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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1971-03-25, Page 16OMB Approves Application When contacted by the Citizens News following the hearing, Murray Wilson, P. Eng. of the OWRC, said that it will probably be close to 12 months before actual construction will begin. He pointed out that it will take four to six months for the engineers to fin- ish their working drawings and specifications, and another four to six months for the OWRC to approve the plans, call tenders, and award a contract. Mr. Wilson said he hoped construction could begin late next winter or early spring. He added that if every- thing goes according to schedule, the system could be in actual operation by late 1972. For the village the approval of the project marks the completion of about six years of planning and negotiating. It was back in May of 1965 that a report called, "Water Pollution Sewage of the Township of Hay, including the Villages of Hensall and Zur- ich" was presented by the OWRC to councils of both Zurich and Hensall. The report was severely critical of the pollution caused by sewage in the storm sewers in Zurich, requested that some action be taken to correct the situation. Since that time councils of the village have been carrying on continued negotiations with OWRC on the problem, and 5311966 arrangements were made whereby the OWRC would install a provin- cially -owned system. 1111968 a hearing was held in Zurich by the OWRC regarding the site of the lagoons, and this phase of the project was passed at that time. An agreement was signed between the OWRC and the village in 1969, and work has proceeded on the eng- ineering plans since that time. Last November notices were published in the Cit- izens News giving any ratepayer an opportunity to lodge a formal objection to the plans. While 12 or 15 letters of protest were received, only three rate- payers appeared at the meeting to present their case before the board. An Ontario Municipal Board hearing last Thurs- day afternoon granted approval to the Ontario Water Resources Commission to install a Sewage Systern in the Village of Zurich. The application to the OMB had been made by the OWRC on behalf of the village. When completed, the entire system will remain the property of the Province of Ontario. Only three ratepayers opposed the application, while a like number spoke on behalf of the project. The two representatives of the OMB, B, E. Smith, P. Eng. , and H. H, Lancaster, told the meeting that sufficient need had been established for them to grant approval of the project. They also stated they felt the proposed form of payment was reasonable, and that it should not create a hardship on any individual ratepayer. C.V. Laughton, Q.C. represented the village at the hearing, and outlined to the board the need for sewage facilities in Zurich. "The village of Zurich has always been noted for it's aggressiveness, " Mr. Laughton said, "and if they wish to continue going ahead they need a sewage system installed." Mr. Laughton called as witnesses Ken Dunn, P. Eng. of the firm of B. M. Ross and Associates; Archie For- sythe, of the O.W.R.C., William Empy, of the Hur- on County Health Unit; reeve Gordon Hess, of Zurich; and three ratepayers, Gerald Gingerich, Peter Proll and Donald Oke. Mr. Dunn explained details of the proposed system which his firm has designed for the village, while Mr. Forsythe outlined what the charges to ratepayers would be. He confirmed the rate to an average home- owner as being approximately $84 to $85 per year, depending on the amount of frontage. Representing the Huron County Health Unit, Mr. Empy told of various checks they have made on the creek in the east section of the village, and reported on the excess amount of raw sewage in the open diteh He added, "without a sewage system the village of Zurich will soon start going backwards instead of ahead, " Mr. Empy also told the board of the numer- ous problems his unit has encountered with septic tanks in Zurich. Reeve Gordon Hess was asked to confirm the prob- lems in the village with septic tanks, and he also outlined procedures which have been followed through in the past years towards the installation of a system. Mr. Gingerich testified that he knew of at least a dozen septic tank drains which are connected dir- ectly to storm sewers in the downtown area of the village, causing an unhealthy situation, while Mr. Proll told of the need for a sewage system to allev- iate smelly problems to the east of his business est- ablishment. Questioned by Mr. Laughton, Donald Oke reported that he had experienced difficulty in obtaining mortgage money for new homeowners from trust companies because of the lack of a sewage system in the municipality. The three objectors to the proposal, Frank Kane, Ivan Kalbfleisch, and Milton Oesch, all testified that they felt the costs to a ratepayer would be too high, thereby placing a burden on many of the res- idents. Following the hearing of all evidence for and ag- ainst the proposal, the two members of the OMB adjourned for about ten minutes before bringing in their decision in favour of the project. Acting as chairman, Mr. Smith told the gathering that they had carefully considered all aspects of the proposal, and felt it should be approved. They pointed out that a serious pollution problem exists in Zurich, and added that they felt the costs to an individual would not create too great a hardship. YOUNG CANADA WEEK ACTION - The Zurich Peewees took part in the Young Canada Week hockey tournament in Goderich last week, and won three games before finally being defeated in the final contest for the "D" title. By virtue of their showing they won the runner-up trophy, and team captain Fred Mominer- steeg is seen here accepting the silverware from Clark Chisholm, an official of the Goderich event. Office Space In County Building Needs Changes For New Director (by Shirley J. Keller) A re -shuffling of office space is required in the county to ac- commodate the new planning director, Gary Davidson who is arriving in Goderich later