Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1974-03-21, Page 1MEI Liii©Eh e/M N O . 12 FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, MARCH 21, 1974 DEDICATE NEW ORGAN - A new electric organ, donated by the Zurich Lions Club, was ded- icated at the Blue Water Rest Home on Sunday afternoon. Shown here taking part in the service are, left to right, J. Elgin McKinley, representing the board of directors of the Home, Don Oke, representing the Lions Club, Rev. A. C. Blackwell, representing the clergymen of the area, and Mrs. Jack Turkheim, organist for the dedication service. Report urges land us Provincial and local govern- ments must develop land use policies for rural areas to prot- ect agricultural land from un- planned urban development. That is one of the recom- mendations in a progress report from the Urban Development in Rural Areas (UDIRA) study, being conducted by James E. MacLaren Limited, environ- mental consultants from London and Toronto. Plan uron deer hunt An emotional, three-month argument on establishing a deer -hunting season in Huron County was won by the advoc- ates Thursday after a recorded tie vote in county council. The deciding vote, for a hunting season in 1974, was cast by Goderich Reeve Deb Shew- felt. In the case of tie votes, the Goderich reeve is given an extra vote. After the tie was broken, Elgin Thompson, reeve of Tuckersmith Township and chairman of the Ausable-Bay- field Conservation Authority, told Reeve Shewfelt he hoped he would never be shot by an arrow and left to a lingering death. Reeve Shewfelt replied that it might be preferable to death by starvation. Council's vote concurs with a ministry of natural resources recommendation to establish twc hunting seasons; three days for riflemen, November 11-13, and a month-long season for archers between October 29 and Nov - (continued on page 6) The $106, 000 provincial study will be completed in 1975 and is expected to influ- ence future government polic- ies in rural areas. The study wa: initiated in Huron County and the progress report was presented Thursday to Huron County Coun- cil. The premise of the study is that the "Urban shadow" of strip development, summer cottages and gentleman farmers who do not farm may "event- ually stifle the heartbeat of agricultural areas." This could result in "environ- ments that will be unsuitable for agriculture" and "a total waste of an irreplaceable re- source. The report suggests that once an area has been designated as primarily agricultural, "then all policies must be supportive to this main purpose." Urban development will then be eval- uated in terms of possible bene - policy fit or conflict to the overall perspective. Official plans drawn up for cities, where the nature of the land is relatively unimportant, cannot be used as the basis for rural land use plans and zoning bylaws. The study bases its approach in consideration of the physical character of the land. The report suggests that fed- eral government policies regard- ing land have little effect on forms of development in rural areas. The strongest government effect is from provincial prog- rams, which directly effect agriculture, rural non-farm use, recreation and resource development. The effect of local govern- ment is primarily in drawing up the official plans for land use. The report hopes that evaluat- ing the existing land use and area conditions will evolve into (continued on page 11) 15 CENTS PER COPY Zurich plans by-law on swimming pools The council of the Village of Zurich, at their regular monthly meeting last Wednesday after- noon, gave first and second reading to a by-law governing the construction and operation of privately owned swimming pools within the village limits. Most important item in the by-law governs a fence which must be erected by the property owner before a private swimming pool can be used. The fence must be at least four feet high, and shall be constructed of woven wire of a guage of eleven or heavier. In all instances the fence shall be erected so that the low- est strand be not more than three inches above ground level. A fence of wood or other material may be substituted provided such fence is adequate for the protection of small children and is approved by the village. No swimming pool within the village limits shall be filled with water before the enclosure has been completed, except for the purpose of testing. Anyone found guilty of violating the by-law is subject to a fine not to exceed the sum of $50 for the first offence, and not to exceed $100 for every subsequent off- ence. At the same meeting the council adjusted the hourly rate charged for the use of the fire department equipment and men. The new hourly rate is $125 for the first hour, and $75 for every hour thereafter. The higher rates are necessary, according to the council, due to the increased costs of oper- ation. The Township of Hay is to be notified of this new rate structure. In other business at the same meeting council rescinded an earlier motion this year setting the salary of the road foreman at $6109. The new rate of salary was set at $6 800 per year, retroactive to January 1. The Haberer Municipal Drain, from Goshen Street west to the Zurich Public School, is to be replaced at an estimated cost of $600. All property own- ers affected by this project will be notified as to what share of the costs they will be liable for. The date of appeal was set for April 2. Gary Davidson, director of the Huron County Planning Department, met with the council to• discuss details of the new zoning by-laws which are being drawn up for the village. A public meeting is being plan- ned for the near future, at which time ratepayers will have the opportunity to discuss the zoning situation. Council also agreed to send a request to the Ontario Hous- ing Authority asking them to increase the number of units scheduled to be built in Zurich from 10 to 15. They have had numerous requests in the past few weeks for accommodation in this type of geared -to- income units. Early morning fire d str t market Fire early Tuesday morning completely destroyed Merner's Meat Market and Abbatoir, just north of the village of Dashwood The alarm was turned in just after 5 a.m. and was quickly answered by the Dashwood vol- unteer fire department. Despite prompt action of the fire brigade almost everything was lost in the blaze. All the Increase f (by Wilma Oke) The Huron County Board of Education will grant a two per cent increase in contract rem- uneration to all transportation operators supplying services to the Board, effective Sept- ember 1, 1973. R.B. Dunlop, Business Admin- istrator, told board members meeting in Clinton Monday afternoon that the government has increased ceiling to prov- ide for the two per cent and that the Huron Board had been below the ceiling. He said the increase would amount to about $8, 000. The government does allow an additional one-half per cent but the board rejected a motion to allow this. r bus contractors The board will maintain a Trustee Accident Insurance coverage with the Reliable Life Insurance Company for the year 1974. as "it is more flexible" according to a statement by Mr. Dunlop. The fee structure (effective September 1, 1974) will rem- ain the same as for 1973-74 term at $100 per elementary student and $200 per secondary student but will be applied to all non-resident students attend- ing Huron County Schools for whom responsibility is not acc- epted by neighbouring boards. The fee structure is to be reviewed annually. The board will also discontinue payment of fees for Huron County resid- ent pupils attending Bruce County schools except where right of such attendance is clearly defined by provincial statute or regulation. The board retracted its stand on requiring medicals within thirty of hiring non -teaching employees but will require the administration to have on hand evidence indicating that it has asked any potential non -teach- ing employee whether he or she is aware of any medical reason why he or she might not be able to carry out the demands of the position in question. and if there is any doubt, a medical certificate would be required. (continued on page 10) contents of the building --incl- uding a large stock of grocer- ies, about 25 carcasses of beef and some pork already process- ed --were completely destroyed. Some cattle and hogs which had been brought to the abbatoir Monday for Tuesday morning slaughtering were saved. Dashwood fire chief Emil Becker estimated the loss at about $100, 000. Ron Merrier, owner of the business, is holi- daying this week at Puerto Rico, and was not made aware of the loss, Cause of the fire has not been determined, according to Mr. Becker. An investigation is continuing. Just last month the same building was broken into and a quantity of meat was stolen. There were no ar- rests made in connection with that incident. The newly enlarged business was opened in January, although the abbatoir section has been in operation for some time. Prior to the move to the new location, Merner's operated the meat market and grocery divis- ion of the business at a locat- ion in the village of Dashwood. Now all that remains of the building are the outside walls.