • • Constable Marshall said he 'accom- panied a snowplow Operator on a trip up Highway 21 during the storm Christmas week, whin it took them six hours to go from Goderich to Arnberley. They COM 111)011 three cars at Sheppardton stranded in the snow occupied with people who had been there for hours. • Following the experience of the Christmas storm, Goderich OPP decided to keep Highway 21 closed until visibility was good which meant the barricades did not come. dawn after Sunday's storm until Monday afternoon. There is still a problem with people corn- ing onto Highway 21 from the township and county roads which are open, who then become stuck . on Highway 21, said Mar- shall. Constable Marshall said 110 understands that people living just north of the bar- ricades at Dunlop want to drive borne. He said local traffic •is usually permitted to drive around the barricades and proceed home. The barricades were once •located at the top of the bridge at the north of Goderich but Saltford residents complained that they could not get home, so there is a pro- blem no matter where the barricades'are set up. Bill Bogie suggested that police check a driver's registratZn to determine Who is local and the local drivers could be permit- ted to go around the barricade, Constable Marshall said people have to realize Unit the police are only trying to protect the public who at times will not heed the warnings. A policeman standing in a -storm et IA barricade for hours can become irtitahle where driver who' comes along claiins to be a local resident. Drivers who ignore barricades and pro- ceed to drive along a closed ioud UM be charged and there is a fine of $52, said Con- stable Marshall. According to Don MacEwanof Banter' - and McEwan Insurance Brokers, a driver Is insured wliile driving on a closed road but if he beconies stuck in a snowbank.and is struck by a snowplow which is blinded by the storm, the driver comae; make a claim against the snowplow operator, or the municipality which operates the plow or the MTC. A driver can collect for damages to bis own car under his nolicv subject to the dedtfetible, .said MacEwan• It a driver chooses to drive on a closed road and gets into, trouble; 'police are not responsible and if a driver is involved In -a serious accident, - police can refuse to go ca -to the scene and make a report making it difficult for the driver to complete a claim. • - "The rules of the road still apply, if they can be verified," said MacEwate Constable Marshall advises area residents that if Highway 21 is reported closed, 'there is good reason and people should not travel on closed roads. 'There' is nothing worse than corning throligh a whiteout and the oncoming car 11(18 110 lights on,' ' Council endorses salary package°ior departments Huron County department heads will redeye increases of up to nine per cent a year after Huron County Council endorsed a comprehensiVe salary package. for its nine department heads at its regular mon; lily meeting Friday. The salary inereattes, covering a three- year period to 191111, were granted after council deliberated in closed session Qt length. By a vote of 18-13, council endorsed a salary schedule prepared 'by Its ex- ecutive committee Which proferred the document after meetings with the depart- ment heads. A preface to the report suggested the salaries' were arrived at by • taking the average paid to Similar or comparative pwitions in' the adjoining counfieS or in Southwestern Ontario In 1985 and adding cost Of living increases of four percent in each year for 1986 through to 1988 in— , elusive. The ingrease means the county Medical Officer of Health will earn $61,672 in 19811,a 7.2 per cent increase. The 'salary will in- crease by 7 per cent In 1987 to s66,014 and by 7,1 per centin 1980 to $70,6114. ; The administrator .of Huronview • 31'1 ,°5m44e, for the Aged, currently earning s will get $41,002•111,1980,: a 9.2 per cent in- erease ; 144;460 in 4987 which represents an 8.4 per cent increase and a farther 7,7 per cent increase in 19 will hoot the salary lo $47,892; -. • . The social •servIces,adininIstratety cur- rentlyearaing receive $35,334 in 1086; $28,8 in 1987 ries $40,820 In 1988, The increase average o'er 7,11; per cent , • 1 over the three years. The county clerk -treasurer and ad- ministrator will have his present salary of $51,974 boosted to $55,172 this year. In 1987 the administrator will receive a 5.8 per cent increase to $58,370 and a5,4 per cent increase to $61,542 in 19011, • The county engineer's salary of $48,074 will increase by 6.7 per cent to $51,272 this year and by 6.2 per cent to $54,444 in 1987. The report suggests his salary increase by 5.9.per cent In 1988 to $57,042. The