Loading...
Zurich Citizens News, 1977-11-03, Page 1NO. 4 41 FIRST WITH LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1977 Price Per Copy 20 Cents Hay secondary plan explained About50 people gathered atthe Hay Township Hall in Zurich, Thursday, to hear about the secondary plan that is proposed for the township. The meeting, which was billed - as the Introductory Planning Workshop, was intended to give area residents a brief review and explanation of workshops that are planned for upcoming weeks. Reeve Jack Tinney introduced TRICK OR TREAT — A number of children from the area are taking advantage of the generosity of area people as Hallowe'en rolled around once again. Benjamin Geiger, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Geiger, Barb, Mary Ann, John, Marten and Robby Regier, children of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Regier were in Zurich to do their trick or treating. - Staff photo Sustained lacerations Area driver injured slightly Two drivers were injured in the five accidents investigated by the Exeter OPP this week. Neither injury was reported as being serious. Gary Rau, RR 2 Zurich, sustained -a laceration over one eye when the vehicle he was driving on Sunday left Highway Huron boo for welfare 13Y JEFF SEDDON Huron County Council in- creased fuel allowances for people on welfare in the county, raising the allowance 45 per cent to cover an identical increase in the cost of fuel to heat homes. The social services committee reported to council Friday that the allowance had not been in- creased since October of 1974 and that since that time costs for home heating fuel have increased 45 per cent. The increase raises the allowance for a one -room detached dwelling from $84 per month to $122 per month. Two rooms draws an allowance in- crease from $108 to $157, three from $144 to $209, four from $180 to $271, five from $216 to $313 and six • from $252 • to $365. The allowance is paid directly to the 84 east of Zurich and struck a culvert. Damage was listed at $350 by Constable Bill Lewis. The other injury was reported in a Friday accident when a vehicle driven by Florence Legault, Huron St., Exeter, went out of control on County Road 11 is rate heating welfare recipient who is responsible for paying his own fuel costs. The committee also reported to council that the new provincial. program giving financial assistance to families caring for severely handicapped children at home is now in effect in Huron County. The program provides an allowance of up to $150 a month for handicapped children receiving care at home. The monthly allowance is calculated by means of an in- come and means test applied with consideration to additional expenses which may occur in caring for the child at home. The expenses considered are those not covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan or other in- surance• plans and children eligible for the program are also eligible for drug and dental care. and rolled over. One of the tires had blown out on the county road north of Highway 83. Damage was estimated at $1,200 by Constable Larry Christiaen. In another Friday accident, a vehicle driven by John C. Web- ster, Marlborough St., Exeter, left concession 3-4 of Hay township and struck a tree. Constable Lewis investigated and set property damage at $1,200. The other two accidents oc- curred on Saturday, the first involving vehicles driven by Austin Schwalm, Stratfdrd, Robert Baker, Hensall, and John Groot, RR 1 Zurich. They collided. on York Crescent in Hensall. Total damage was set at $225 by Constable Lewis. In the other crash, the driver involved was Bert De-Bont, RR 1 Crediton. His vehicle struck a bridge on Usborne township sideroad 10-11 north of the Kirkton Road. Constable Jack Straughan investigated and set total damage at $1,000. ..During the past week, the local detachment officers laid 25 charges under the Highway Traffic Act, seven under the Criminal Code, two under the Narcotic Control Act and' -nine under the Liquor Licence Act. Four of the latter occurred on Hallowe'en night. George Penfold of the Huron County Planning Department as the planner responsible for the overall structure of the plan. Penfold told the audience that "secondary plans are not new...Hay is the ninth township in Huron to have asked for assistance in the preparation of such a plan." In an attempt to gain more public input prior to the preparation of final design criteria, the University of Guelph's Rural Development Outreach Project had designed a questionnaire that was distributed to the citizens at- tending the meeting. According to Dr. Jackie Wolfe of the department of geography at Guelph, the questionnaire will be sent to approximately 100 people who live in Hay but were not in attendance at the meeting. Penfold told the audience that Huron County is "unique" in that the whole county is a planning area and has been one since 1968. Most planning areas in the province are small with perhaps four or five municipalities deciding on their own to form a planning area. Penfold said that with the whole county being a planning area a greater amount of local as,tonomy can be achieved. Huron County has, had a county plan since 1971 with secondary plans (such as proposed for Hay township) becoming amend- ments to the county plan. Pen - fold, in response to a question, told the meeting that there is never a period of time when the township would be left without a plan. "The Huron County plan that is applicable to Hay town- ship remains in force until the secondary plan -is approved," Penfold said. "There are five stages in the implementation of a secondary plan," Penfold stated. 1- The township must take the initiative in asking for assistance in developing a plan. 2- The plan- ning department must collect information to determine the state of. Hay township. 3 Public Workshops must be held to get the opinions of the residents of the township. 4- The drafting of the plan which is done by township council and myself; 5 - approval by the township, the county and the Ministry of Housing." Penfold laid considerable emphasis on the public workshop aspect of the stages of im- plementation: "Make sure that when the planning is completed • that it satisfies as many people as possible." Secondary plans do have some weaknesses Penfold said. A strong zoning bylaw is needed to enforce the plan and it usually takes two or three years before a plan is completed. • Concern was raised about the possibility of an Ontario Hydro power plant being constructed along the Lake Huron shoreline sometime in the future and its • role in Hay's plan if it was con- structed in the township. Penfold said that the Minister has the final say in any planning matter and can over -rule an official plan if he deems it in the best interestof the province. Last night's workshop on agriculture will be covered fully in next week's paper. Recreation will be the topic of discussion next Thursday night at 8 p.m. at the Hay Township Hall. Alf CLERK -TREASURER HIRED — Mrs. Joan Ducharme has been hired by Hay township as their new clerk treasurer. Offering some advice to Mrs. Ducharme is Wayne Horner the present clerk-treasurer.Staff photo