this spring. At the most recent meeting of Huron County Council, it was learned that the property com- mittee will move the Huron County Library offices out of the court house and into a 2, 000 - square foot ground floor premises on Lighthouse Street, in Goder- ich at a rental of $300 per month including heat and light. This accommodation should be available by about June 30. The county planner and his staff would then occupy the offices left vacant by the library McKillop Reeve Allan Camp- bell suggested that if the libr- ary was going to move anyway, it might be wise to move it to a more central location in the county. Clerk John Berry explained that little consideration had been given to that idea because pres- ent trained library staff reside in Goderich and a move out-of- town alight then involve employ- ment mployment problems. Budgets coming under the jurisdiction of the property com- mittee were carefully scrutiniz- ed by council. The court house budget is up to $45, 260, almost $7, 000 more than was actually spent last year, The increased budget, it was (continued on page 3) Zurich News NO. 13— ZURICH, ONTARIO, THURSDAY, APRIL 1, 1971 10 CENTS PER COPY Official Plan Calls For Banning Cottages (by Shirley J. Keller) A city 45 miles long with a population of 10, 000 persons on the very edge of Lake Huron is something that could happen in Huron County unless thoughtful legislation prevents it, according to the representatives of G.V. Kleinfeldt Associates Ltd. of London, who presented the prop- osed official county plan to mem bers of Huron County Council in Goderich March 26. J.A. Nicklom and T. S. Keith told county council the develop- ment of scattered cottages along the lakeshore should be stopped. They said county planners must look at these cottagers as prospective permanent residents in Huron County who may one day demand all the services they would have a right to exp- ect in any municipality. "These 2800 cottages along the lake can pose a real threat, " said Keith. "You cannot prevent cottages from turning over to permanent residences." The actual wording in the plan governing this section is as follows: "It is assumed that the public interest is best served by directing future urban growth to those areas and municipalities which have the greatest capacity to absorb additional development as economically as possible; "It is assumed that most future urban development in the county will occur on full municipal services. Seasonal residential (cottages) and rural residential development may be permitted, in areas designated "agricultural" They will be subject to the Land Visition Policy of this official plan. Accordingly the Plan cont- ains policies for the division of land in the urban and rural areas of the county; "It is assumed that it is not in the public interest to allow sub- stantial additions to the cottage development along Lake Huron and that the Plan should curtail further lakeshore development until such time as it has been found that no municipal, county or provincial agencies wish to acquire additional land for public purposes." The Plan reported that the amount of cottage lands is dis- proportionately spread throughout the county. Over 75 percent of th shoreline in Hay and Stanley Townships has been used up, while in Ashfield and Colborne Townships this figure drops to 40 percent and 34 percent resp- ectively. The amount of vacant frontage, that is lands which are sued for agricultural purposes, total 16 miles; cottages and other private development account for approx- imately 28 miles; and public own ership of lakefront amounts to less than two miles. "The beaches have become inaccessible to the general pub- lic, " the plan states. "The un- economical design of these rib- bon plans encourages high cost in terms of road construction, telephone, power and mainten- ance services." The plan also states that in rural areas, registered plans (continued on page 9) Huron County 'Council Urged To enew Mem'bers'hip In Mid -Western Assoc. Cummings' salary will be $10, 000 this year with provisions for a salary review at the end of the year. His office this year will be located in the court house and not at CFB Clinton as it was previously. The budget for his department will be $25, 000 which provides $2, 000 for secretarial fees, $1, - 000 for travelling expenses; $2, 000 for committee pay; and $8, 500 for public relations; and the balance in miscellaneous expenditures such as telephone, employee benefits, etc. Reeve Paul Carroll, Goderich, suggested a "loosely -knit org- anization" which would permit MODA, the county development officer and the municipal indust- rial committees or commission- ers to "work as a team rather than completely disintegrated." He claimed MODA "vas an "active organization concerned with the development of this cegion" and added that if the benefits from membership in MODA have not been too satis- factory, it is because "municip- alities haven't done their share of the work in promoting or implementing those recommend- ttions from MODA." (continued on page 13) (by Shirley I. Keller) Alex McGregor, deputy -reeve of Tuckersmith and chairman of the county development commit- tee said he could not divulge in public what inside information he and his committee had, but he strongly urged members of Huron County Council meeting in Goderich March 26, to appr- ove the $6175.56 fee to mid- western Ontario Development Association for this year as well as the appointment of develop- ment officer Spence Cummings for another term. "I can assure you this thing will turn out in good shape, " promised McGregor. "This is a critical period in Huron County.' Warden Jack Alexander conc- urred and indicated to council that the county development committee had som knowledge of the government's planning with regard to CFB Clinton which officially closes at the end of this year. Representatives to the MODA Zone will be McGregor, Gordon Hess, chairman of the executive committee; Charles Thomas, chairman of the county planning board; Warden Jack Alexander; and one other representative, Spence Cummings.