HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-05-26, Page 22 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday,May 26, 2004
Regional
wrap up
Eby confident
GODERICH — Stan
Eby remains confident
the border will soon
reopen to all Canadian
beef exports.
The Goderich Signal -
Star reported since May
20, 2003, when one cow
in northern Alberta test-
ed positive for BSE, the
border has remained
closed to most Canadian
beef exports. In
September, box meat
began moving across the
border.
Eby, president of the
Canadian Cattleman's
Association and a Bruce
County resident, called a
visit to Washington
"promising" as both
sides wait to see what
might happen next.
Bridges of
Seaforth
SEAFORTH — A
dream that began 10
years ago is becoming
reality this summer as
the Bridges of Seaforth
opens a sales office
June 12 and begins
building a recreation
complex and model
homes.
The Huron Expositor
reported Bridges part-
ner Iry Teper and
Egmondville native Bill
MacLean are develop-
ing a 248 -home adult
lifestyle community
within the Seaforth Golf
Club.
With 70 interested
buyers on the list, the
partners are excited to
begin promoting both
their development and
the community of
Seaforth.
Water rates
CLINTON — Central
Huron council opted to
hold the line on water
rates for rural customers
following deliberations
from a heated meeting
in April.
The Clinton News -
Record reported council
originally proposed a
$750 annual fee, up
from the current $425 a
year fee for rural users.
However, rural
ratepayers will also be
charged an additional
$175 per year fee, which
will be invested in a fund
for future upgrades to
the rural system.
Car show
BLYTH — The annual
Brussels community
yard sale May 29 is
offering two new excit-
ing events for everyone
to enjoy.
The North Huron
Citizen reported a cus-
tom car show and swap
meet will be held at the
Brussels, Morris and
Grey Community
Complex during the
yard sale.
Customized cars will
be on display from all
over the area, including
Kitchener, Goderich
and Listowel.
ABCA board approves appeal
By Mary Simmons
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
AUSABLE BAYFIELD —
The Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority
(ABCA) board of directors
approved an appeal by
John Matthews of CTX
Homes at their monthly
meeting Thursday.
Planner Kelly Vader told
the board the develop-
ment application for a
proposed condominium
complex in Grand Bend
was denied under
Regulation 46/95 due to
encroachment on flood
way territory.
The proposed site is
north of the Oakwood Inn
Resort and Golf Club on
Highway 21.
Vader said historically
the area has been desig-
nated within the flood
plain of the Walker Drain,
but in the mid-1990s a
two -zone study was com-
pleted and most of the
affected property was list-
ed as fringe land, which is
considered suitable for
development.
In the proposal, the
buildings would all be
contained in the suitable
area, except for the decks
of nine units which would
encroach past the recom-
mended limit by 8'6".
Vader said she was con-
cerned if this was
allowed, it could lead to
the potential for expan-
sion.
Matthews said the pro-
posed residences would
be geared towards empty
nesters and seniors. No
sheds would be allowed
to be built in the ques-
tioned area and the
grounds would be main-
tained by the corporation.
The board agreed to
allow Matthews to go
ahead with the decks,
providing they were no
more than the proposed
8'6" past the flood way, at
least 18" above ground
level with open space
under the deck and no
under deck storage. A
maximum of three posts
would be used to support
the decks in compliance
with building codes and
open side stairs would be
constructed.
Port Franks ice
management cost
sharing alternatives
Water and Planning
Manager Alec Scott
updated the board on
Port Franks ice manage-
ment cost sharing alter-
natives.
The board accepted
Scott's recommendations
to receive two reports
which had been prepared
on the project by Totten
Sims Hubicki Associates
and to use the informa-
tion gathered in the
reports to pursue sources
of funding for the pro-
jects.
The board also agreed
to maintain its practice of
sharing costs and a rate
of 10 per cent from the
ABCA and 90 per cent
from the benefiting
municipalities for flood
and erosion control pro-
jects.
Scott said if the Ausable
River in the area known
as Chicken Island is
allowed to continue to
naturally progress at its
current rate, it will even-
tually erode the entire
island to the lake.
There are 47 properties
on the island with 15
dwellings. The ABCA
owns 16.37 acres, which
is approximately 40 per
cent of the total lot
acreage.
Nine previously existing
lots are already under
water with another two
lots assumed to be par-
tially under water.
