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The Times Advocate, 2006-06-21, Page 1(519)235-1115 www.hurontractor.com HURON W TRACTOR Exeter www:nur.nni HIGH SPEED INTERNET SERVING EXETER & SURROUNDING AREAS For as low as $19.95/mo. (519)236-4333 TIMES -ADVOCATE Exeter, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, June 21, 2006 x.25 (includes GST) Ducharme teunnins g for mayor By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — There are now two candidates for mayor in this November's South Huron munici- pal election. Exeter's Dean Ducharme offi- cially filed his nomination papers Monday afternoon, join- ing current Coun. Ken Oke in the run for council's top spot. Ducharme, who has been an out- spoken critic of South Huron council at council meetings and in letters to the editor, said he has been thinking seriously about run- ning for the last six months. He said he has also had encourage- ment from others suggesting he run. This is Ducharme's first stab at municipal politics, although he's been in attendance at all but one or two regular council meetings over the past year. He said he originally became involved with municipal developments because he didn't like the way South Huron's building department was operated. Once he got involved, he says he discovered dozens of issues he'd like to see addressed. Ducharme wants to reduce the "paper burden" and the "regula- tions burden" on development in the area. He says the municipality spends thousands of dollars on eco- nomic development studies, then discourages development. "I'd like to see some bylaws get squashed instead of making new bylaws," Ducharme says, adding he'd like to see South Huron's bylaws reviewed. Running for council was "a very difficult" decision for Ducharme, who considered running for a councillor's position, but decided to go for the mayor's job. Many people are looking for change in the municipality, Ducharme says. "It's time to put a new face on the new municipality." And while amalgamation was supposed to result in efficiencies for municipalities, Ducharme said it has only made things more com- plicated. He says he's been sug- gesting changes, but the municipal- ity has resisted. Ducharme, who attended South Huron District High School, has been a carpenter for 15 years and runs Your Stuff Sell and Storage and Huron Contractors with his wife, Tressa. The couple has three children — Autumn, Dean Ducharme Grades 5 to 8 at Precious Blood School held their annual year-end dance last Friday.The students decided to go with a '70s theme and enjoyed a blast through the past dancing to '70s music. In back from left is Bailey Oud, Matt Bilcke, Shawn Kerslake,Anna Bilcke and Ashlyn Jaques; in front from left is Brianne Skinner, Corey Davidson and Ashley Denomme.The students agreed it was a great way to say "peace out" to the school year. (photo/Kaitie Jinks) Ethanol plant for Hensall By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF HENSALL — Hensall is about to see a major invest- ment with the announcement last week that Commercial Alcohols Inc will be constructing a new $150 million ethanol plant in the community. The announcement was made by Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell June 15, who said the provincial Liberal government will be investing $12.5 million in the plant. The plant is expected to employ around 50 people when it becomes operational in 2008, according to Bliss Baker, a vice-president of Commercial Alcohols. In a press release Mitchell said, "This is excellent news for the village of Hensall and the surrounding communities. The ethanol plant will be a major eco- nomic driver in the area. I want to congratulate Commercial Alcohols on being one of the successful proponents who secured funding through the Ontario Ethanol Growth Fund." The government investment, totaling $32.5 million, will support the construction of three new ethanol plants in Aylmer, Hensall and Cornwall, helping Ontario lead the way in the development of a success- ful Canadian ethanol industry. Scott Tousaw, director of the Huron County Planning and Development Department said major sewer and See MAJOR page 2 Flood prevention project suffers setback after property owners don't sign deal By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — The municipality's efforts to go ahead with a stormwater management project to prevent the east- ern portion of Exeter from flooding hit "a serious setback" recently when the three involved property owners didn't sign a proposed deal by the June 13 deadline. Coun. Pete Armstrong, a member of South Huron's stormwater management committee, along with councillors George Robertson, Ken Oke and Harvey Ratz, made the announcement at Monday night's council meeting. As Armstrong explained, the proposed stormwater management project, which would be funded by Exeter, would see water collected from Huron Street with a number of catch basins along the rear of the Eastern Avenue properties to collect surplus groundwater. The piping, Armstrong said, would be large enough to handle a 100 -year storm, and would carry the water to the Ausable River. The municipality had legal documents drawn up and sent them to the three property owners (the Dows, Hamathers and McBrides) with a deadline of June 13. None of the offers were signed and returned. Despite the setback, Armstrong said South Huron's options are not exhausted and the committee's momentum is strong. The committee intends to meet with the property owners again to address their concerns. Gib Dow Jr., of Ironwood Golf Club, wrote to Armstrong that he is concerned the location of the easement on his prop- erty has yet to be determined and the impact on the golf course is unclear. He also wanted to know how many trees would be removed and what the loss of revenue to Ironwood would be. Dow also complimented Armstrong and Mayor Rob Morley for their efforts on the stormwater management project and said he doesn't see any problems that can't be worked out. While the issue of the municipality expropriating the land has been raised in the past, Morley said South Huron feels it would be "a seven-year process" and using "sugar is better than vinegar .. . but here we are five years later." Armstrong said the municipality is treating the golf course and the two agri- cultural properties as separate issues. "We thought our proposal was very clear and saleable," he said, declining to specify what the municipality's offer was. Another avenue the municipality could take if a deal can't be reached with the landowners is to use the Municipal Drainage Act, since water from agricul- tural land is coming into town. The Municipal Drainage Act process would bring all parties to the table and see a deal struck. Armstrong said using the Municipal Drainage Act will be the municipality's last option if it can't reach a deal with the landowners. Robertson told the Times -Advocate Monday night the committee still sees negotiating easements with the property owners as "the best way to go." The committee also spoke to project engineer Bill Dietrich Monday night about how to proceed. Doug Fletcher of Shadow Lane thanked council for its efforts with the project and encouraged them to keep working on it. "The need is still there" for stormwater management, he said. "It is not going away." He said another flood will harm the community and its reputation. "Keep the heat on. Please keep going." "We'll never give up," Oke responded. "It's going to be full steam ahead." Shot fired in Exeter on William Street EXETER — A 71 -year-old Exeter man was arrested and transported to the Huron detachment after Huron OPP responded to a neighbour dispute where a shot was fired on William Street in Exeter June 15. Members of a residence were in their home when the neighbour next door was on his front porch. The man on the front porch was seen holding what was believed to be a rifle. He then pointed it up in the air and fired a shot. The incident is still under investigation.