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The Times Advocate, 2004-11-17, Page 2Sewing 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 LIMITED TIME OFFER 2 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, November 17, 2004 Regional wrap up Bylaw passes -AFORTH— A bylaw that reinforces the responsibility of Internet service providers to so - operate with police investigations of child pornography received third and final reading by Huron East council Nov. 2. The Huron Expositor reported Grey Coun. Mark Beaven said, "Our bylaw gives enforcement officers another tool in their arsenal to fight child porn." But, most of all, Beaven said the new bylaw will pressure provincial and federal governments to make the issue of Internet child pornography a greater priority. Anyone who contra- venes the bylaw will be fined between $2,000 and $5,000. Campaign CLINTON — Husband and wife team Mary and Jeff Yanchus, who are both teachers in their adopted hometown of Guelph, are once again stepping up to the plate to spearhead a postcard campaign to encourage Ontario's Attorney General to immediately review the Steven Truscott case. The Clinton News - Record reported the campaign comes on the heels of federal Justice Minister Irwin Cotler's Nov. 4 announcement that Truscott's appeal, originally filed in 2001, will be sent to the Ontario Court of Appeal for review. The hope is, says Mary Yanchus, that Attorney General Michael J. Bryant will expedite, rather than delay a decision on the 45 -year-old case. New name GODERICH — It's offi- cial. The Goderich Signal - Star reported Goderich's new medical clinic will be called the Maitland Valley Medical Centre. Paul Howe's entry was selected out of 89 entries, after a name - the -clinic contest was held similar to a contest to name the Maitland Recreation Centre. SH considering offering civil marriages By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — Will the municipality be offer- ing civil marriages at town hall? Council wasn't able to decide Monday night and has tabled the issue for further discussion. New regulatory changes under the Marriage Act have authorized municipal clerks to perform civil marriages if the munici- pality chooses. Clerk Sandi Strang looked into the issue and, in a report to council, con- cluded municipal staff doesn't have enough time to look after the duty, which would include not only performing the mar- riage ceremonies, but looking after the paper- work. The town office already sells marriage licenses over the counter which can take over half an hour. Strang said each marriage would take at least an hour of staff's time. Council has to consider when it will offer the mar- riages, where they will take place and how much they will cost. Municipalities aren't allowed to make a profit on marriages. After much discussion, Coun. Ken Oke said coun- cil should simply table the matter because council seemed indecisive. He said if the municipality decides to offer the marriages, it should only do so during normal working hours. A motion from Deputy Mayor Dave Urlin to not perform the marriages was turned down by coun- cil. Deputy clerk Laurie Dykstra said no one has asked the municipality to perform civil marriages and she has a list of retired ministers she can provide to couples looking for someone to perform their marriage. Coun. Pete Armstrong is in favour of the municipal- ity offering civil marriages. "I think we should be doing it," he said. "I think you're getting scared off before you start." Mayor Rob Morley added, "This isn't Las Vegas," suggesting the municipality wouldn't be inundated with requests for marriages at the town hall. Coun. George Robertson suggested finding one per- son to perform marriages for two or three area municipalities. If council decides to go ahead with civil marriages but doesn't want to use up staff time, Strang can appoint a Marriage Commissioner to do the work. Other council notes: Open during holidays Council passed Monday night a bylaw allowing all South Huron retail busi- nesses to be open during during Victoria, Canada and Labour Days. The bylaw is an extension of the former Town of Exeter bylaw, which allowed Exeter retail businesses to stay open during those days. Now, the whole municipality is covered. Rezoning approved Council granted a rezon- ing request to Brian Bestard for a 100 acre property on Conc. 18 northwest of Shipka. The rezoning allows construc- tion of a home on the property and permits hab- itable space above the attached garage for sleep- ing accommodation. The property's zoning will change from natural environment to natural environment - special (NE 1-4). Planner Claire Dodds - Weir recommended the rezoning be approved and said the application con- forms with the South Huron official plan. One interesting note con- cerning the property is that it is not serviced by Engineer for sewer project chosen By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — The municipali- ty has chosen its engineering firm for the nearly $4 million Crediton/Centralia sewer project. KMK Consultants were awarded the job at a