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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-04-06, Page 3Wednesday, April 6, 2005 Exeter Times -Advocate 3 Councillor upset after field run-off enters drain By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — A review of area roads pre- sented Coun. Pete Armstrong with a site he didn't want to see. Driving around the municipality Sunday, Armstrong discovered a property owner had dug his own drainage ditch along the side of the road near the corner of Huron Street West and Corbett Line, leaving the excess dirt in a pile. As a result of the digging, Armstrong said runoff, including manure from the field leaked into a public drain, where he presumes it will end up in Lake Huron. "It's disastrous," he said, describing himself as livid when he made the discov- ery. Armstrong wants the municipality to investigate the situation and lay charges. Chief administrative offi- cer Larry Brown said he became aware of the situ- ation Monday afternoon and would look into it. Other council notes: Relay for Life South Huron District High School is once again holding its Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life, with this year's event planned for June 10-11. Students Ally Macgregor and Michelle Desjardine appeared before council Monday night requesting a noise bylaw exemption so music could be played through the night as walk- ers continue around the track for 12 hours. Council agreed to the exemption and was com- plimentary of how the event went last year. Mayor Rob Morley said there were no complaints about the music and he appreciated the students keeping the municipality Lucan Biddulph salary hikes By Stephanie Mandziuk TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF LUCAN — Lucan Biddulph council has approved a new salary grid for the township, giv- ing the mayor a six per cent wage increase. Tom McLaughlin's year- ly salary is now $13,500, comparable to other may- ors in similar municipali- ties. It's been seven years since the last review of the salary grid and pay equity for all township employ- ees. The deputy mayor gets a two per cent increase to $10,995. Councillors also get a two per cent hike to $9,896 a year. The wage increases are retroactive to Jan. 1, 2005. •In other news, council has approved the pur- chase of a new telephone system for the township office. Best Communications of London came in with the lowest bid at $4,365 plus applicable taxes. •The Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services recently awarded $50,000 to the township for its fire services. Council has decided to split the money equally between both fire departments, Lucan Biddulph and Biddulph Blanchard. •Birnam Excavating of Arkona has won council's approval for its tender for road upgrades. The pro- ject is worth more than $424,000 and includes work on Lewis Avenue, Kent Street and the Saintsbury Line Watermain. The township is still waiting for funding approval to cover two thirds of the cost from both the federal and provincial governments. •A familiar face is retir- ing after 21 years of ser- vice to the community. Joan Goddard is leaving her position as Lucan Council accepts bid By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF VARNA — Bluewater council has decided to stay with the Frank Cowan Company for its municipal insurance over Jardine Lloyd Thompson Canada Ltd. Council heard the details of the competing bids March 29 from represen- tatives of both companies. Despite the bid of Jardine coming in at $120,457 compared to 127,055 for Cowan, coun- cil elected to stay with Cowan. One of the main differ- ences between the com- peting bids was the amount of protection offered with Jardine offer- ing a $50 million liability limit compared to the $20 million limit of Cowan. Reacting to Mayor Bill Dowson's remark that one of the deciding factors in picking an insurance com- pany was the service it offered, manager of finance Terri Brandon said that while she had no problems with either com- pany, the risk manage- ment services of Cowan were excellent. Brandon said Cowan recently conducted a risk assement of municipal properties she described as "amazing." Clerk administrator Janisse Zimmerman added Cowan was always offered staff training and risk managment. The motion was then introduced and passed to accept the Cowan bid as the municipal insurance company. In other news, public works manager Ross Fisher recommended $4,176.34 be taken out of the Hay working reserve, $2,100 be taken out of the Stanley reserve, and $20,220 be taken out of the Hensall Working Reserve to bring the post closing accounts up to where they should be. Fisher said not enough money was put into the accounts before amalga- mation and with the tran- fers the people who have used the site in the past would be paying their share. Biddulph's deputy clerk - treasurer and tax collec- tor. An open house will be held in Goddard's honour Fri. April 15, at the Lucan Community Memorial Centre from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. up to date on the event. Coun. Ken Oke and Deputy Mayor Dave Urlin congratulated the students on their work. Last year's event raised $15,000. Morley wished the stu- dents luck. Relay for Life will see teams of 10 people take turns walking, running or strolling around the track overnight. There will also be a survivors' victory lap, which will see cancer sur- vivors take the first lap around the track. Later in the evening, a luminary ceremony will pay tribute to those who FINE QUALITY BAKERY PRODUCTS "FRESH DAILY" TstyNu Bakery & Cheese House GOSHEN ST., ZURICH 236-4912 have succumbed to can- cer. All the money raised goes to the Canadian Cancer Society. The event is open to the community and is organized by South Huron students with help from staffers. Sign variance Council approved a sign variance for the new Movie Gallery at the cor- ner of highways 4 and 83. The variance allows the business to install signs on the north, west and south sides of the building. The bylaw only allows for one fascia sign per building, although even with three signs, the Movie Gallery will still be under the allowable square footage for signs. Building and develop- ment manager Bob Pattison recommended council approve the request and added he is reviewing the municipali- ty's sign bylaw, which has been described as "too tough." 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