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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-04-28, Page 22 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday,April 28, 2004 Regional wrap up Pool saved GODERICH — Judith Gooderham Pool will live for another day. The Goderich Signal - Star reported the deci- sion was reached April 19 by Goderich town council following near- ly 90 minutes of debate involving those speak- ing for and against the facility. Slice of Huron SEAFORTH — With only eight of the pos- sible 48 schools par- ticipating in this year's Slice of Huron program, organizers had to reduce the three-day educational program about Huron County agriculture to two days. The Huron Expositor reported Kittie MacGregor, unofficial chair of the organizing committee, says her committee will have to do some work to deter- mine how to revitalize the once -popular pro- gram for local chil- dren. Closure rumours CLINTON — A capac- ity crowd packed the Clinton branch of the Royal Canadian Legion April 14 to pepper Andrew Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the Huron -Perth Health Care Alliance, with questions about the future of the Clinton Public Hospital. The Clinton News - Record reported more than a few of those on hand came out because of a well cir- culated unsigned letter which claimed staff morale is low and equipment is being transferred to other hospitals. Williams asserts most of the allegations in the letter are not based on fact. HE survey BLYTH — Huron East residents are ready to tackle the issues facing their municipality, accord- ing to a recent commu- nity survey. The Citizen report- ed business develop- ment was key among the issues identified by respondents. Thirty-four per cent said it was a top pri- ority, noting attract- ing business and industry to the com- munity would create jobs for local people. They suggested tax incentives to star- tups, people shop- ping locally and more stores as ways to bring other busi- ness into Huron East. ABCA and MVCA to work together on plan By Mary Simmons TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF AUSABLE BAYFIELD — At a board meeting Thursday, General Manager Tom Prout told the board the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) will be working with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) as a watershed region to devel- op a source protection plan. Prout said this is not an amalgamation of the two conservation authorities. At the end of the process each authority will have its own plan. He said the next step is to determine a lead con- servation authority. The independent process has already started and the selection should be announced by the end of the month. A management commit- tee will be formed with representatives from each authority. The board of directors will also become a source protection planning board. A source protection plan- ning committee will con- sist of 16 representatives, with five members from local municipalities and others from community stakeholders. Sub -committees will also be formed to meet local needs. Provincial offences officers Two staff members have been appointed provincial offences officers by the board. Under the Provincial Offences Act, Andrew Bicknell and Tony Drinkwalter will have the legal authority to issue tickets and other process- es. Both Bicknell and Drinkwalter have success- fully completed a certified provincial offences train- ing course and have been designated as Enforcement and Regulations Officers by the board. Under Section 28 of the Conservation Authorities Act Bicknell will be the regulations co-ordinator and officer. Under Section 29 of the Conservation Authorities Act, Drinkwalter will be the enforcement and regu- lations officer for field ser- vices and land. Special use request Stewardship and Conservation Lands Supervisor Kate Monk told the board about a special use request from Shelley Van Osch and Beth Sweeney who teach aero- bics classes in Exeter and Grand Bend. The women approached the ABCA because they would like to offer summer classes this year at the Morrison Dam Conservation Area pavil- ion. The board agreed to allow the classes to take place Monday and Wednesday evenings from 6-7 p.m. from May 26 to Sept. 1. They will pay the ABCA Species at Risk Continued from front page tions aspect of the project through local initiatives and activities. Veliz said grant money is available for stewardship projects such as buffer strips, restriction to waterways, manure stor- age and other best man- agement practices. Board member John Walsh said one of the rea- sons landowners don't apply for these grants may be because grants are now taxable. He said he has firsthand experience with the government pro- grams and they can be long, drawn out process- es, including filling out numerous forms and long waits for approval. Board member Paul Bieman said an agricul- tural solution to pollution has to be found. "We have to start with one farmer at a time," he said. He pointed to a pilot pro- ject being conducted near Thedford as an example of a company trying to find a solution. According to a brochure, Nutrient Management Technologies Inc. has developed a process to treat manure. The liquid is converted to a recy- clable state for washing out the barn or irrigation. The solid material is transported to a centrally located worm digester centre where the cake is converted to a safe, saleable organic fertilizer. Members of GGBCA will be touring the site Thursday. They are also planning to have someone from the business speak at their next meeting May 14. Business Directory REPAIRS Sewing Machine REPAIRS to all makes Free estimates 90 Day Warranty Experienced since 1952 Sew and Save Centre Ltd. 149 Downie St., Stratford Phone 271-9660 the equivalent of one par- ticipant's fee for the use of the pavilion. Participants will sign release waivers. Picnic tables will be removed and replaced by the group. Parkhill Reservoir Sedimentation Study Water and Planning Manager Alec Scott asked the board to allow Riggs Engineering Ltd. to com- plete additional soundings and reportings for the entire Parkhill Reservoir in addition to the 10 sections originally specified at an additional cost of $6,250 plus GST. Scott said total