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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-07-12, Page 22 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, July 12, 2006 Property owners learn more about sewer project Continued from front page approximately $1 mil- lion that will be deferred will be paid by the Exeter sewer rates. Giberson said the for- mula fairly distributes costs between proper- ties with large and small frontages. There is a minimum frontage charge of 66 feet and corner lots will have their frontage charges based on the shortest side. Giberson told the T -A Monday the average Crediton property under this scenario (a frontage of 99.4 feet) would pay $15,643 for the project, while the average lot in Centralia (a frontage of 131.76 feet) would pay $17,270. Amortized over 20 years, the average Crediton property owner would pay $1,364 annually, with the average property owner in Centralia pay- ing $1,505 annually. All property owners will be mailed informa- tion sheets this week telling them the project costs they face on their property. Giberson said he's looking for feed- back from residents over the next 30 days. Numbers are not final as the municipality con- tinues to refine the pro- ject. In fact, costs could decrease. Mayor Rob Morley said the county has agreed to pay for the final coating of Crediton Road because, as a county road, it was slated for re -surfacing anyway. Also, he said Dashwood Industries has shown some inter- est in the project and some property owners outside the catchment area want to be includ- ed, which would make the average bills go down. Looking at Giberson's report, Coun. Harvey Ratz said he is con- cerned about some of the prop- erties with large frontages. He point- ed out some property owners are facin g bills upwards of $30,000 and $40,000. Giberson said decid- ing on a billing formula is "a balancing act" and the municipality is try- ing to make everything as fair as possible among property own- ers. He said making frontage 30 per cent of the costs "has about the right feel" to making the billing fair. The municipality con- tinues to pursue a grant for the project to assist Crediton and Centralia property own- ers. While South Huron has been twice denied a grant from the Canada - Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF), council agreed Monday to apply for the third and final phase of COMRIF. Chief administrative officer Larry Brown indicated in his report to council that there is "an increased emphasis on growth and econom- ic renewal" in the crite- ria for phase three of COMRIF. Monday night also gave another opportu- nity for residents to air their concerns about the project. Property The average Crediton property under this scenario (a frontage of 99.4 feet) would pay $15,643 for the project, while the average lot in Centralia (a frontage of 131.76 feet) would pay $17,270. owners Dianne Faubert and Tina Premont made a presen- tation to council, with Faubert asking Morley if council has con- sidered building a sewage treatment plant in Crediton, since in the past he has said he did- n't think the municipal- ity would get a grant for "pipes in the ground." Faubert asked if one way to get around this, and receive a grant, would be to instead build a sewage treatment plant in the village. Council didn't think this would work. Morley said the deci- sion to not go with a new treatment plant was made years ago during the environmen- tal assessment process. He said it was deemed sewer lines would be "much cheaper" than building a plant. And even with a plant, the project would still need "pipes in the ground," Morley added, saying a sewage plant would add between $5 million and $6 million to the project's cost. He also said he doubts the province would be gullible enough to pro - REGIONAL WRAP UP Lucknow woman killed HURON — A 23 -year-old Lucknow woman was killed July 4 in a head-on collision after her 1999 Honda Civic heading east on Huron Road crossed the centerline, striking a 1994 Mack Cement Truck that was travelling west around 1:55 p.m. on Huron Road, east of Front Road in Huron east. Sarah Mann who was a reporter for the Goderich Signal -Star was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision, according to Huron OPP. The driver of the cement truck was uninjured. Huron OPP with the OPP Technical Traffic Collision Unit closed Huron Road for several hours to investigate the collision. A post mortem was conducted at Stratford General Hospital July 5. No charges will be laid as the investigation continues. Ag Society draw a success SEAFORTH — The Seaforth Agricultural Society elimination draw was another success this year selling over 1,300 tickets, reports The Huron Expositor. "The whole night went very well," says Agriculture Society president Marie Hicknell-Feeny. Celtic rock band Steerage and country band Black Water Draw, fol- lowed by country artist Lace performed for the crowd, raising money for the Agriculture Society. Postal boxes donated GODERICH — Canada Post donated 84 postal boxes from