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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-04-05, Page 8PAGE 8 —GODERICH SIGNAL -STAR, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 1979 No lease with Huron, Shell won't drill for precious oil BY JEFF SEDDON A representative of shell Canada Limited hinted to county council Thursday that there may be oil deposits under some county owned lands. But council was told that unless Shell was given mineral rights to those lands test wells to find that oil may never be drilled. David Johnson, a land man for Shell Canada Resources, told council that extensive ex- ploration for oil and gas indicated that if there was oil in southwestern Ontario it was in Huron County. He said ex- ploration programs started in 1976 had narrowed down potential drilling sites for oil and Huron County had the most potential. Johnson said Shell was in "competition with Amoco in the search for oil and because of that competition he would not' specify what county owned lands the firm was interested in getting the rights for. He did say that the land was near the lake and that the test well, if it was drilled, Few question financing would be drilled adjacent to county lands_ not on them. H,e told council that before an oil company drills test wells it `must have a "handle" on mineral rights. He said Shell had leased mineral rights on acerage in the 100,000's in Huron before it began seismic tests for oil reserves. He said the company would not drill test .wells unless it had the sole rights to any oil or gas discovred. He explained to council that the county land was the only section Shell did not have mineral rights to in the area it wanted to drill. He said if the county did not grant the mineral rights the test well would not be drilled. He added that the firm plans to start test drilling in the next few months suggesting council not delay on a decision to grant or not grant the rights. Oil exploration started in southwestern Ontario four years ago when companies began leasing mineral rights to lands. Once most of the rights had been secured two years of seismic testing began. The bulk of the sound testing took place on the side of roads in the co.unty but Johnson said some times the testing was done on private land. He said the seismic testing enabled researchers to map subterranian levels giving them a better idea of where oil deposits could be. He said all the seismic testing does is, tell them where oil or gas could be. Once that is determined a test well is dug. Council was ap- proached eariler on granting mineral rights to county owned land but Christian School halts gym By Clarence Bos In a move apparently designed to make Christian education more accessible to a broader popular base, the Clinton and District Christian School last Monday night halted the proceedings which would have led to the construction of a gymnasium onto the existing structure of the school. The society almost unanimously voiced its approval of the building addition proposed by the School Board, but a small majority of the mem- bership did not approve cf the School Board's plans to finance the new addition. The new structure, which would have added to the Christian School not only a gymnasium but a foyer, kitchen and new dressing rooms would have cost the school society $141,000 and operating expenses. The membership of the society, which refused to accept a grant from Wintario (because it principially disagrees with the concept of gambling), was adamant in its refusal to accept the financial arrangements made by the School Board as long as there was any possibility that some of the financial burden of this con- struction might be passed onto the tuition costs of " those who might net be able to afford them. • It was generally felt that nothing should stand in the way of a sincere Christian and his wish to provide for his children a Christian education under a dedicated team of Christian teachers and in a Christian en- vironment. It was suggested to the School Board that it find an alternate method of financing the gymnasium and that it concentrate in the near future on all possible methods of lowering the .general Hydro staff to emote The 45 members of the Clinton Local of the Canadian Union of Public Employees are among the 15,000 Ontario Hydro workers who will cast ballots in a strike referendum during the next three weeks, following breakdown of negotiations on a new contract. Ballots will be counted on April 23, but if a majority favor a strike, no date has been set. When negotiations ended, the union was demanding an 11 per cent wage increase and im- provements in vacations, pensions, and income protection, s"horter hours of work, and a revised cost -of -living clause. The company has of- fered raises ranging from six to eight per cent in a one year contract, the union said. m tuition rate, especially by broadening the local supporting base of the school. Chairman of the School Board, Mr. Jack Roorda, reported that there were some encouraging signs of interest in school membership by parents in some local churches other than the Christian Reformed Church, and that all such interest would be welcomed. The meeting, which had been opened in praise to God for his many blessings and in prayer for a responsible decision, was closed in thanksgiving and in prayer that children everywhere whether in the Christian School or in the Public Schools might be made aware of the love of Christ for them.