Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-08-18, Page 22 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday,August 18, 2004 Regional wrap up Funding cut SEAFORTH — A recent announcement that the province will discontinue funding municipal drains in rural Ontario will send the process back 100 years, Deputy -Clerk Brad Knight told Huron East council Aug. 3. The Huron Expositor reported Knight said the province has essentially removed $100,000 from the local economy. The province gave notice it will stop provid- ing the one-third grant for agricultural proper- ties for new municipal drains and drain mainte- nance activities. Celtic Festival GODERICH — The 12th annual celebration of Celtic heritage at the Earth, Air, Fire, Water: Celtic Roots Festival saw a record number of people in attendance Aug. 7. The Goderich Signal - Star reported festival co-ordinator and artis- tic director Warren Robinson said despite the fact that tourism numbers are down at festivals across Ontario, over the weekend orga- nizers estimate 11,000 people made their way down to Lions Harbour Park to take in the Celtic extravaganza of music, dance, story- telling and crafts. West Nile WINGHAM — A dead crow in the Wingham area has tested positive for West Nile Virus. The Wingham Advance -Times report- ed the Huron County Health Unit has sub- mitted a total of 18 birds for testing and this is the first positive result this year. The first positive bird dur- ing 2003 was found in Central Huron last July. To date, 32 of 37 health units have reported positive birds for a total of 122 posi- tive birds in Ontario. IPM 2005 LISTOWEL — The image of the 2005 International Plowing Match (IPM), in Perth County, was unveiled at Carson Farms, Aug. 8, in the most significant celebration for the match thus far. The Listowel Banner reported hundreds of people in attendance applauded as the cover was taken off two gigantic eight -by -16 - foot signs promoting the IPM on the edge of the Carson Farms property, the location of the IPM, in full view from Highway 86. "Corn" will be the theme of the IPM, with the official slogan being "Come Be Amazed " GGBCA starts letter writing campaign By Mary Simmons TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF GRAND BEND — The Greater Grand Community Association (GGBCA) has started a letter writing campaign to protest a Lambton County council decision to give the Bluewater Health Foundation $15 million over the next 10 years to be added to the tax bills of ratepayers. Rather than getting peo- ple to sign a petition, board members decided to distribute a form letter in the community, which people are asked to sign and add their own com- ments to. The letters will be sent to Warden Todd Case, Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Maria Van Bommel, Lambton Shores Mayor Cam Ivey, Minister of Health George Smitherman and Minister of Municipal Affairs John Gerretsen. The association is also asking local businesses to post copies of the letter and ask customers to sign it. The resolution passed by county council will mean more than $16 per 100,000 of property assessment will be added to ratepayers bills for 10 years. The letter says the reso- lution should not have passed for a number of reasons. It points out the provin- cial and federal govern- ments are responsible for health care and ratepay- ers already pay taxes to those levels of government for that purpose. It also says county coun- cil was irresponsible to grant this amount of money without any control or oversight on how it was spent. According to the letter, county, regional and municipal governments should be limited to the amount of money they can grant to organizations out- side their areas of respon- Mayor responds to critics By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF VARNA — Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson responded to recent criticism of the municipality and talk of deamalgama- tion at the council meeting Monday night in Varna, saying, "It's reached the point I had to do it." Defending the record of the municipali- ty since amalgamation he said he would "meet anyone head on" on what has been done since Bluewater was formed. Dowson replied to critics who have said Bluewater has not done enough in Bayfield with a list of projects completed in 2003 and 2004 and others proposed for 2004. Some of the projects included installing HVAC at the arena and installing a new dehumidifier, replacing the ceiling in the auditorium and a new water heater and sign for the arena in Bayfield. Others included developing the soccer field, a new sidewalk on Catherine St., extra garbage containers at the pier and at Howard St. and contacting the MTO to replace the street signs along highway 21 by the fall. Of the record of the municipality, Dowson said, "maybe we could have done more, but these are things we did do and to say we never did is not responsible." "Numerous people have said they are quite satisfied with the work we are doing and to keep up the good work. I've enjoyed the pressure. It's been a chal- lenge but I wouldn't have missed it for anything." With recent reports of deamalgamation, Dowson said if people feel they can do it cheaper, they should, "but