The Times Advocate, 2004-04-21, Page 3535
Exeter Times–Advocate
Wednesday, April 21, 2004
News
Hensall residents hear water options
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
HENSALL — Residents
of Hensall had another
chance to hear the
options for solving the
water supply problems
for the village April 13 at
the Hensall arena.
Steve Burns from BM
Ross presented an update
on alternative methods of
water supply.
He said since the last
meeting a year ago, some
uncertainty has dimin-
ished including that South
Huron has decided to
proceed with the pipeline
option.
Burns explained the
Class Environmental
Assessment process put
in motion by Bluewater
Municipality, which he
said was mandatory for
any supply expansion and
was intended to get as
much public input as pos-
sible.
Hensall requires a new
supply of water since well
two on King St. and three
and four on York St. are
vulnerable to contamina-
tion.
Well two regularly
exceeds Ontario drinking
water standards of
10m1/L of nitrates.
Well three and four
have periodically exceed-
ed this level, above which
the water is not used.
According to Burns, a
long term solution that
accommodates growth in
the village is required.
The options available
for Hensall had included
alternative one: upgrad-
ing the Hensall wells and
treating for nitrates;
alternative two: upgrad-
ing and adding bedrock
wells for dilution; alterna-
tive three: obtaining sup-
ply from Lake Huron
Primary Water Supply
System (LHPWSS) or
alternative four: point of
entry treatment but the
Ministry of Environment
has passed legislation
restricting the use of
point of entry systems at
residential sites.
Alternative one would
include abandoning well
one and replacing it, a
new roof on the reservoir
as well as new pump -
houses and a treatment
building at a cost of $2.2
million and operating
costs of $90,000 per year
over existing water bills.
Alternative two would
include a new roof on the
reservoir, a new treat-
ment facility and up to
four bedrock wells drilled
at two sites at a cost of $2
million and operating
costs of $65,000 per year.
Alternative three, the
pipeline option, will cost
$5 2 million with operat-
ing costs of $40,000.
An additional $800,000
will be required for stor-
age since Burns said a
single source pipeline
requires a minimum of a
couple of days storage in
case the pipeline is out of
service.
Under the proposed
plans, water rates under
alternative one would go
from $180 now to $570 a
year.
Under alternative two,
rates would increase to
$485 a year and in the
third plan they would be
$1040 for the next 20
years until the debt is
paid off.
If Huron East decides it
would like to participate
in the pipeline project
with an extension to
Seaforth, it would
decrease the rates to
$600 per year.
Funding for the project
could come from several
different sources includ-
ing OSTAR grants or 50
per cent funding from the
federal government,
although an OSTAR grant
is based on the lowest
cost solution, and 50 per-
cent federal funding is
available only for projects
over $75 million
The province also has
available loans through
its Ontario Municipal
Economic Infrastructure
Financing Authority pro-
grams, at three per cent.
Residents had several
questions for Burns after
the briefing including
whether it was possible to
pay outright rather than
incurring debt charges.
Burns said it was usual-
ly only done when it was
a new system, but was
always a possibility.
County delegation visits LB council
By Mary Simmons
TIMES -ADVOCATE SEAFF
LUCAN — A delegation
from Middlesex County
and the Community
Futures Development
Corporation (CFDC) was at
Lucan Biddulph's council
meeting Monday night.
Warden Ian Brebner
began the presentation by
discussing the county's
$20 million project to
rebuild Strathmere Lodge
in Strathroy.
Brebner said the project
will work towards a goal
of a continuum of care, in
conjunction with Trillium
Village.
The two-storey building
will have three wings.
Brebner also informed
council of the county's
involvement in the
Middlesex -Elgin
Community Residency
program, which addresses
the challenge of the
declining number of fami-
ly doctors.
The program is an initia-
tive to take advantage of
the pool of foreign trained
doctors waiting for the
opportunity to complete
their residency.
The goal is to train and
retain 30 new medical
graduates in local commu-
nities over the next three
to five years.
Chief Administrative
Officer Bill Rayburn said
this number reflects the
amount of doctors the
region has lost within the
same time frame.
"It's about building trust
within the community,"
Rayburn said.
"We've tried recruiting.
It's a no-win game,"
Brebner said, adding
urban centres can afford
to provide more incen-
tives.
The county is asking for
$5 million in funding.
Initially, the total amount
was requested from the
federal government, but
after meeting with Joe
Volpe, Minister of Human
Resources and Skills
Development, the county
has also started discussion
with Ontario Health
Minister George
Smitherman to see if
provincial funding would
also be available.
Rayburn said community
groups and the University
of Western Ontario are
also supportive of the pro-
gram.
The county passed its
2004 budget in February
with a six per cent levy
increase, an 8.8 per cent
assessment growth, 0.8
per cent in real growth
and a decreased tax rate
of 2.6 per cent.
Rayburn said the county
is planning an Economic
Development Summit,
which will be held May 20.
The purpose of the sum-
mit is to ensure there are
no duplications or gaps in
the county's economic
development service. It
will provide an opportuni-
ty for economic develop-
ment partners to examine
their services and estab-
lish appropriate roles and
responsibilities.
