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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1989-02-14, Page 5V.6 ;.,..44:1•‘‘ • • ".",' ' 014 •4; ••• . ,sernmffarammaamirimmumnimmagir The soft side of winter Morris group opposed to rails -to -trails ' proposal Dear Editor: The Rails -to -Trails proponents •keep mentioning Wisconsin's Sugar River Trail as an example of what our abandoned CPR line could become if converted to a nature trail or parkland area. Turning to the CAA Tour Book, Michigan -Wisconsin 1987 edition, I Was able to uncover this in- formation. The Sugar River State Park is a 23 -mile long trail- between: New Glarus and Brodhead, Wisconsin. developed along one of the old Pacific Railway systems leading out of Chicago. There are many other smaller cities and towns within a. 100 -mile radius of this trail, but comparing the total population of these three centres alone, they add up to 10 to 15 - per cent of Canada's whole population. This is a good solid population base to support and use the 23 -mile Sugar River State Park. The population of Huron County as of the 1988 municipal record was 55,553. The length of the proposed Goderich-Guelph Nature Trail is 77.2 miles. On Feb. 2 of this year, Morris Township property owners directly affected by the disposal of CPR pro- perty on Con. 10 met and conferred to produce this petition te Morris council... •We are concerned that if our voice is not heard now, the decision may - be made without even consulting those whose lives will be most directlyinfluenced by this change. The farm owners living on pro- perties abutting the abandoned railway property on Con. 10 of Morris are against the proposed ideas of converting these properties into recreational parklands and nature trails. Further, the landowners wish the municipality to assist them in reclaiming these areas as part of the original farm parcel for a number of reasons, among them: 1. To reconnect divided lands on a short concession. 2. For weed control that we can be responsible for 100 per cent. 3. Fence maintenance that we can be responsible for 100 per cent. 4. We feel that a property divided by a public access trail would be further depreciated, even worse than the railway. Railway traffic was traffic with a purpose, whereas recreational traffic is at any thne, any direction, an invasion of property through our backyards. • 5. We don't want nuisance lawsuits as a result of injuries or deaths occurring on or along our property lines and causing our insurance premiums (or these of the municipality) to be increased. 6. The proposed nature trail or park project would be an im- pediment to co-operation between farmers on -drain maintenance, both for municipal and private farm_ drains, 7. V-andalism, littering and noise pollution would be a never-ending irritant. Who would service trasli barrels, pick up litter and police this property? At what cost? 8. We feel that no group presently supporting the proposition of con verting these abandoned railway properties has the funding capabilities to guarantee. the high level Of security and policing necessary, to pay for the ,preliniinary survey and fencing of the proposed trail and to maintain weed control and drain main- tenance. 9. The farm owner must centime to have the tight of access across his Own preperty. The- -business of agriculttire is of prime importance" in this township and must not be impeded. The local property owners have set forth three objectives: -We are totally in favor of the municipal councils becoming in- volved in the disposal of the CPR properties and thus facilitate- the eventual return of the land into the farm properties with the property owners involved. We feel that the council should be involved so that it has a voice in the use of land in the township, because the council represents the lan- lowners and ratepayers involved, as well as its own interest (where the right-of-way crosses the road or any other municipal property). -Drains, weed control, fences, environmental protection and stray animals are all •the township's responsibility to. control. The even- tual return of these lands hi the farm parcel ,would enable the farmer to effectively control them at his cost, not the township'& -We wish council to help make our voices heard now, before the de- cision is taken without due con- sultation by another agency of government. . If the land can be returned to the farmer, we want the municipal council to encourage its reclamation for agricultural production in all cases where feasible. If the reclaimed land is unsuitable for cultivation, we wish it to be re- forested, thus providing win- dbreaks, weed control and soil erosion control. For over 80 years, the CPR rail- way has brought benefit to the sur- rounding townships and com- munities Of this' area, while the land depreciation and the extra costs and inconvenience of a divided property have been endured by the farmers adjacent to the track. Therefore we are respectfully asking the council of Morris Township to negotiate on our behalf to return this land to the farmers at minimal cost. Yours truly, Jeanne Kirkby Representing Con. 10 farm owners Emerson Mitchell, Charles Shob- brook, Arnold Egli and Alan Young. f f.,,••??.; Ontario recently became the first mandatory as of tile annual province to Myr q4ew./Pnatial)- heflsmgjTsptjoflrequl Stabilization platiefei. S40** file