they will need a sound business plan." Dowson added rumours of projects such as a new Works building, medical centre and council chamber were false and had never been discussed in council. The reason for a new library location in Zurich, according to Dowson, was because the municipality had been forced into relocation. None of the items, according to Dowson, "are on the radar screen." Christmas lights The Christmas lights in Zurich may be coming down or at least will be repaired shortly after a petition was brought before council. Joe Rader brought a petition to Council asking that the year-round Christmas lights be taken down since they are not being maintained properly and use a lot of electricity when they do work. Rader said he had the idea for the peti- tion when he heard people complaining about the lights. He added the response seems to have been positive and he has collected about 500 signatures. Another reason Rader said the lights should come down was the focus on Christmas left no room for other religions in the town. Coun. Marg Deichert said the debate about the lights has been going on for some time and since the lights are in such disarray it would be nice to bring them down and repair them in time for Christmas. Deichert added it would take a while to build the Christmas Village theme. In response to a question whether the lights could be taken down and repaired, public works manager Ross Fischer said it would be cheaper to repair them while they were up. Rader said leaving the lights up for Christmas and taking them down in the spring would be acceptable. A motion to repair the lights and then take them down after Christmas was then passed. Volunteers Benji Hillman and Michael Hearn deliver their sales pitch to potential buyer Melanie MacDonald at the Exeter Legion's Yard and Bake Sale Aug. 14. (photo/Mary Simmons) sibility. At issue was also the fact county council voted on the motion without ade- quate notice to taxpayers. Council also denied Ivey's request to defer the vote since the warden was not at the meeting. Since Grand Bend is at the north end of the coun- ty, closer to South Huron Hospital, the letter goes on to say the ambulance sta- tioned in the community rarely takes patients to Sarnia. Local doctors refer their patients to South Huron, which is linked with hospitals in Stratford and London. GGBCA member Pete Pedersen said a lot of peo- ple have already signed copies of the letter. "A lot of the residents were not aware of what was happening," he said, adding they were more than willing to sign the let- ter once they found out. Anyone who wants to support the GGBCA's let- ter writing campaign is asked to contact Pedersen or president Stephanie Donaldson for more infor- mation. Southbend development plan Another local issue which has captured the attention of the GGBCA is the Southbend develop- ment plan by the Grand Bend Community Corporation. Members of the commu- nity approached Lambton Shores council with con- cerns after the developer asked council to amend a prior approval to allow for 400 single-family lots, 186 multiple dwelling units, a five -storey 125 -room hotel with a commercial block and an 18 -hole golf course with a clubhouse. Donaldson told board members a decision on the amendment has been deferred until council can review all reports on the project. Donaldson said the asso- ciation is in favour of growth and development , as long as it is "responsi- ble development" in keep- ing with the character of the community. Water quality seminar The Grand Bend Community Foundation will be hosting a water quality seminar with the support of the GGBCA. The forum will be held Sept. 11 at the Grand Bend Community Health Centre. Kirkton residents want better police service Continued from front page Some wondered if Kirkton's location — at the edges of two counties with service split by two detachments — was a problem. Skelding said the fact Kirkton is divided between two counties and two detachments doesn't matter in emergencies — in those cases, the closest officers are sent. Like Huron County, Skelding said Perth OPP haven't received many calls from Kirkton but are now addressing the prob- lem and having police offi- cers patrol the village, although there won't be an officer in Kirkton all the time. "We need your eyes and ears," Skelding said. "This will be a safe place." As for questions from the audience about what homeowners can do if someone is invading their home, Skelding said resi- dents can protect them- selves and their property, but they are responsible 011 J Gaiser Kn keale EXETER - 235-2420 GRAND BEND - 238-8484 CLINTON - 482-3401 for their actions. And while earlier in the meeting there had been criticism that no one from Perth South council had attended the meeting, Deputy Reeve Gerry Wallis was in the audience and said he has been a strong supporter of neigh- bourhood watches in the past. While Huntington said all of Perth South council was invited to the meeting, Wallis said he received no invitation and only knew about the meeting after reading about it in the St. Marys Journal Argus. He was the lone member from Perth South council at the meet- ing. 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