The Times Advocate, 2004-06-23, Page 22
Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday,June 23, 2004
Regional
wrap up
Top citizens
BL TH — It was a
difficult decision for
committee members
this year as they picked
their top citizens for
Brussels and Blyth area
from a number of wor-
thy nominees.
The Citizen reported
the two choices for
Citizen of the Year are
Steven Sparling and
Jeff and Cathy Cardiff.
Sparling has been the
driving force behind
many committees over
the years. The Cardiffs
are active with the
Agricultural Society,
having served in execu-
tive positions.
Funding
SEAFORTH — A
recent provincial
announcement giving
an additional $60,000
each for nursing staff to
the hospitals in
Seaforth, Clinton and
St. Marys is "very wel-
come" said Seaforth
Community Hospital
Site Leader Mary
Cardinal.
The Huron Expositor
reported the announce-
ment was made in a
press release by
Huron -Bruce MPP
Carol Mitchell who said
the additional funding
for nurses is the first
step in the Ontario gov-
ernment's Plan for
Change budget to cre-
ate 400 new, full-time
nursing positions.
Program
GODERICH — Just
one year after a sec-
ond -last provincial
ranking, Huron
County's health and
safety program has
jumped to the fore-
front.
The Goderich Signal -
Star reported Huron
County is on pace to
receive a New
Experimental
Experience Rating
rebate of over $56,000
from the Workplace
Safety and Insurance
Board.
County workplace
health and safety co-
ordinator Darcy
Michaud gave the news
to council at a June 15
committee of the whole
meeting.
Manufacturing
association
CLINTON — The
Huron Manufacturing
Association welcomed
a special guest to its
first annual general
meeting as an incorpo-
rated body.
The Clinton News -
Record reported Jason
Meyers, Sr., vice-presi-
dent and chief econo-
mist at the Canadian
Manufacturers and
Exporters Association,
took the opportunity to
outline how the time
for change has come in
the industry.
SH approves John/Pryde rezoning
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
SOUTH HURON —
Despite some opposition
from neighbours, South
Huron council passed a
rezoning application
that will see four single-
family dwellings con-
structed at the corner of
John and Pryde.
The rezoning changes
the four lots from high
density residential -
special zoning to medi-
um density - special.
Huron County council
previously granted a
severance application to
the property owner
which subdivided a
large residential lot into
four smaller lots.
County planner Claire
Dodds -Weir recom-
mended Monday night
council go ahead with
the rezoning. While
council eventually
passed the rezoning,
two neighbouring prop-
erty owners objected to
the project.
Tim Ralph said the
new lots don't conform
with the other houses in
the area and he's wor-
ried it will devalue his
own property.
Bryan Baker also dis-
agreed with the rezon-
ing, pointing out the lots
are smaller than others
in the neighbourhood
and property values will
be affected. He said
allowing the four homes
to be constructed will
set a precedent to allow
any developer to "jam"
smaller houses in neigh-
bourhoods throughout
Exeter. Another concern
Baker has is the
drainage problem in the
neighbourhood. He said
adding four new houses
will simply make the
problem worse and the
infrastructure along
Pryde and John needs to
be fixed by the munici-
pality.
Responding to the
objections, property
developer Dean
Ducharme said under
current zoning he's
allowed to put in a 22 -
unit apartment building.
He explained four hous-
es will have less of an
effect on property val-
ues and drainage than
an apartment building
will.
Ducharme added any
stormwater issues will
be dealt with by grading
and if his plan to build
four houses is quashed,
he'll go ahead with the
apartment building.
The houses will sell in
the $190,000 range and
will be about 1,400 sq.
ft., which Ducharme
said is bigger than some
houses in the area.
Regarding the
drainage problems in
the neighbourhood,
Mayor Rob Morley said
council has been work-
ing on it for four years
and is having difficulty
dealing with some of the
landowners in the area.
Council eventually
passed the rezoning
unanimously.
Other notes from
Monday's meeting:
Speed zone
After much delibera-
tion, council has decid-
ed to reduce the speed
limit on Morrison Line
in the Morrison Dam
area as a safety precau-
tion.
The change comes in
light of safety concerns
about the
MacNaughton-Morrison
Trail, which sees trail
users crossing Morrison
Line. The speed limit
between the two hilltops
on Morrison Line will be
reduced from 80 km/h
to 50 km/h.
Road superintendent
Mike Alcock originally
planned to reduce the
speed limit to 50 km/h
for a much longer
stretch of Morrison
Line, including the area
in front of Ironwood
Golf Club, but council
felt that wasn't neces-
sary.
Coun. Pete Armstrong
said dropping the speed
limit at the golf course
wasn't needed because
there isn't pedestrian
traffic there. Coun. Jim
Dietrich said if the
speed limit is reduced in
front of Ironwood, there
are many other loca-
tions in the municipality
where the speed limit
will have to be reduced.