deputy clerk -treasurer, presently earning $44,460, will receive a 6.7 per ,cent Increasethis year to, $47,450 and 6.3i per cent in••1987 to $50,440. The salary will irt- crease by 5.9 per cent in 19881,o $53,430. The county planning director, currently earning $45,186, will receive a 7,4 pdi! cent Increase this year toi$48,542 and 6.9 per cent in 1987 to $51,89e A 6.4 per centin- tco$55,224. ThoIn 10811 will boost the annual salary The county librarian's salary will in- crease 5,8 per cent to $36,1194 from $34,866, A 5,5 per cent increase in. 1987 -will boost the salary to $38,922 and a 5,2 per cent In- crease in, 1988 will push the salary to $40;950. The salary of the museum directorw,ill increase by lour per cent each year from $34,060 to $38,208 in woo. Goderich deputy -reeve' John ' Doherty argued that there was no need for council to g� Into closed session to discuss the salaries of department heads ton . Tihetzittgoti: however, passed with flee councillers 1 1 Study shows trees damaged by emissions A phytotoxlcology investigation at the Snug Harbor Marina by the Ministry of the Environment shows that area trees are be- ing adversely affmted by salt OtIllS5101i8 from the new mine shaft at the Pointer Salt Mine lo Goderich. After dead and live twig wood samples both near mine shaft number three and far away from Goderich were studied, chloride end soditun concentration were found to be at Ilititit Six times higher in the samples closest to the mine shaft. "Those analytical "results support the claim that ambient Salt ettliSniella 11"0111 the recently constructed mine shaft and ex- haust stacks have •''contribined to the observed tree decline on the adjacent Marina property," Says the study. • Goderich Works Commissioner Ken Hunter told the Ministry 01 (110 EnV iron - merit last sprit% that Salt OffliSSIOOS IWO ,harming aro trees and causing boaters to leave Snug Harbor Marina. "l'here's no doubt 111 my mind that any suspicions Ore true," he says. He ' says Goderich cotuitil, Detritar representatives and ministry represtite tatives will probably Sit down to work out as solution once the ministry completes an accompanying study of the salt emissions Wilt; 111088 bags in Februery, In AMC of 1985, MOSS bags were placed on'three concrete poles along the east side of Marina Road, near tlw lidded trees. A fourth bag was pla\asi off North Harbor Road, to the 010 o1 Monter. The bugs, which are replaced 0 enthly, will show the cl amount of salt emittedIsieltinonth. The moss bag survey will continue until the end of February to obtain data since the mine went back into,operation filter the strike last fall and to determine if reed de- icing salt is a factor. ••, - The study was conducted after Snug Harbor boaters begaw to relOCate cone • ipxi 1:iiitisiing that salt cants:dons damaged thr ei Council balks at twinning. Despite a suggestion from Coun. Peter McCauley to further discuas the twinning of Goderich with St. Marc, Haiti, council decided to file the issue. 'We listened and Made no l'OCOMIT101111O- t1011 (after a presentation in December' by Ken Davis, president of the Canadian Foundation for World Development). P w a little thought we could «afte up with tu) Idea," McCauley said, uley said he Made the motion with 110 1 of endorsieg the twinning with St. • Mt spirit rather than financially, "I was thinking of Maria Dalton who's work*, so hard and making .progress' at the high school. I thought It was • wor- ' thwhile . just 14) research it further," be said. • • Coun, Shin Profit recommended 1.1)0 issue be filed and was supported by die majority of council. "There are plenty of -people in Canada to help rather than sending away to other countries. It's a question of find* people who need help !fere," he said when asked his reasons for filing the issne. "'llivinnirig with St. Marc In spirit, is just giving hp service; It's not constructive. 11 would be wonderful to do 00 the surface but would really do nothing," he added. In the same meeting, council decided to spend $1000 towards the annual trip of town representatives on Mar. 16(0 Bay Ci - .1y, Michigan, Goderich' s twin since 1977. INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR In memory The members of the 'Garb" and GOBI' Novice hockey team Observed a minute's fillenee in memory of their manager, Poul .R1Vera, who died suddenly Christmas Day, prior to their game against. St. Marys on Saturday afternoOn. A report of the novice game and other .hockey action In tool leagues appcnrs in taday'S sports section. Spot Checks. Police spot checkfound fewer driVers over the holiday period this year 418 stiff legialation curbs drunk &lying, See inside today'SSignal-fpr on nage 2 for our retied.