HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-10-20, Page 1(519)235-1115
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FRI. OCT. 22 8:30 0.m.
South Huron Rec Centre
TIMES -ADVOCATE
Exeter, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, October 20, 2004
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The Crediton Women's Institute celebrated its 85th anniversary Oct. 16 at the Stephen Township Community
Centre in Crediton.The group marked its anniversary with an afternoon tea and hosted four other branches
in Huron south as well as the Clandeboye group from Middlesex. From left with the anniversary cake are sec-
retary Jane Dearing, Jean Neil (the longest serving member of the club, with 52 years), and president Anne
Cottel.The Crediton Women's Institute has 14 active members and one honorary life member,Alma Morlock
of Queensway Nursing Home, who turns 101 this month. (photo/Scott Nixon)
Usborne seen
as a leader
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
SOUTH HURON — The former Township of Usborne
continues its involvement in a study of 32 rural munici-
palities across Canada, as well as involvement from
Japan and Australia.
South Huron Coun. Ken Oke reported on the study,
the Canadian Rural Revitalization Foundation, at
Monday night's council meeting. He recently travelled
to Tweed, Ont., for a seminar on the foundation, and
previously travelled to Japan as part of the group in the
winter of 2003.
Oke said the 32 Canadian communities were chosen
because they were identified either as "leaders" or "lag-
gers." Usborne was seen as a leader because it was
well run and its council was efficient. Oke said people in
Usborne look after one another and have a strong com-
munity spirit. When questionnaires were distributed as
part of the study, Oke said Usborne residents welcomed
those doing the work into their homes.
He said one of the things discussed at the recent
meeting in Tweed was that amalgamation in Japan is
"failing miserably." Efficiency is also a problem in
Japan — while in Ontario there averages 2.2 municipal
employees per 1,000 people, in Japan there are 44
municipal employees for every 1,000 people.
Oke suggested South Huron host a future meeting of
the group, which is federally funded. He said it would
bring 150 people into the community and would give
South Huron the chance to promote itself.
The program started in 1997 and brings together
rural residents, policy analysts, researchers, the busi-
ness community and government agencies to identify
and address rural issues. Historical and statistical data,
as well as local case studies are also used.
Other notes from council's relatively light agenda
Monday night:
No north bridge
A report from operations manager Dennis Hockey
stated the municipality has received a number of
inquiries from residents who feel a north footbridge to
the MacNaughton Park island is necessary. Hockey said
some students are removing their shoes and socks and
See BRIDGE page 2
Community well service running out for Bayfield residents
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
BAYFIELD — Tony Graham has been
forced to tell his neighbours he will be
cutting off their water as of Nov. 15 due
to legal and government regulations.
Graham's problem started when he
attempted to sell his home at 10
Chiniqut Street in Bayfield recently.
Graham's property has a community
well located on it which services users of
the Centre Block Water System.
After an agreement had been made to
buy the property and a deposit put down,
the buyer was advised by his lawyer not
to continue with the purchase due to lia-
bility issues involved with owning prop-
erty where a community well is located.
According to Graham, "I can't sell my
property. It's come down to I went to
another real estate agent and he didn't
even really want to list it until this prob-
lem is solved. He also suggested it's com-
ing to the point where banks won't give
mortgages with properties with commu-
nity wells on them."
He has also contacted the Ministry of
Health and Huron -Bruce MPP Carol
Mitchell's office.
"Everybody just keeps kind of hedging
everything so we're getting nowhere,"
said Graham.
"This is not just my problem, it's a
problem the government has created
and speaking to them they say they did-
n't realize the repercussion from it. Well
that is no answer for me or for anybody
else."
Graham said he has contacted well
drilling companies about how long it
would take to have a well drilled.
"It's not a matter of getting it done, but
some of the people on the system ... can't
afford $8,000 or $9,000 to put a well in.
And these wells, if we get water in a cou-
ple of years, will have to be capped. So in
reality it's a waste of money."
According to Graham the only way he
can sell his property is to cut off service
to users of the Centre Block system.
He has sent a letter to them notifying
them of the termination of service effec-
See WELL SERVICE page 2
Bayfield resident Tony Graham, who has been forced to give notice to the water
users of the community well on his property he will be terminating service as of
Nov. 15 due to liability issues. (photo/PatBolen)