price of $517,082. Council accepted the bid Monday night. The municipality requested quotes from six firms, but only four responded. Of the four, one was deemed unacceptable. Of the other two, B.M. Ross's quote was $418,218, while Gamsby and Mannerow Limited's was $689,000. It was deemed KMK would be the cheapest and best firm to go with because, as chief administrative offi- cer Larry Brown explained, KMK is proposing the project be done in 2005, while the other two had the project scheduled to be finished in the fall of 2006. Brown said an expert told him the municipality would save $100,000 by getting the project done before 2006 because construction costs are expected to go up considerably after 2005. KMK is also familiar with the area, having done work in Huron Park in the past. The municipality will apply for a grant from the new Canada -Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund. Other council notes: Palm Pilot update Operations manager Dennis Hockey gave council an update on the municipality's seven Palm Pilots, bought in the winter of 2003. At the time, some councillors were upset about the $17,000 cost of the hand- held devices. Insult to injury was added last December when, after attempting and failing to sell the Palm Pilots, the municipality had to spend another $15,600 for software so employees could use them. Five of the Palm Pilots are used in the water department, while one each is used in the roads and recre- ation departments. Hockey said they were bought to reduce the amount of manual work done by staff, to improve accuracy and save time. He said the Palm Pilots have "proven their worth" by eliminating duplication of inputting time sheets and work orders in the office. He said the savings in admin- istrative work has paid for the initial investment of the Palm Pilots. Hockey admitted there are "quirks" with the devices that need to be ironed out. In his report, Hockey said the municipality was "hopeful of moving to the next version," but is on hold for about a year until changes in field communication equipment set- tles. Coun. Pete Armstrong urged Hockey to let council know before "moving to the next version." "Don't buy any more," he said. Coun. George Robertson wasn't impressed with the report. "This tells me nothing," he said, adding he wants to see records showing they are being used and saving money. "They are being used by the water department right now," Hockey responded, explaining that staff used the Palm Pilots "in the field," then downloads information in the office. The roads department Palm Pilot was stolen but eventually found, while the Palm Pilot in the recreation department wasn't used for a while because of staff changes, but it is being used again. Hockey invited Robertson to watch staff use the Paha Pilots, an invita- tion he accepted. Robertson said taxpayers' money was used to buy the devices and he wants to ensure they're being used. A "hideous" fence Robertson was also less than com- plimentary about a new, small wooden fence erected by staff in front of the library at the corner of Main and Sanders streets. Robertson referred to the fence as "the most hideous thing I've ever seen," calling it ugly and crooked. He said he's received complaints about it. "We can't leave it there ... that's too ugly," he said. Hockey responded that the fence is merely a temporary border to pro- tect shrubs when pedestrians walk through the corner when there's snow. "Sorry it didn't suit you," he said, adding it will come down in the spring. hydro and the cost do so would be "prohibitive," Dodds -Weir said. As a result, the family is look- ing at alternative forms of energy to power the home, including a small wind power generator. Monthly report Building and develop- ment manager Bob Pattison presented his monthly report for October, with 13 building permits and one demoli- tion permit issued. Permit fees of $8,428.30 were collected on the building permits, representing $1,189,662 in work value. To date this year, permit fees are way down from last year — permit fees collected this year are $53,116.10, compared with $122,197.52 at the same time last year. Pattison noted municipal staffers are still busy tak- ing training courses and will eventually be able to inspect plumbing, which the Huron County Health Unit now does. He said plumbing inspections will lead to increased revenue for the municipality. Business Directory REPAIRS Bloemens Clock Repair & SALES Gifts & Art Lingerie & Nail Spa (519) 238-1508 13 MAIN ST. GRAND BEND EXETER AUTO SERVICE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE The Best Way to Save on Auto Repairs SAVE 9000 RIGHT NOW ON • COOLANT FLUSH • FUEL INJECTOR SERVICE • TRANSMISSION SERVICE • TIMING BELT CHANGE CALL FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT!! 235-0160 ExT#1 EXETER AUTO SERVICE 100 Thames Rd. E. 235-0160 Glenn Edward Enterprises Inc. PROUDLY CANADIAN OWNED AND OPERATED Mon-Thurs 8:30 a.m. - 8 p.m. Fri 8:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. Sat 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sun 10 a.m. -5 p.m. AMERICAN EXPRESS