Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-12-08, Page 22 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, December 8, 2004 Regional wrap up OMB hearing CLINTON — Clinton - area golf course owner Gord Lobb will have a chance to make his case in front of the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB). The Clinton News - Record reported the hearing date was set for the proposed Woodland Links Golf Course nine -hole expansion, following a pre -hearing earlier this month. Lobb will bring his case to the OMB next May. The original motion, to amend the Central Huron Official Plan to accommodate the 27 - hole golf course on Highway 8, was defeat- ed 9-7 at the Jan.8 county council meet- ing. Prior to the county vote, the amendment was approved by both Central Huron council and county planners. Wind project GODERI — A wind power project in Kingsbridge has been given the go-ahead by the provincial govern- ment along with 10 other renewable ener- gy projects throughout the province that will provide enough power for 100,000 homes in Ontario. The Goderich Signal - Star reported Energy Minister Dwight Duncan announced Nov. 25 that the pro- jects — which include water power and land- fill gas projects as well as five new wind farms — are the result of the province's ground- breaking Request for Proposals seeking 300 megawatts of new renewable energy. Small turnout BLYTH — Only about 10 residents gathered to voice their opinions during the North Huron official plan meeting Nov. 23 at the Belgrave Community Centre. The Citizen reported of the limited number of residents who attended th e meeting, a few questions were asked regarding the zoning bylaws and land use, which were answered by county planner Brian Treble. Municipality of South Huron accepts water rate increases Continued from front page should also keep in mind the new increases don't take into account the municipality's proposed $12 million pipeline to Lake Huron, which will see additional increases on water rates. • In Stephen and Huron Park, new water rates will be $42/quarter, plus 57 cents per cubic metre. The wastewater charge will be 196 per cent of the water charge, a number which sounds large, but is lower than the current 300 per cent. Courtnay said the wastewater charge under the new rates will raise the same amount of money as it did under the old rates. Rates for Crediton and Centralia will be determined after the new sewage system is constructed. New water rates will be effective in January 2005 for Exeter, while Stephen will see a three year phase-in period. Mayor Rob Morley noted the phase-in period granted Stephen was a "political decision," not an economical one. So how are the new rates different from the rates customers are paying now? In Exeter, the quarterly water/wastewater charge on a typical house (using 11,000 gallons/quarter) will be $182.62, up from the current $161.44. In Huron Park, the quarterly charge will jump from $189.60 to $208.39. Charges in the rest of Stephen include: part time cottagers will see their rates jump from $34/quarter to $61.95/quarter; full time cottagers will go from $35.28/quarter to $70.50/quar- ter; Centralia will increase from $37.45/quarter to $70.50/quarter; and Dashwood and area will go from the current $43.60/quarter to $70.50/quar- ter. On the industrial side, a large com- mercial user (using more than 44,000 gallons per quarter) in Exeter would see rates go down from $2,979/quarter to $2,144/quarter. In Huron Park, rates would increase from the current $3,051. to $3,494; in the part-time cottage area, rates would go from $572 to $1,182; in the full-time cottage area, rates would jump from $585 to $1,182; Centralia would increase from $660 to $1,182; and Dashwood and area would increase from $730 to $1,182. The new rates are based not only on the cost of water, but in maintaining and replacing the system. As Courtnay explained, the Stephen system is newer than Exeter's. In fact, in about 25 years, most of the watermains in Exeter will need replacement "within a very short period." The new rates will see $225,000 in reserves raised annually in Exeter and $80,000 raised annually in Stephen for water system repairs and replacement. The Stephen system already has $440,000 in reserves, while the Exeter system has no reserves. Morley noted the government requires the municipality build a reserve fund to replace the system's lines. "You can't fight it," he said. "That's the legislation." Stephen resident John Buechler won- dered why some areas of Stephen will see 100 per cent increases in water rates, while the increase in Exeter isn't as much. Courtnay said Stephen has had artificially low rates for years and Exeter has been subsidizing the Stephen system. He said the new rates spread the costs out over the entire municipali- ty. Morley also noted that Exeter resi- dents already saw an increase last spring. Buechler also pointed out water rates in Stratford and London are lower than in the proposed new rates, but Courtnay said the Stratford rates probably don't include the required reserve