costs for the Parkhill Dam Safety Assessment are likely to be slightly lower than expect- ed, so the net impact to municipal or project levy cost sharing will be nil. The board approved the recommendation. Flood advisory Scott told the board a flood advisory was issued in the watershed March 4 at 1 p.m. for overnight and the next day. As part of the process, all municipal offices were faxed a message and asked to confirm its receipt. Staff members also personally contacted people designated as a flood emergency contact in each municipality. "The goal of this exercise is to ensure that the prop- er person actually receives the information in a timely fashion," Scott said. The contact list is updat- ed every year, with most municipalities providing four names. Scott said only two of 10 municipalities confirmed they had received the fax. Two staff members spent 1.5 hours reaching desig- nated contacts. The advisory was can- celled the next day. Municipalities are also asked to confirm they have received this message, but only four of them did. The board agreed the system should be tested at least once a year to avoid confusion about protocol. Fax transmission records for messages leaving ABCA will be attached to the message. Municipalities will be told to designate contacts who will be available 24 hours a day and able to take action on behalf of the municipality. The information gath- ered from the event will be put on the agenda for next year's meeting on Planning for Flood Emergencies. Parkhill Conservation Area Planner Kelly Vader asked the board to endorse her recommenda- tion to the Municipality of North Middlesex to desig- nate areas of the Parkhill Conservation Area as Environmental Protection in its zoning bylaw. In the past, zoning bylaws have allowed for the area to be developed into a golf course. Under Environmental Protection zoning this use would no longer be per- mitted in accordance with the municipality's official plan. The board approved Vader's recommendation. POLICE BRIEFS Co-op student charged SOUTH HURON — On April 22 at 4:30 p.m. the owner of Algoma Tire in Exeter reported a theft to OPP. The officer learned the incident had occurred a couple of days earlier when a co-op student was caught stealing money from the cash register. A quantity of cash was recovered from the youth's pocket. According to police, approximately $1,000 worth of cash was stolen from the cash regis- ter over a two-month peri- od. A 17 -year-old male from Bluewater has been charged with theft under $5,000 and will attend court in Goderich in June. MUNICIPALITY OF SOUTH HURON CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR LONG TERM WATER SUPPLY NOTICE OF COMPLETION The Municipality of South Huron has conducted a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) study to determine the best long term solution for its municipal water supply and treatment facilities. The study was needed to identify the most effective strategy for bringing municipal water systems into compliance with new provincial regulations and for ensuring an adequate municipal water supply for future development activities. As a result of the study, South Huron Council has chosen a solution that involves supplying all municipal water works in South Huron with piped water imported from the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System (LHPWSS). The additional supply capacity provided by the connection will permit the Municipality to retire its existing groundwater well sources from the potable system. The implementation of the preferred solution requires the installation of a large diameter transmission watermain to connect the Exeter Water Works to the LHPWSS supply mains. A preferred route for the proposed transmission main has been identified and is shown on the accompanying key plan. The route generally extends east, from an existing LHPWSS connection facility on B Line Road, along the Huron Street road allowance to Exeter. The project would also require the construction of a booster pumping station and a ground -level reservoir at the point of connection to the Exeter water system. Following the completion of this work, all municipal well supplies would be decommissioned or dedicated for non -potable uses. The project is being planned under Schedule B of the Class EA. Schedule B projects are approved subject to a screening process. The purpose of the screening process is to identify any potential environmental impacts associated with the completion of the proposed works and to plan for appropriate mitigation of any impacts. The screening process has been completed for the project. There were no negative impacts identified with the project that could not be mitigated. A Screening Report has been prepared to document the study process. The report is available for review at the Municipal Office, 322 Main Street South, Exeter, and the Exeter Branch Library, 330 Main Street South (during normal hours of operation). Subject to any comments received as a result of this Notice, and the receipt of necessary approvals, the project will proceed to the design and construction phases. For further information on this project, please contact the Project Engineer: B.M. Ross and Associates, 62 North Street, Goderich, Ontario, N7A 2T4. Telephone (519) 524-2641. Fax (519) 524-4403. Attention: Steve Burns, P. Eng. (e-mail: sburns@bmross.net). If environmental concerns arise regarding this project which cannot be resolved in discussion with the Municipality, a person or party may request that the Minister of the Environment make an order that the project comply with Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act, which addresses individual environmental assessments. Requests must be received by the Minister, at the address below, within 30 calendar days of this Notice. A copy of the request must also be sent to the Project Engineer at the address above. If no such request is received by May 28, 2004, the project will proceed to construction as planned. Minister of the Environment 135 St. Clair Avenue 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M4V 1 P5 This Notice issued April 28, 2004 Laurence R. Brown, CAO Municipality of South Huron PROPOSED PIPELINE ROUTE LHPWSS SUPPLY MAINS • POINT OF CONNECTION