The Times Advocate, 2004-01-07, Page 22
Exeter Times -Advocate
Wednesday, January 7, 2004
Regional
wrap up
Giant party
GODERICH — Auburn
is living proof small
town community spirit
continues to grow in
Huron County.
The Goderich Signal -
Star reported as plans
begin to fall into place
for the village's 150th
anniversary celebration
this summer, reunion
committee co-chairs Jeff
Thomson and Darrel
Ball are impressed with
the amount of support
they've received from
their community.
Approximately 20
Auburn -area residents
have volunteered to be
part of the reunion
planning committe and
that number does not
include others who
have formed subcom-
mittees.
The festivities will
take place July 30 to
Aug. 1.
Shoplifting
increases
SEAFORTH — Three
shoplifters charged the
week before Christmas
indicate a growing
problem according to
the owners of Unusual
Finds in Seaforth.
The Huron Expositor
reported owners
Belinda and Steve
Gibbons have seen
shoplifting at their dol-
lar store increase in
the three years the
store has been in oper-
ation.
In response to the
crime the Gibbons fam-
ily will upgrade its sur-
veillance system to
include colour cameras
with zoom capabilities.
Woman of
Excellence
LISTOWEL — A
Howick Township
woman is year's recipi-
ent of the Federated
Women's Institutes of
Ontario's (FWIO)
Woman of Excellence
Award presented at
the Royal Winter Fair
in Toronto.
The Listowel Banner
reported Sharon
Douglas of the Belmore
area was nominated by
Leone Foerter of
Fordwich, the provin-
cial advisory councillor
for the FWIO.
Outbreaks of
flu easing
ST. MARYS — Perth
County's medical offi-
cer of health says
influenza is still active
in the county, but there
are some good signs.
The St. Marys
Journal -Argus report-
ed an outbreak at
Spruce Lodge in
Stratford was over
before Christmas.
Outbreaks at Wildwood
in St. Marys, Caressant
Care in Listowel and
Knollcrest in Milverton
are now over.
Domestic violence Lucan Lions club donations
charges laid
BLUEWATER/EXETER — Huron OPP laid charges in
two cases of alleged domestic violence in the area.
On Dec. 28 OPP received a call about an alleged
assault at a residence on Homestead Heights Drive in
Bluewater. The investigating officer was told the
alleged incident occurred on Dec. 27 at approximately
8 p.m. An argument about children allegedly led to a
57 -year-old female being assaulted by a 58 -year-old
man. The man was held for a bail hearing and later
released to attend court in Goderich in January.
OPP received the second call Dec. 29 at 10:15 a.m.
from a family member of someone involved in an
alleged assault at a residence in Exeter on Huron
Street. The alleged incident took place Dec. 25 at
approximately 2:30 a.m. when an argument broke out
and a man allegedly grabbed a woman. As a result of
the investigation a 52 -year-old male was arrested for
assault and attended a bail hearing Dec. 31 at 2 p.m.
in Goderich. The alleged victim, a 44 -year-old female,
did not require medical attention.
Strategic Plan moves
ahead in Bluewater
Continued from front page
had submitted the proposal "to start the ball rolling."
He added the official plan would have to be done
first but there was no reason not to start on the strate-
gic plan.
"Strategic planning is a management tool, and it is
used for one purpose only, to help the municipality do
a better job," stated Fergusson in his letter.
Clerk -Administrator Janisse Zimmerman agreed
with Fergusson it would be advantageous for the
municipality to have a strategic plan for programs and
services
She said staff could gather information on what
other municipalities have done, but wouldn't be able
to begin work on the project until the spring.
Asked about the cost of the plan, Fergusson said he
was unable to provide any numbers until a method
was known, but $10,000 would be a start, adding he
would prefer to see the cost spread over two budget
years to ensure it was done right.
Discussing hiring a consultant on the project, Mayor
Bill Dowson said it would be an advantage to hire
someone at arm's length who would see things differ-
ently.
A motion was then passed to include $15,000 for the
project in the 2004 budget.
Animal control
Animal Control Officer Bob Trick made his report to
council on his work in 2003.
Trick said he picked up nine dogs during the year,
was in contact with the Humane Society twice, and
picked up one sick raccoon and a sick fox, neither of
which had been in contact with humans and required
no further action. There were a total of 687 tags sold
in all of Bluewater.
Trick said there is an ongoing problem in Bayfield
with dog owners not cleaning up after their pets.
He said Goderich and Clinton have installed metal
containers to dispense bags for dog owners to use,
which have been well received.
In response to Trick saying Bluewater is in need of
an animal control bylaw, Zimmerman said it was in
the works and council hopes to have it passed by sum-
mer.
The issue of bag dispensers for Bayfield was
deferred until when the budget is being drafted.
Hensall auditorium
Council agreed to a proposal from the Hensall
Kinsmen Club on replacing the stage lighting in the
Hensall Arena Auditorium.
A letter from the Kinsmen said the lighting was ille-
gal, a fire hazard and unattractive.
The Kinsmen asked the permission of council to
install new track lighting in the auditorium at a cost of
$1000, which the Kinsmen would donate. The propos-
al was accepted by council.
Snow removal
A request for snow removal in Bayfield was agreed
to by council after receiving a letter from businesses in
the Bayfield regarding the build up of snow plowed to
the side of the road.
Public works manager Ross Fischer said piles of
snow were already being removed on a regular basis
in Zurich and Hensall and would be extended to
Bayfield.
A further request for sidewalk snow removal in
Bayfield was turned down by council after Fischer
said the municipality didn't have the proper equip-
ment to clear snow from gravel sidewalks.
Money raised through the Lucan Lions club's annual car raffle was distributed
Monday. Above Glen Nevin presents a $33,000 cheque to president Mike
Hodgins towards club projects while below Paul Dykeman presents a $ 10,000
cheque to Michelle Gellatly, Maureen Clark and Kevin Morrison of the Sunshine
Foundation. (photos/Mary Simmons)
Voter's list needs updating
Continued from front page
Canada Post because residents had
moved.
"It's very important to us," to get
the list updated, he said, adding that
if the list isn't updated by the next
municipal election, South Huron will
only have two representatives on
county council instead of
the current three because
the voters' list doesn't
meet the population
requirements for three
representatives.
"Very good year"
Building and develop-
ment manager Wayne
Dale presented his year
end building permit report to coun-
cil.
Permits worth $18,054,787 were
issued in 2003, up significantly from
2002's $8,943,701. Total fees col-
lected for the 157 building permits,
taking into account eight demolition
permits, were $132,042.
Dale noted there was growth in all
sectors in 2003, including residen-
tial, industrial, institutional and
agricultural.
"It was a very good year," he said.
"Very active."
Salary increases
As decided by council in 2001, the
municipal employee salary grid was
increased by two per cent
effective Dec. 28, 2003.
This is the final year of the
planned grid increases.
Willis farm sale
The municipality was to
decide in a closed session
Monday night on three ten-
ders for the sale of the
Willis farm and gravel pit
jointly owned by South Huron and
Perth South. South Huron's decision
was then to be forwarded to Perth
South council, which met Tuesday
night.
Numbers will be made public when
the two municipalities reach an
agreement on the tenders for the
sale.
"It was a very
good year.Very
active"
BUILDING AND
DEVELOPMENT
MANAGER
WAYNE DALE