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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-12-15, Page 22 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, December 15, 2004 Regional wrap up Habitat for Humanity CLINTON — While planning a location for its first house, Huron County's Habitat for Humanity group has asked the municipality of Central Huron for a building lot. The Clinton News - Record reported chair- person Paul Dyck says the group has approached council and received expressions of support, but the process is in the preliminary stages. He says the group will eventually visit munici- pal governments throughout the county and has already received some interest from service clubs, which are offering to provide land. Stanley- Cup GODERICH — A Holmesville-area man and his Wednesday night shinny hockey team want to challenge for the Stanley Cup. The Goderich Signal - Star reported Rob Bundy has made a for- mal application to chal- lenge for the Cup. He said Lord Stanley's mug was cre- ated as a `challenge' cup and if the profes- sionals aren't going to challenge for it then his team, which meets late at night each week at the arena in Clinton to strap on their skates, should get a chance. BSE update BLYT Close to 100 people attended Beef Symposium 2004 at the Brussels arena Dec.2. The message they heard was one of guarded optimism. The Citizen reported Dennis Martin, a feed- lot specialist with OMAF, provided an overview of the indus- try during which he expressed a somewhat positive outlook. He said exports are up 30 per cent over 2000 with 41 countries now accepting Canadian beef. Transformer problem knocks out power in several areas By Scott Nixon TIMES- ;\DVOCATE STAFF HENSALL — Power was knocked out in Hensall and parts of Usborne, Stanley and Tuckersmith Dec. 10 after a Festival Hydro transformer shorted out. Hydro One line supervisor Len Muegge told the Times -Advocate a Festival Hydro transformer station on Hensall's Nelson Street shorted out at about 8 a.m., which in turn tripped out a Hydro One feeder line, knocking out a Hydro One transformer station on Hurondale Road between Hensall and Exeter. Festival Hydro is the company that supplies hydro to Hensall, while Hydro One supplies the hydro to Festival. Power was back on in the townships within the hour, while one half of Hensall had power restored at 11:15 a.m., with the other half coming online at 11:40 a.m. Six Festival Hydro staffers, three Hydro One staffers plus a couple of supervisors were on hand at the scene, Muegge said. A mobile transformer station plus three more staffers were brought to the scene from London to temporarily feed power to Hensall. Muegge said Hydro One's mobile utili- ty station was set up quickly and will be able to power Hensall until Festival Hydro's transformer is fixed. Muegge said that process could take at least a week. In the meantime, Hensall customers should expect no problems. "They have good voltage," Muegge said. "They can use as much hydro as they like and burn as many Christmas lights as they want." Meeting planned to Continued from front page the municipality's sign bylaw. "What have they done for our town?" Chief administrative officer Larry Brown said South Huron might need to ask for higher deposits from events such as auctions to ensure items like parking and signage are complied with. Brown said the municipality also needs provi- sions to protect South Huron's consumers from "unscrupulous" business practices. Recommended by staff is that the municipality licence taxi services under the government's "health and safety" requirements, while hawkers, peddlers and transient traders would be licensed under "nuisance control." New rental fees will also be considered. The bylaw will be considered by council at the Dec. 20 public meeting. Other council notes: Sewer grant? The municipality has applied to the Canada -Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF) for a grant for its proposed $4 million Crediton/Centralia sewer project. Under COMRIF, the federal and provin- cial governments will partner with municipalities on projects approved for grants. If approved, each level of govern- ment pays one third of the project. The federal and provincial governments are kicking in $298 million each to the fund. The fund has been set up to renew Ontario's aging public infrastructure, improve the environment, protect the health and safety of citizens, support eco- nomic growth and build strong, sustain- able communities. Water, wastewater, bridges, roads and waste management are the top priorities for the fund. In making its application, South Huron has designated the sewer project as its highest -priority project and has stated the project will fulfill the fund's goals of helping the environment, the economy and the health of its citizens. Up in smoke discuss new bylaw The municipality is ready to move for- ward on making sure improper hook-ups to the sewage system are disconnected. Council discussed a report from water foreman Ron Moore, which indicated staff had recently done sewer smoke test- ing, revealing several problems such as roof drains connected to sanitary sewers. The municipality will continue testing the rest of Exeter for problems and then draw up a schedule to start fixing them. Deputy Mayor Dave Urlin said the report was "excellent," and now the municipali- ty has to act on the problems. Coun. Harvey Ratz said South Huron should act quickly on drawing up legislation to deal with homeowners who don't correct their improper sewer hook-ups. Staff was directed to draw up a bylaw to deal with the issue. Road superintendent Ken Betties said some problems have already been fixed. Building permits Building and development manager Bob Pattison submitted his monthly November building report, noting 11 building permits were issued for the month, raising $7,996.16 in permit fees for the municipality. The project value for the permits issued was $1,143,140. To date, permit fees and values this year are only about half of what they were at the same time last year. So far in 2004, $61,112.26 in permit fees have been collected for work valued at over $8.4 million. Palm Pilot demonstration At the invitation of operations manager Dennis Hockey, Coun. George Robertson recently attended a demonstration to see how municipal staff use South Huron's much -maligned Palm Pilots. As previously reported, the Palm Pilots have come under criticism by members of council questioning their high cost and usefulness. At last week's council meeting, Robertson thanked Hockey for the demonstration and added the Palm Pilots are being used and "are working fine." Students participate in Student Success Initiative Continued from front page While there was a minor disruption to the classes of high school students while the classrooms were being used by the program, Reaburn said the benefits make up for it. This is the first time the program has been offered at the high school through funding from the Avon Maitland District School Board and they may con- sider opening it to students from the Catholic board as Above, Wade Kennedy of Usborne Central School rolls out some gingerbread dough in the foods and nutrition class while Grade 10 student Kami Fevery gives him advice as part of the Student Success Initiative Dec. 7at South Huron District High School. (photo/Mary Simmons) *1 ;sow. CHRISTMAS BLOWOUT* 25% OFF Merchandise 2O°°Christmas ALL Prints OFF 20% ALL Bedding Full Size Calendars $1 6." 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