- Council hem: Council BY SHIRLEY J.KELLER Reeve Eileen Palmer told council Monday evening she hoped Commissioner of Works Ken Hunter was making a joke when he suggested that the town should acquire a bucket truck. She suggested that before the town would purchase- such an item, council should in- vestigate the possibility of cost sharing with other municipalities or contracting to have jobs done that require a bucket truck. Councillor John Doherty said the town has been hiring a tree trimming crew and spent $8,000 last year to have this work done. He,,said buying a bucket truck and spreading the cost over five years or so could be cheaper for ,,the municipality in the long run. Deputy -reeve Bob Allen said the works and engineering department had no intention to put a bucket truck in this year's budget, but was only investigating the cost for interest sake. The_Respect-- for --Life -issue-was-da•sous-se d -again- - by members of Gdderich town council when a request was presented to proclaim a Respect for Life week. A recorded vote showed only Councillors Elsa Haydon and Stan Profit were not in favor of the proclamation. Councillor Haydon said she feels she riefs represents many types of people and resents the inference that the Goderich and District Pro Life group is the only group with "the soul monopoly" , on respect for life. Reeve Eileen Palmer said the name of the group is really secondary. "We should be very grateful that we have individuals who are interested enough to carry the banner on issues as important as this one," said the reeve. Councillor James Magee felt council had a "moral obligation" to support the request for a proclamation. �.++ At next week's committee meeting, town council members will be discussing the request for demolition permit ,for the former Hogarth building on Hamilton Street. Building inspector Andy, Boutilier..said Alvin 'McGee has applied for a permit to level the building, and reported the building is not on the -list-ei her-i-t-a-ge-build-ings-for-the-tewn- - However, council feels the matter should be thoroughly studied before approval is given for the demolition, although most council members seem to feel it would be an improvement to remove the structure. +++ GODERICH HOLMESVILLE CLINTON G.EN..ERALSTORE HIGHWAY NO.8...MID1•WAY EITHER WAY PHONE 482-7150 FOR EASTER WE HAVE TENDER SWEET AND SUGAR PLUM HAMS FRESH HOMEMADE SAUSAGE LD.$1 . 19 L8.$1.19 L8. '1.49 OPEN: MON. TO SAT., 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. MAPLE LEAF BY THE PIECE OR SLICE BOLOGNA NO. 1 STORE SLICED BACON MAPLE LEAF SWEET PICKLED COTTAGE ROLL L. $1 .49 FRESH PORK BUTT OR. SHOULDER CHOPS FRESH LOIN PORK CHOPS L. §1c 1 9 ..x1.49 STORE SLICED COOKED HAM §2.49 WE ALSO SELL BEEF FOR FREEZERS CUT AND WRAPPED FREE ABOVE SPECIALS IN EFFECT TILL CLOSING ON SATUR- DAY, APRIL 7, 1979. We carry a FULL LINE OF GROCERIES plus GAS AND OIL PRODUCTS FOR HOME & FARM. REPAIRS WE HAVE •FENCE STAPLES •PUMP WASHERS * WIRE • CISTERN WASHERS * NAILS •AXES *NUTS 'N BOLTS •HAMMERS * PORCELAIN -OR PLASTIC •AXE HANDLES FENCE INSULATORS • AXE SAW • ELECTRIC FENCE HANDLES •CAULKING •SHOVELS .*FORKS •RAKES •BROOMS • FENCE BATTERIES *PAINT BRUSHES OR ROLLERS •S. BOLTS *SANDPAPER •WIRE SCREEN ETC. •WEED 'N FEED •GARDEN SEED •LAWN FERTILIZER turned the request down on the advice of the county 'solicitor. The advice from the solicitor indicated that council should not confuse or confine rights on publicly owned lands. Coupled with that is the refusal of the province of Ontario to grant any individual or firm any exclusive rights to public lands. Some county lands, most of which are reforestation projects, are owned in co-operation with the province and the province demands that no mineral rights be granted. Usborne reeve Bill Morley told Johnson he should be more specific if he wanted a favorable decision from council. He said it may help council to make a decision if it knew the potential for oil discovery, how much land Shell wanted to lease and how much oil the firm hoped to find. He said he had leased mineral rights on lands he owned and received $100 a year. He added that he would not be in- terested in granting a lease for one quarter of an, ,acre for 25 cents but may be interested in a lease worth $25,000 a year,; - Johnson said he was not in position to be that explicit but could say that it would net the county more than $1,000 a year but he didn't know if it would be $30,000. He added that if oil was discovered the county would receive 12.5 per- cent of the price of a barrel of oil for ''every barrel produced. The Shell represen- tative said 'the land in Huron dounty was on the fringe of the Michigan basin. He said that' un- derground land for- mation had enjoyed some • very productive oil wells and his firm was in- terested in seeing if the Michigan basin extended _..-to..-H-ur n-co.un-tye-H-e-.sa•id-- the productivity of the wells in northern Michigan was not comparable to Oklahoma oil wells pointing out Huron county "does not have a mini Alberta". Morley said council should look at the Shell proposal claiming council "had nothing to lose". He said it appeared if air; oil was under county lands council would have to give Shell mineral rights before that oil could be pumped out. He said council should not be "overly concerned" about the environment since the test well was not going to damage anything. But the Usborne reeve did say. council should lease all of its land or none of it. He said it was much better to_. get a cheque for $30,000 than it was a cheque for $1,000. Seaforth reeve John WELCOME SERVICE wouid"IIke to call you with "housewarming gifts", and Information about your new location. The Hostess will be glad to arrange your subscription to the Signal -Star. CaII her at 524-2057 Flannery suggested council hold out for the best deal possible. He said if there was oil there in any quantities the oil companies would be back. He suggested the development committee investigate the mineral rights for county lands and report back to council. Warden Jack Tinney agreed with Flannery pointing out that the oil companies are "quite accessible when they want a -lease". 166 The Square Goderich 524-6572 r► e RICK WHETSTONE WATCHMAKER AND JEWELLER 166 THE SQUARE GODERICH PH 574 6511 'TIS THE SEASON FOR SAVINGS AND YOU FOUND THEM! 20% OFF ALL RINGS Inducting Ladle, Dramand, Opal, Sla, Sapphire, and Gans, Ring. plu, Wedding Ring, 50% OFF ALL CHINA 161,,, o Clearance Salo all CHINA MUST GO! 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