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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-06-09, Page 21st & 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._ 2 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday,June 9, 2004 Regional wrap up Developing solutions GODERICH — Phase one of the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital's orphan patient crisis manage- ment program began June 1, but medical staff president Dr. Jim Hollingworth warned board members they would be "courting disaster" if phase two was not implemented sooner. The Goderich Signal -Star reported as of Aug. 13 — when Dr. Kate Miller's practice will close — the hospital will have an estimated 4,500 orphan patients in its catchment area. Starting June 1, the hospital will imple- ment a new process in which physicians involved with inpa- tient care will receive a set stipend per orphan patient. Shakespeare in Seaforth SEAFORTH Joking that the Van Egmond House is a "fairly modern build- ing" since it was built in 1846 — at least by Shakespearean stan- dards — William Shakespeare sang the praises of tourism in Seaforth and Huron County June 27. The Huron Expositor reported Duncan MacGregor of Blyth played the role of Shakespeare in a tour through Seaforth and Egmondville in a red convertible — a new-fangled "car- riage" whose "reins" the driver would not allow him to hold — as part of the Shakespeare to the Shoreline project that promotes tourism throughout Perth and Huron counties. Huron Park Neighbourhood Watch starting By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — An increase in crime and van- dalism in Huron Park has led a resident to start a Huron Neighbourhood Watch group in the vil- lage. Huron Park resident Tim Hiemstra appeared before council Monday night, and spoke of what he sees as an increase in crime and vandalism in the park, including car windows being smashed. He said he works hard to look after his own property and, while his house hasn't been vandalized, neigh- bours on both sides of his house have been. He said it's getting to the point where people are afraid to let their children out at night "because you don't know who's out there." Hiemstra, who has police training but isn't yet employed as a police offi- cer, received council's blessing in setting up a Neighbourhood Watch committee in Huron Park. He said he wants residents to have the security they deserve and such a group would improve the com- munity and be one step towards making it a better place. Mayor Rob Morley said Del, the company that manages the park, is in favour of the idea, as are the OPP. "Everyone wants this to happen," he said. Deputy Mayor Dave Urlin congratulated Hiemstra on his idea and invited him to get in touch with the police services board (which Urlin sits on) to install Neighbourhood Watch signs at Huron Park's entrances. Council passed a motion to support in principal Hiemstra's plans. Other notes from Monday's meeting: No ban on pumps? It's looking like the municipality won't pursue a bylaw to ban water - powered sump pumps. As previously reported, operations manager Dennis Hockey expressed concern to council about such pumps because there is the possibility they could contaminate the munici- pality's water system. The pumps, which would be used to pump water out of flooding basements, are powered by water. The problem is — as Hockey previously explained to the Times -Advocate — if the pump stops, there is a potential the water being pumped outside could be sucked back into the drinking water system, contaminating it. Such pumps do have check valves to prevent such accidents, but they vary in quality and dura- bility. As the pumps use water for power, they also take pressure out of the system. The issue arose again Monday night when Morley said staff needed to Water charge increase cut in half Continued from front page to go ahead with a $12 million Lake Huron pipeline and, while it's possible there could be a 50 per cent grant for the project, the municipality "will need a lot more from water rates" if there is no grant. "The cost of having water in the province of Ontario has gone up dra- matically," Morley said. Bill Gilfillan of Exeter said it was irresponsible of the municipality to build a $600,000 water debt over three years. He said council needs to be more up to date with its accounts rather than "catching up." "We must be responsi- ble financially," Gilfillan said. "It's your responsi- bility as a council to look after the working guy." Exeter's Jim Chapman wondered if the new water regulations from the province are an over -reaction to the Walkerton tragedy. "We don't have to have a regulation to make holy water out of the water," he said. He added it's getting expensive to live in Exeter. "How much premium do I have to pay to stay in this town?" he asked. He said the water system should have built up financial reserves over the years to deal with the debt. He also encour- aged council to challenge the province on the new costly regulations. "We don't make the rules, unfortunately," Morley responded. "You don't take a knife to a gun fight ... They give us the rules and we have to abide by them." Exeter's Bruce Shaw said council should be implementing water charges as fairly as pos- sible. He spoke of 20 people in town who live in group homes and who have only $112 a month in disposable income and would have to pay for the water increase. While the Exeter Community Development Fund eventually agreed to kick in $150,000 to the water debt, cutting the monthly increase to customers in half, Coun. George Robertson explained the fund already paid $500,000 to pay off the water meters in town. He said the fund committee, which con- sists of he, Coun. Pete Armstrong and former Coun. Joe Hogan, are also in discussions on a project to help with Exeter's flooding prob- lems. Before the fund com- mittee pays the $150,000 to the water system, there remains $1.7 mil- lion in the Exeter Community Development Fund, which will grow to about $2 million when the sale of the former PUC building on Main Street is completed. The fund gains about $125,000 a year in inter- est. While the new increase council eventually agreed on for Exeter customers will mean quarterly charges of $40.74 compared to the current quarterly charge of $10.74, chief adminis- trative officer Larry Brown pointed out the charge is still less than what Stephen Township residents pay quarterly, which is $42. know whether or not to proceed with the ban. Coun. George Robertson, who has spoken in favour in the past of a ban, re- stated his opinion the water -powered pumps should be banned. He said in occasions when the hydro goes out, the pumps drain the sys- tem. "How are we going to fight fires (in such cases)?" Robertson asked. Also, he said the municipality would "be in big trouble" if its water system is cont- aminated with sewage by one of the pumps. Coun. Harvey Ratz said he didn't want an outright ban on the pumps, but the municipality should ensure the hook-ups are safe. Coun. Ken Oke wanted to ban all items that can siphon water back into the municipal system, but Morley pointed out that includes many things, such as kitchen appli- ances. He suggested implementing a bylaw that states the water pumps need "dual check valves" to ensure safety. Ratz added garden hoses are also a potential haz- ard. "Are we going to ban garden hoses?" Coun. Pete Armstrong said he isn't in favour of a ban, but agreed backflow preventers should be installed on the pumps, something Coun. Jim Dietrich echoed. 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