"I don't want to spend
your money in the wrong
spot," said Rayburn. "And
I definitely don't want any
gaps."
Cara Finn, general man-
ager of CFDC of Middlesex
County, updated council
on the role the non-profit
organization plays in eco-
nomic development.
LB council passes 2004 budget
By Mary Simmons
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
LUCAN — Lucan
Biddulph council passed
its 2004 general, water
and sewer budgets at a
meeting Monday night.
The general tax levy
increased by almost five
per cent, which will raise
approximately $75,000
more than last year.
The increase is partially
due to increased spending
for policing and insur-
ance, which went up by
11.4 per cent and six per
cent respectively.
There will be no change
to the Lucan sewer rates
or the Granton sewer and
water rates, but Lucan
water rates will increase
by three per cent.
Council also decided to
Liquor violation
HENSALL — Huron OPP received a call from an
intoxicated male from a pay phone on King Street in
Hensall April 15 at 1:45 a.m.
According to police, the man was being rude and
obnoxious so an officer was sent to check out the situa-
tion. Twenty minutes later the officer found a male at
the pay phone showing extreme signs of impairment.
The 48 -year-old male from Bluewater was taken into
custody and held overnight to prevent him from hurting
himself or anyone else. The next morning he was
released from custody charged with a liquor violation.
change the price of
garbage tags in the
municipality. Instead of
paying $3 per tag,
ratepayers will be charged
$2 per tag and $20 on
their annual tax bill.
Citizens of the munici-
pality will also be able to
get rid of large items this
year. Council is planning
for pick-up to take place
the week after the May 24
A1, Gaiser
, Kneale
EXETER - 235-2420
GRAND BEND - 238-8484
CLINTON - 482-3401
long weekend.
Deputy Mayor Perry
Caskanette said the busi-
ness association has sug-
gested holding a commu-
nity garage sale on the
holiday weekend and citi-
zens could leave any
unwanted items at the
curb for pick-up.
Excavating
•Mini Excavating
•Small Dump Truck/Fill Delivery
•Full Skid Steer Services
•Landscaping
•Trenching
•Jack Hammer
•Post Holes
•Sweeping
•Tilling
Jim Walsh
jbwalsh@quadro.net
cell 519-871-2644
home 519-229-6795
fax 519-229-6777
1982 Perth Rd. 1634141 St. Marys, Ont. N4X 1C4
Finn said the goal is for
municipalities, the county
and CFDC to work togeth-
er seamlessly on projects.
The program offers busi-
ness consulting, resources,
business term loans and
grants towards communi-
ty economic development.
The organization sup-
ports new and existing
businesses, with loans
available up to $125,000.
Finn said CFDC has also
handed out over $125,000
in grants in 2003, invest-
ing in projects such as the
Lucan museum expansion
and the Lucan Biddulph
Business Retention and
Expansion Study.
The CFDC is also work-
ing towards Main Street
Middlesex, a downtown
revitalization project
which will invest $250,000
annually in downtowns
across the county. The
project is on hold until
word comes in on provin-
cial funding.
JEFF YOUNG
BULLDOZING
• Fence Rows
• Trees
• Land Clearing
ALL TYPES OF
HEAVY
BULLDOZING JOBS
Competitive rates
35005 Maguire
Rd. R.R.#2
Ailsa Craig, Ont.
NOM 1A0
293-3357
Call evenings
(MASHA/SURFACE
MINER REGISTERED)
Asked if Huron East
was serious about joining
the pipeline, Burns said
he couldn't answer for
them.
"You have to look at the
numbers as the high end
and hope grants will
reduce the costs."
Bluewater Mayor Bill
Dowson asked if those in
attendance were pre-
pared to give a consensus
and what would be a rea-
sonable figure for council
to proceed on would be.
It was decided a
newsletter would be sent
out to all residents of
Hensall outlining the
information presented as
well as any questions that
hadn't been answered.
After receiving feedback
from residents, council
will pick an alternative,
followed by another com-
ment period and final
notice.
1st & 2nd Mortgage
MONEY AVAILABLE
at 6.5% interest or less
Personal Loans Totally
Unsecured if you qualify,
Monthly payments
as low as
Amt. App. Mthly Payt.
$5,000 $27.68
$10,000 $54.16
$15,000 $81.25
UP TO $400,000.
We Specialize in difficult
mortgages.
Local 364-0448
1 (800) 387-1932
Astral Funding Inc.
The War Amps
THE
"EFFICIENT"
CHARITY.
Sharing a lifetime
of experience,
the CHAMP
Program for
child amputees
provides on a
personal and
practical level,
with emotional
support and
financial assistance
for artificial limbs.
For more into mation,
or to order your 2004 key tags,
contact The War Amps.
E -ZEE ACCESS: TEL.: 1-800-250-3030
FAX: 1-800-219-8988
Or visit our Web site at www.waramps.ca
Charitable Registration No.: 13196 9628 RR0001