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The Times Advocate, 2006-07-26, Page 22 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, July 26, 2006 Dunline Rubber buys industrial land HURON PARK — Nearly two years after it officially announced it would start privatizing the industrial side of Huron Park, the province has finally sold property to one of its tenants. Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell's office announced Friday that Dunline Rubber Products Company (for- merly Dunlop Industrial Limited) has bought two buildings on 7.2 acres of land in Huron Park. The company, which has been in business since 1968, manufactures endless rubber pre - shrinking belts for export to textile mills around the world from Argentina to Zimbabwe. Dunline employs 33 peo- ple and exports to 82 countries. "This sale is great news for strengthening the community of Huron Park and boosting small businesses that help the local economy prosper," Mitchell said in a state- ment. "The sale to Dunline in the park's industrial complex ful- fills the government's promise to enable indus- trial tenants to buy prop- erty they currently lease from the government at fair market value." Dunline has been a tenant of Huron Park since mid -1968 and is the oldest manufacturer in the park. The compa- ny manufactures exclu- sively in Huron Park, with a network of 36 agent type relationships around the world. "Dunline has enjoyed a stable work force and good relations with its many suppliers and ser- vice providers and is proud to become the owner of its two build- ings on 7.2 acres in Huron Park," company president Carl Hannigan said in a statement Monday afternoon. The province continues to negotiate with its other Huron Park ten- ants on the privatization of the 635 -acre industri- al park. "The Ontario govern- ment is on the side of rural communities and businesses," Mitchell said. "This sale will allow the owners to expand their businesses and provide job stability, while ensuring Ontario taxpayers get a return on property that the province no longer needs." The residential side of the park was sold for $8.5 million in May to Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities. Robertson Continued from front other levels of govern- ment, municipal politi- cians get to meet their constituents out in the community. Robertson has lived in Crediton with his wife Barb for 30 years. The is running couple has three grown children. Robertson is also the president of Big Brothers Big Sisters South Huron. As of Monday at noon, Robertson was the only candidate so far for deputy mayor. REGIONAL WRAP Firefighter honoured CLINTON — Local firefighter and Second World War veteran Bob Draper was visited recently by Ontario regional vice-president of the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation Robert Kirkpatrick, reports the Clinton News -Record. Kirkpatrick brought the foundation's memorial bell and reminisced with Draper about the past. "This is truly a special occasion," says Kirkpatrick. "Usually the bell stays in Ottawa, but we wanted to bring it here in honour of Bob's years of service," Kirkpatrick adds. The bell rings every September in Ottawa during a memorial service for fallen soldiers. Goderich Celtic Festival GODERICH — The 14th annual Goderich Celtic Festival and the internationally renowned Celtic College is being organized, according to the Goderich Signal -Star. The organization is planning to host performers travelling from all over the United Kingdom, Canada and the U.S. There is also a new addition to the festival, the Gairbaird Theatre Company. Organizers are looking for volunteers to assist col- lege teachers and festival performers. Opportunities are also available for other volunteer- ing positions. If interested contact the Celtic Festival office at 519- 524-8221 and speak to Lisa, Katy or Tamara. Fair Funding group meets with Sorbara By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF GODERICH — A group lobbying the upper levels of government for fair funding for rural municipalities had their say with provincial Minister of Finance Greg Sorbara last week. During a meeting at the Goderich Court House, a group representing Fair Funding for Small Communities of Ontario met with Sorbara for about 45 minutes, pre- senting to him a list of their priori- ties. Several municipalities are repre- sented by the group, which held a meeting in Exeter in June. Among their top concerns is achieving sus- tainable, long-term funding from the federal and provincial govern- ments for small municipalities. The group started due to the ini- tiative of South Bruce Mayor Ralph Kreutzwiser, whose municipality faces a $21 million sewer project for Teeswater and Formosa. Unable to get grants, Kreutzwiser decided to do something about it, leading to the formation of the group. South Huron Coun. Ken Oke sits on the group's committee, as does Crediton's Dianne Faubert, who represents the public. South Bruce public works direc- tor Mark Sture told the Times - Advocate he is pleased with how Friday's meeting went with Sorbara. "We got a fairly decent response from Minister Sorbara," he said, describing the minister as "fairly receptive" to the group's presenta- tion. In addition to presenting Sorbara with a list of the group's priorities, Sture said Sorbara was presented with minutes from the group's pre- vious two meetings as well as a copy of a resolution of endorsement from South Bruce council for the Fair Funding group. Sture said Sorbara recognizes that small municipalities can't com- pete with larger centres in terms of funding levels. Sture is optimistic about the group's efforts to achieve more funding from the federal and provincial levels of government. The group is trying to arrange meetings at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario meeting in August and has asked for dele- gations with Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of the Environment Laurel Broten and Minister of Public Infrastructure Renewal David Caplan. Sture also hopes for a meeting with Ontario Progressive Conservative leader John Tory. The group continues to strive to have its voice heard. "Getting the message out there is very important," Sture said. Ethanol company holds first public meeting Continued from front page will be higher. Also, he said ship- ping costs will decrease because farmers will be selling their corn close to home. He said the Co-op has about a one month supply of corn for the ethanol plant and there is "a lot of room" for expan- sion from the Co-op. There are plans for GreenField to widen Highway 4 at the north end of the village to divert traffic away from Hensall and the Co-op may develop a truck stop in the area in the future. When the issue of safety arose, project manager John Creighton said ethanol is much safer than gasoline, while Bliss added the plant will have around-the-clock security and the perimeter will be sealed. Bliss estimated there will be between 50-60 trucks going in and out of the plant everyday. It isn't known yet how the ethanol will be shipped, but Bliss said ideally it will be shipped by rail. Bliss Baker The plant only shuts down five days a year for maintenance. While many issues arose, the meeting kept coming back to the topic of water. "If there's no water, there's no plant," Bliss said, adding he hopes the company can come to an agreement with Bluewater. The plant's water needs (2,000 cubic metres a day) are more than the rest of the village of Hensall (1,700 cubic metres a day). Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson said his municipality is working with South Huron on the water issue and discussions are still being held on how it will be billed. Bliss said the plant won't need water until at least the fall of 2007, so the timeline works well with the pro- posed construction of the new pipeline, which Dowson said could start going in next spring or sum- mer. When it comes to the price of the pipeline, Dowson said, "the village of Hensall will not pay a nickel more than if we were doing it on our own (without GreenField)." Bliss said Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell has worked "very hard" to get the ethanol plant to the area. "She's got her elbows up and she's got me in a headlock and she's not letting go," he said. About 80 people attended last week's meeting. Bliss said the com- pany will hold more consultations with the public as the project moves forward. Bill Dowson 171.11L' . SW' 111F HEAT Komi COOL SAVINGS,' SUMMER DAZE � y .f HEAT WAVE SALE! 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