Coun. Ken Oke, who
came up with the even-
tual idea to reduce the
speed limit only
between Morrison Line's
two hills, said lowering
the speed limit for a
long stretch including
the golf course could
aggravate drivers and
actually cause north
bound drivers to speed
up by the time they get
to Morrison Dam.
A bylaw will be for-
mally passed at a future
council meeting.
No sidewalks
Residents on
Alexander Street
between Orchard and
Kalisch don't want side-
walks, so they aren't
getting any.
Alcock said plans to
install sidewalks on the
road have been met
with objections from
Police delegation speaks to council
Continued from front page
Due to the increase in
illegal drug activity, a
drug resource officer was
hired three months ago.
Since that time he has
been involved in street
level investigations result-
ing in 29 charges under
the Controlled Drugs and
Substances Act and 14
weapons -related offences.
An abuse issues officer
was also hired full time
last year. She is called in
for all domestic occur-
rences and assisted with
150 domestic related
cases in 2003.
Specifically in Lucan
Biddulph break and
enters, thefts, mischief
reports, frauds, robbery,
arson and drugs
increased in 2003.
Assaults, disturbances,
alarms, impaired driving
offences and driving com-
plaints decreased in 2003.
According to a survey
conducted in the county in
2003, most respondents
felt safe in the community,
all ratings of the OPP
were at the satisfied or
better level and ratings of
OPP service were good.
"Frankly, that's where
they should be," Stephens
said. "That's what we
strive for."
Stephens said citizens
need to be alert and
watch out for their com-
munity.
"An informed and dili-
gent community is the
best deterrent to crime."
he said.
Fox Schuller drain
Council adopted the
engineer's report for the
Fox Schuller drain, which
calls for a downstream
extension to an existing
municipal drain.
The project is expected
to cost $22,000 for the
municipality and $33,700
for affected landowners.
Heritage signs
Middlesex County is
starting a project within
local municipalities to
erect heritage signs at
points of interest.
The Township of Lucan
Biddulph has been asked
to commit to paying
$2,500 towards the place-
ment of approximately 15
signs across the munici-
pality. The county and the
Middlesex Community
Futures Development
Corporation will also each
pay $2,500.
The signs will be 3 feet
by 3 feet wooden boxes
with plexiglas, containing
historical information
about the site.
Council agreed to move
forward with the project
and will put together a list
of possible sites.
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.
homeowners, who
worry about the impact
they will have on their
properties.
"They're not going to
be real happy with side-
walks," Alcock said of
the residents. He noted
the sidewalks would
either run right along
the curb line, which is
problematic in the win-
ter when they would be
covered with snow from
the plows, or they would
be several feet onto the
front lawns.
In the end, council
cancelled its plans of
installing sidewalks.
Bluewater budget
passed with increase
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
VARNA — The 2004 budget for Bluewater
Municipality was passed June 14 with a 16 per
cent increase of proposed net expenditures from
$3,203,323 in 2003 to $3,722,778 in 2004.
The 2004 Bluewater Current Value Assessment
(CVA) for taxation purposes increased over the
2003 CVA by $128,630,760, which is an increase
of 14.4 percent.
On a residential property with a $100,000 CVA,
the amount of taxes for 2004 would be $469.90,
which is a $0.63 increase over the 2003 taxes or
.13 per cent.
Some of the 16 per cent increase in the budget
comes from a rise in policing costs from $470,513
in 2003 to $585,156 in 2004.
There was a 9.29 per cent increase in the amount
of county taxes paid on a 100,000 CVA, from
$537.35 to $587.26.
The amount paid to school boards dropped 11.64
per cent from $335 to $296.
Demolition time
Continued from front page
The Exeter Cemetery
house will be having a
date with the wrecking
ball.
Council decided to
demolish the vacant house
after deputy clerk Laurie
Dykstra outlined costly
renovations the house will
need. Estimates showed it
would cost nearly $40,000
to renovate the house,
which would only bring in
about $7,500 in rent per
year.
Work needed includes
new carpets and vinyl
flooring throughout the
house, major bathroom
work, insulation, drywall,
electrical work, paint,
extensive work to the
basement, possibly a new
furnace and a new septic
system.
Dykstra said the house is
73 years old.
Council may be able to
recoup some of the money
by selling bricks and wood
from the house.
Sale • Sale • Sale
Final Week!
Hurry in for good selection.
All Annuals & Hanging Pots
ON SALE
until Wed. June 30th
OR WHILE QUANTITIES LAST
THANKS TO EVERYONE
FOR THEIR PATRONAGE.
WE HAD ANOTHER GREAT SEASON.
Hours:
Mon. -Fri. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sat. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sun. 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
r4
CAR -MA Flowers
(formerly Moore's Flowers)
HWY.#4 JUST SOUTH OF DASHWOOD
INDUSTRIES ON WEST SIDE #35739
Call 228-6868