In 2000, Totten Sims
Hubicki Associates com-
pleted a report entitled
'Port Franks Erosion
Issues Supplement,'
which suggested protect-
ing the south bank of
Chicken Island and
installing bendway weirs
to redirect the flows.
In his report to the
board, Scott said this
alternative was best suit-
ed to promote stability
during high flows and ice
jams.
Vehicle found
SOUTH HURON — On May 13 at 12:45
p.m. OPP in South Huron were contacted
about an abandoned vehicle on
Dashwood Road. An officer attended the
scene and located a blue 1993 GMC
Suburban just west of Black Creek Bridge
on Dashwood Road.
A check found the vehicle had been
stolen overnight from Lake Road in Kettle
Point.
Officers are continuing their investiga-
tion.
Windows smashed
EXETER — Huron OPP received four
complaints of vandalism to homes in
Exeter on the morning of May 15.
According to police, someone threw
rocks through house windows on John
Street and Gidley Street during the night.
Damage has been estimated at a little
under $1,000.
If you can help solve these crimes call
the OPP or Crime Stopper at 1-800-222-
8477 (TIPS).
Time will tell impact of provincial budget
Continued from front page
because she simply does-
n't know the answers.
"Our patients are our
number one priority," she
said.
A fax from the Ontario
Association of
Optometrists said the
association needs to know
the government's plans
for implementation.
"We cannot comment on
these changes until we
know some key answers.
When does this happen?
How will it work? Exactly
which patients are affect-
ed?" it said.
"It makes it difficult to
communicate with our
patients when we don't
know the answers,"
Bardecki said, adding she
has been telling patients
to call their MPP with
questions.
The delisting of eye
exams and chiropractic
services is expected to
take effect this fall while
the cut to physiotherapy
will likely take place in
April 2005.
Under the changes laid
out in the budget May 18,
people under 20 years old
and over 65 will still be
eligible for eye tests, as
well as people with "med-
ical exceptions."
Avon ,CMOO
Maitland
Lsarnim fir a Wine
We would like to
hear from you!
You are Invited to a
Budget Consultation Meeting
to seek information and provide input
as the Board prepares its
2004-2005 Budget.
When: June 9 at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Education Centre in Seaforth.
For further information please contact:
Barb Crawford, Administrative Assistant,
Avon Maitland District School Board
62 Chalk Street, North
Seaforth, ON NOK 1 W0
Telephone:1-800-592-5437
Fax: (519) 527-0222
email: info@fc.amdsb.ca
GEOFF WILLIAMS Www you rsc hools.ca MEG WESTLEY
Director of Education Chair
The consultants were
then asked by the ABCA
and the Municipality of
Lambton Shores to inves-
tigate cost sharing. They
reported back in
December 2003, but did
not include specific calcu-
lations or cost divisions.
Another report was com-
pleted in April, which
gave more detailed cost
sharing scenarios based
on collected assessment
and property data.
The board also recom-
mended starting a Class
Environmental
Assessment as soon as
possible in anticipation of
potential government
funding.
Spring Afforestation
program
General Manager Tom
Prout told the board the
Spring Afforestation pro-
gram was successful.
Overall numbers were
up from 2003. A total of
55,240 trees were planted
by the ABCA and another
19,575 trees were planted
by landowners. Most of
the tree planting went
towards projects to buffer
watercourses in the south
end of the watershed and
to control erosion.
Prout said the object is
to have 20 per cent forest
cover in the watershed
and there is now 13 per
cent.
Churches working
to sponsor refugees
Continued from front page
goods.
Duncan said the role of the community group will be
to provide orientation into Canadian and community life
and emotional support for the family.
As plans get underway, a public meeting is being held
June 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lucan United Church.
At that meeting a refugee may be available to discuss
how the program has worked for them.
Anyone is welcome to come out and volunteer their
time in one of many ways. People are needed to:
• co-ordinate the project;
• fmd accommodation for the family;
• find furnishings;
• help with shopping;
• provide transportation;
• assist with finding dental/medical services;
• assist with school registration for children;
• language training;
• employment assistance;
• welcome the family to the community;
• community activities;
• assistance with government services.
Duncan said the program includes a one-year com-
mitment to the family.
"I can't imagine what it must be like for them to have
to give up everything they knew and launch themselves
in a new country, with a new culture and a new lan-
guage," he said.
"We have a responsibility to do this."
Duncan said this is an exciting opportunity for every-
one in the community and he invited everyone to come
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