basic and beef cattle. catepries1 Of filifeitifatiOn' staff The tripartite Otibilititiokiiig; programa, discipline, health, and programs are income assurance ,,safety — and theatatua Of tbelicenee programs which provide payments in each of these areas. to producers when market prices It indicates whether each centre are low. They areiunded equally by measures up to required standards the federal government,' parti- and if not, what action the operator cipating provincial governments must take to bring the centre up to and participating, „ producers- regulation standards and:- , *hat Producer participation* Voluntai*: date thiamiust *done. - This agreement represents a truly ''Review Begins co-operative effort. The amend- To begin immediately, a review of ments will go a long way to create a child care enforcement practices level playing field for red meat will examine hew the provisions of producers across Canada, partieu- child care legislation are being larly since there will be a firm enforced. ceiling on the benefits which prow It will investigate the degree of inces can offer their producers. province -wide compliance with the I anticipate that, all the provinces legislationandwillexamineea- will be signing some -or- all of the.' fordeinent practices to determine agreements over the next few days. their consistency and effectiveness. I was pleased to be the first minister The review, expected to take ap- to sign. , proximately six months, will recom- Federal and provincial goVern- mend interim strategies to help ments as well as national and operational staff ensure compliance provincial producer associations with childcare legislation and ident- have been- working on amendments ify issues that can be addressed Only to the plan for the past year. by new legislation. The new set of rules was develop- 'In order to develop a new Child ed following federal and provincial Care Act as outlined in "New min—isteres' recommendations made Directions for Child Care", a more at a conference in July, 1 .;•: . thorough study of existing legislation will begin in the spring. Child Care Standards • Community and Social Services Riding News minis try of tural Minister John Sweeney has recently minisnaresources has announced a total of $46.2 announced two measures to address million for the 38 ° conservation issues concerning the quality of authorities in Ontario, an increase of child care hi Ontaiio. $820,000 in operating allocations and Introduction of a parent in- $3 million in capital allocations over formation poster as part of the min- last year. istry's parent information iniyativ5 hi tbel southwestern, region, the Valley, .Conservation which licensing • 'mtilitumenta are Authority has received $1,153,393 currently enforced, the government and the Ausable Bayfield Con - has delivered on commitments out- servation Authority has received $1,049,689. Culture and Communications Min - A poster, "Information for Pa- ister Lily Munro has announced a rents",, has been designed to provide $13,337 designated property grant parents with the added information for the Town of Seaforth. they needto play a stronger role in The grant will be applied to their child's early development. heritage conservation measures for Beginning March 1, display of the six different properties within the posters in child care centres will be town. lined in its "New Directions for Child Care", announced in 1987. Red label brings apology, thanks from grateful reader Dear Editor: I notice on the Jan. 31,1989 copy of my paper that I have a red label which means that I am behind in payment for your paper. For this I sincerely apologize. As a rule, 1 try to keep up my 'payment ahead of time by renewing my subscription some time during the summer. I thought that I had done this IP' 'mmer, but in checking my, , the last one I could find had me paid up to October 1988. Thank you for continuing to send it under these circumstances as I very much look forward to receiving it. I give it quite a thorough reading each PRESS COUNCIL The Wingham Advance Times is a member of the Ontario Press Council which will consider writ- ten complaints about the publication of news, opin- ions and advertising. If a. complaint cannot be re- solved with the newspa- per, it should be sent to the Ontario Press Coun, cil, 151 Slater St., Suite 708, Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5H3 week and appreciate it very much as I originally came from Wroxeter. I also attended Wingham High School for two years away back in 1931-32 and 1932-33. At one time, I knew quite a few people in the area. Of course, times change, but I still recognize a few of the names. Once again, please accept my apology for my tardiness in this matter. My cheque for $23 is enclosed. Yours truly Norman W. C. Hall Aylmer, Ont. Museum board gets film footage The Wingham and District Museum Board has received about 200 feet of eight-millin' lam film — circa 1947 — which it hopes to transfer to videotape and placed on display at the museum, Wingham Town Council learned last week. The announcement was made by Deputy Reeve Bill Harris in his report at council's regular February meeting. Mr. Harris, council's represen- tative on the museum board, said he expects that once the footage — of life in this area at that time — has been transferred to video tape, the museum will hold an open house. • ,