Today's Variety and General Store in Londesboro to the Huron County Museum in Goderich, according to the Clinton News -Record. "These boxes are about 70 years old and have been located and in use in the Londesboro location throughout. I have a soft spot for Huron County so I was very pleased to be a part of the donation," says Canada Post corporate communications officer Tom Creech. vide a grant for a $10 million to $12 million project when it won't provide a grant for a $6 million project. Faubert said the vil- lage of Atwood is looking at a sewage treatment plant. Even if the municipality did get a grant on a $10 million to $12 million project with a sewage plant, "you're back where you started," Coun. Jim Dietrich noted, since residents would still be on the hook for whatev- er costs the grant didn't cover. "Plants a very exp — Ro So SPEAKI SUG CONST SEWAGE T Coun. Ken Oke also expressed concern about a scenario involv- ing a sewage plant. He said if the costs of the project went up 60 per cent and the municipali- ty got a grant of PLANT less than 60 per cent, property owners would face higher bills than they do now. "That really scares me," he said. Coun. Harvey Ratz agreed, saying that once a municipality starts operating a sewage plant and hir- re very, ensive" B MORLEY SOU HURON MAYOR, NG ON THE GESTION OF RUCTING A REATMENT ing staff, costs go way up. "Plants are very, very expensive," Morley said. Faubert told council that a survey has been done of Crediton and Centralia residents and while everyone realizes the sewers are coming, most don't want them without grants. She and Premont also asked for improved communication and information from the municipality on the project's progress. Council was also asked what the lifespan of the sewers will be. Giberson said they will last a minimum of 75 years and should last 100 years. Morley won't seek re-election Continued from front page November's election. Other council notes: Thames Road watermain The municipality will spend $100,618 plus GST to replace a 250 millimetre watermain on Thames Road from Rosemount Avenue east to the former Exeter town limit. As operations manager Don Giberson explained in his report to council Monday, the watermain "has experi- enced a significant number of main breaks in recent years due to corrosion in very aggressive soil." Five companies bid on the job, which was awarded to low bidder United Contracting. The highest bid came in at $168,911. Giberson indicated the engineer's esti- mate for the project was $87,500 plus GST. To make up for the increased costs, Giberson said a small project will be deferred. Surface treatment Council awarded the 2006 surface treatment tender to low bidder MSO Construction Limited for $229,838, not including taxes. Building report Building and development manager Dwayne McNab presented his June 2006 building report. Sixteen building permits were issued for the month at a total value of $655,550, resulting in $10,500 in permit fees. So far in 2006, 59 building permits have been issued at a total value of $6,666,250 and $80,077 in permit fees. These numbers are down from the same point at 2005, which saw 83 building permits at a total value of $7,750,551, with permit fees of $54,662. Bylaw repealed Council repealed its Manure Pits and Manure Management bylaw, allowing the enforcement and regulation of nutri- ent management to fall under the province's jurisdiction. McNab reported to council that South Huron's bylaw had become obsolete due to changes in the Nutrient Management Act that sees an increased risk-based approach to regulation. To maintain a level of consistency for livestock opera- tions, local municipalities have agreed to repeal their nutrient management bylaws, referring such matters to the province for approval. Tory tours throu, Continued from front page old. By 1995 Tory was chief executive officer of Rogers Media and was made presi- dent of Rogers Cable in 1999, which he described as having the same high level of popularity politicians have. Admitting his knowledge of rural Ontario was low when he became leader of the Conservative party in September 2004, Tory said rural Ontario he has spent 80 per cent of his first year and a half in rural Ontario. Tory said he now has a better understanding of rural issues, and accused the Liberal government of turn- ing its back on rural Ontario and offering "one size fits all solutions." Referring to the Local Health Integration Network being introduced in Ontario, Tory said while he agrees with the concept of regional planning, he added the provincial government "has taken vast powers but say they won't use them." He described the plan as "Soviet style," central plan- ning from Toronto. "We've had a lot of solu- tions from Toronto that what works there works any- where...don't impose solu- tions without listening," said Tory. JULY SALE D OOH c) :36(= VJ © D OOH 25% OFF STOREWIDE!!✓ PUZZLES & ART SUPPLIES INCLUDED! See our sale table books under $5.00 1 TIMES -ADVOCATE 424 MAIN ST. 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