HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-10-06, Page 3636
Exeter Times–Advocate
Wednesday, October 6, 2004
The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation held the annual Walk/Run for the Cure in Exeter Sunday afternoon.At left, 16 members of the Dickey family participated in
the event.At right, a team from Curves was also in on the fun. From the left are PennyVenton, Sharon Dale, Shelly Hay, Karen Campbell, Diane Darling (holding Rev.
Oliver), Barb Caldwell, Sarah MacMillan and Marlene Thornton.Approximately 60 participants raised more than $6,000. (photo/Mary Simmons)
County council discusses septage regulations
By Pauline Kerr
SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE
GODERICH — County Coun. Doug Layton, reeve of
North Huron, wants the septage issue to be dealt with
fairly by the province.
"I'm not going to drop this," he said after discussion on
the matter last month at a county council meeting.
Layton explained the province is in the process of
changing the rules on how septage is treated, from
allowing it to be spread on fields, to requiring it to be
taken to municipal sewage treatment facilities. "We're
going to have to upgrade our treatment plants," Layton
said. "Who pays?"
He went on to say the concept of the user paying is just
another form of taxation.
Layton said the matter had been discussed at AMO
(Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference). A
number of county councillors said alarms should be
going off about the situation. The feeling at AMO was a
five-year phase-in of banning septage from being spread
on fields may be happening already.
Coun. Deb Shewfelt of Goderich said there seems to be
a feeling with the Ministry of the Environment that peo-
ple should be able to take their sewage and drop it off at
a local plant, and they can't.
Former County Warden Dave Urlin of South Huron
said there is no funding for septage becoming a lower -
tier responsibility. "Until the province puts some money
into it, there's no way of paying for it ... I got the feeling
the clock is ticking."
County Warden Bill Dowson said, "Soon you'll need an
income tax to run the municipality — the property tax
isn't enough."
Other notes from county council:
Drainage
Dowson said the reaction of provincial officials attend-
ing the recent AMO conference was "very disappointing"
regarding drainage.
There was quite a lengthy discussion," Dowson told
council. He noted the minister said absolutely nothing in
response. The only comments seemed to be coming
from staff, and they were negative.
Dowson went on to say, "They don't realize this isn't
just agriculture." He explained that when things start
going wrong with drains adjacent to roads, water is
going to flow across highways, creating a hazard.
County Coun. Dorothy Kelly, mayor of Morris-
Turnberry, said she had met with the minister twice.
"I suggested the tile loan should be 100 per cent ... he
asked if our clerk would be willing to sit on a commit-
tee." Kelly said interest from the loan would help fund
the municipal drain program.
Coun. Joseph Seili of Huron East said he'd suggested
lending at prime, and having the province save money
by "cleaning up the administration", using the savings
for municipal drains.
"A strong message has been sent," said Dowson. "I
hope they listen."
Disconnected
The plug has been pulled on the Connect Ontario pro-
gram.
Huron County director of planning and development
Scott Tousaw described the program as a "$1.1 million
opportunity for Huron -Perth and 51 partner agencies".
He told Huron councillors that Huron -Perth had been
approved to do a business plan, and then the program
was cancelled by the province after a lot of time and
effort had been spent.
Efforts are being made to see that all that work is not
wasted.
"We're seeing what can be saved regarding the part-
nerships that developed in preparing the plan," he said.
Coun. Joseph Seili of Huron East commented, "That
$1.1 million went to the Toronto transit system." He
went on to say, "Something has to be done ... this is
unfair. Millions and millions are going to the cities, from
cuts to rural (municipalities)."
Dowson added, "We don't get any respect. We're not
getting our fair share."
Council decided a joint letter should be sent from both
Huron and Perth wardens.
No smoking
The county's new no smoking bylaw came into effect
Sept. 4. When the bylaw was discussed by Huron County
council last month, Health Unit director Penny Nelligan
said, "We have received 80 calls about the bylaw, and
only four were screaming at us. Most of the people
wanted information. A letter was also received."
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