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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-08-25, Page 22 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, August 25, 2004 Regional wrap up Landfill site BLYTH — The future of the Blyth Hullett landfill site is still in question as North Huron awaits an engi- neer's report. The Citizen reported clerk -administrator John Stewart explained the testing done on the wells some time ago had shown chloride levels above the Ministry of the Environment's stan- dards. An engineer is now considering what the cost will be to solve the problem. Health care premium GODERICH — Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty defended his party's controversial health care premium during a recent media blitz through midwest- ern Ontario. The Goderich Signal - Star reported the pre- mier stopped short of apologizing for a breaking a number of campaign promises. McGuinty said the "difficult decision" to implement the premi- ums was made after the provincial auditor revealed a provincial debt of nearly $6 bil- lion — about $4 billion more than expected. Aesthetic unityCLIN ON — Hamlets and other small com- munities may soon have a stronger link to Clinton in the munici- pality of Central Huron. The Clinton News - Record reported Central Huron council met with Jurie Berzins, an urban designer and landscape designer, at a public meeting to dis- cuss creating a coher- ent look for the whole municipality. Berzins focused on updating Clinton Community Park and Clinton's downtown core. After taking many photos of the area, the urban plan- ner said he has made about 30 suggestions for improvement. Conservation education programs offered to students By Mary Simmons TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF AUSABLE BAYFIELD — Conservation Education Specialist Erin Dolmage updated the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA) board on her activities in 2004 at their meeting Aug. 19. The conservation authority held the annual Spring Water Awareness Program for elemen- tary school students to educate them on flood- ing, thin ice and the dangers that occur during the spring thaw. Dolmage said the program includes power - point presentations, demonstrations and games. She said there are 32 elementary schools in the watershed and 11 schools participated in the program. She said participation was down from the year before because of the amount of snow days. Also, some schools participate on a bi-annual basis. The board agreed this program should be offered again next year. A snowshoeing program was also offered to area students in January and February. Due to size limitations of the snow shoes, some stu- dents had to be turned away, so Dolmage rec- ommended buying adult snow shoes for the older children. March Break Day Camps were held with 19 children participating in a variety of activities including an animal tracks discovery hike, ani- mal tracks crafts, stories, songs, learning how to build a campfire in the winter and snow - shoeing. The 5th annual Easter in the Park was held at Morrison Dam with the help of local spon- sors. The Sylvan Conservation Program saw stu- dents from four schools attending classes on a variety of topics such as orienteering, water quality and the survival game for two -and -a - half days. Re -investment General Manager Tom Prout asked the board to support Conservation Ontario's initia- tive to lobby the provincial government to re- invest in conservation authorities. Prout said Conservation Ontario has submit - Wrench Benders are • coming EXETER - The Wrench Benders Cruise Night is this Friday night in con- junction with the Zurich Bean Festival. The route for this cruise begins in Zurich Friday night at 7 p.m. The cars travel through Hensall on Hwy. 84 enroute to Exeter. The cars will travel from Exeter to the Crediton Rd. turning West through Crediton to the Bronson Line. Heading north on Bronson Line the cars will travel straight through Dashwood to Hwy. 84 then East back into Zurich. ted a formal request to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) on behalf of 36 member authorities. The submission asks the MNR to return to a partnership like the one which existed before the province stopped contributing 50 per cent funding in 1996. The submission specifically refers to re -investment in activities which are provincially delegated and defined as eligible for provincial transfer payments by the min- istry's policies. Prout said the financial implication of provincial re -investment would be positive for the ABCA and its member municipalities since they are now covering the costs of activities which used to be shared by the province. The board agreed to support the initiative. A resolution will be sent to member municipali- ties for their support. Drinking water Prout also updated the board on Ontario drinking water source protection planning leg- islation. He said it is expected that the Drinking Water Source Protection Act will be passed by the end of the year. While the board has discussed source pro- tection planning in the past, it has never for- mally supported it, so a resolution was passed endorsing the provincial government's multi - barrier approach to protect drinking water through source protection planning. The ABCA will be the lead conservation authority in a partnership with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. The board gave its support on the condition that the province cover 100 per cent of the cost. Prout informed the board there is an area in Lambton Shores which does not belong to a conservation authority and it may join with their watershed region for source protection planning purposes. It also has the option of joining the St. Clair Conservation Authority's grouping with the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority. As for its own drinking water at the adminis- tration office, in order to comply with new reg- ulations the ABCA is looking into the possibili- ty of hooking up to municipal water. Hobbs McKenzie Watershed Study A study was undertaken by the University of Guelph to investigate why landowners in the Hobbs McKenzie watershed were not applying for grants for stewardship projects. Prout told the board various factors were outlined in the report, including: • lack of awareness about the initiatives; • lack of awareness about environmental problems; • extra costs of projects; • lack of funds or rejection of application; • low financial return on investment; • wariness of government agencies and pro- grams. Prout said the conservation will have to work with the landowners to create a better work- ing relationship. He said the focus will be to educate them on the programs offered as well as the role of the ABCA. "The information and education component is extremely important," he said. Prout said the next step will be to discuss the project with landowners in the area and ask for their input on what they think needs to be done. Shotgun found CENTRAL HURON — On Aug. 14 at 12:30 a.m. an officer stopped a grey Buick LeSabre on Bayfield Road in Central Huron when it was observed wandering over the centre line. The driver was found with alcohol on his breath and was given the roadside test, which he failed. He was also found with two different driver licence's belonging to two people. It was determined who the driver was and further searching in the vehicle found a quantity of open alcohol inside the car along with a 16 - gauge shotgun. The driver was taken for breath tests and found to be just below the level of criminal driving charges being laid. The 17 -year-old male from Bluewater has been charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm, liquor violations and Highway Traffic violations. He was also issued a 12 - hour licence suspension for driving the vehicle with levels above 50 mgs. X4101 Bronson Line R.R.#2, ZURICH North of Hwy.84 l ACRES. "Greenhouse plant growers since 1973" EXETER AUTO SERVICE BRAKE EVENT NOW ON!! SAVE 25% OFF BRAKES!' 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