fund con- tributions, while London's rates are going up substantially. South Huron council accepted the new water rates unanimously. New development charges for SH Continued from front page • In Huron Park, Dashwood, Crediton and Centralia, the development charge will be $2,850.90. There were previously no development charges in Stephen and Usborne. On the non-residential side, there will be a charge of $0.024/sq. ft. in the rural area and a charge of $2,380.68 per unit in Exeter, Huron Park, Dashwood, Crediton and Centralia. A large chunk of the new development charges (in fact, $2,380.68/dwelling unit) will go towards the municipality's water sup- ply system, specifically the approximately $12 million pipeline to Lake Huron. That charge is applied in Exeter, Huron Park, Dashwood, Crediton and Centralia. Under the old development charge rates, water took up between $347 and $463 of the charges. The other portions of the total development charges go towards sidewalks, the sewage system, recreation and culture and the cost of the development charges study. There are exemptions to the development charges: they will not be charged on developments including schools, municipal build- ings, hospitals, cemeteries and accessory uses for residential developments such as garages, storage buildings, garden sheds and swimming pools. The charges will also not apply to expansions to existing industrial and farm buildings where the enlargement is less than 50 per cent of the existing floor area of the building. South Huron building and development manager Bob Pattison told the Times -Advocate the new development charges are comparable to surround- ing municipalities and are much lower than charges in cities. He said the new charges more accurately reflect the costs borne by the municipality to provide services to the new devel- opments, as opposed to old development charges which were heavily subsi- dized. He said all municipalities in Ontario will have to undergo a development charges study. The bylaw becomes effective after the 40 -day appeal period ends. South Huron accepts 2005 ABCA levy By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — South Huron has accept- ed the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority's 2005 levies, although it will see the municipality paying about $10,000 more to the conservation authority than in 2004. At 20.9 per cent of the ABCA's total assessment, South Huron is the largest municipal stake- holder in the conserva- tion authority. Its costs to the ABCA in 2005 will be $173,137, up from 2004's $163,857. South Huron's general levy actually drops about $400 to $95,139, but capital project charges rose about $6,000, while maintenance charges rose another $3,000. The ABCA's general levy will increase 3.5 per cent in 2005, a figure that originally started at about 11 per cent, South Huron Coun. and ABCA board member Pete Armstrong said at Monday night's council meeting. Other council notes: PUC building sold The former PUC build- ing on Exeter's Main Street has finally been sold. Council accepted John Bierling's offer of $172,000, higher than the latest appraised value of $165,000. Council recently decid- ed to receive proposals from local realtors to sell the building, but Bierling's offer arrived before that process began. Bierling was an unsuc- cessful bidder for the building back in the sum- mer when the municipal- ity sought bids and didn't receive any higher than $150,000. Pavilion coming d1 J Gaiser Kneale 11 EXETER - 235-2420 GRAND BEND - 238-8484 CLINTON - 482-3401 TIMES -ADVOCATE GIFT SUBSCRIPTION CANADIAN SUBSCRIPTION RATES One Year - $37.00 + $2.59 GST = $39.59 Two Year - $68.00 + $4.76 = $72.76 RDER BY PHONE, FAX OR EMAIL WITH VISA OR MASTERCARD (GIFT CARD INCLUDED) 424 MAIN ST. EXETER, ONT. NOM 1S6 (519) 235-1331 • FAX (519) 235-0766 email: srollings@southhuron.com TIMES -ADVOCATE down Citing safety concerns, the MacNaughton Park pavilion will be removed. Road superintendent Ken Betties reported to council the pavilion has decayed and major beams and supports need to be replaced. He said it would cost $3,000 to replace the beams, but more work would be needed on the structure in the future. Building and develop- ment manager Bob Pattison confirmed the pavilion is "beyond repair." It was construct- ed in 1967 by the Exeter Legion as a centennial project. Deputy Mayor Dave Urlin said the pavilion is well used and should be replaced by the spring. He suggested the munici- pality consider the cost of a new pavilion in its 2005 budget talks. The pavilion will be removed with the inten- tion it will be replaced. Costly repairs Repairs on the Moodie Well will cost $41,850. The well had deterio- rated to the point where it needed a new liner, screen and submersible pump Operations manager Dennis Hockey said he hopes repair work on the well is done by next week. Mayor Rob Morley pointed out the munici- pality had no choice but to spend the money and make sure the well was repaired and up to stan- dards. Business Directory 1 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