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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-11-22, Page 22 Times–Advocate Wednesday, November 22, 2006 Lucan Biddulph voter turnout "horrible" By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF LUCAN BIDDULPH — The voter turnout for the municipal election Nov. 13 was discussed Monday night at Lucan Biddulph council. The turnout was "horrible," accord- ing to Lucan Biddulph Township clerk - administrator Ron Reymer. Only 12.1 per cent of about 3,400 people eligible to vote actually voted. Reymer says one reason for the low turnout is because all positions in the municipality were acclaimed with the exception of the Ward 3 Granton and area spot. Winning the position was Alex Westman, receiving 152 votes com- pared to incumbent Doug Anderson with 115 votes. He also says because another by- election is happening in North London, this has taken some of the focus off of the Lucan Biddulph election. Reymer says the number of voters is kind of disappointing and is asking council to consider changing the voting process for the next municipal elec- tion, possibly by voting through the internet. Reymer says if the voting process does change and if it becomes more expensive he would like to see a "dras- tic improvement." A public meeting will be held Dec. 4, swearing in Westman as the new Ward 3 councillor. Connecting Link update The Connecting Link project on the Main Street of Lucan is expected to fin- ish up in about two weeks, according to public works manager Steve McAuley. McAuley says the rest of the paving, which is just some extra asphalt, should have been done yesterday (Tuesday). Updated South Huron election results SOUTH HURON — There are small changes in the numbers from last week's South Huron municipal elec- tion. Figures released by the municipality to the Times - Advocate Monday night changed slightly after the paper went to print. While numbers changed, the winners remained the same. Following are the final election results: Ken Oke defeat- ed Dean Ducharme in the race for mayor, receiving 2,939 votes, compared to Ducharme's 1,132. In the race for deputy mayor, George Robertson was victorious with 1,673 votes, beating Drew Robertson (1,491) and Wally Fydenchuk (892). In the Stephen ward, Jim Dietrich (1,044) and Tom Tomes (745) won council seats, defeating Dianne Faubert (490), Crystal Varley (342) and Vlado Bjelis (66). In the Exeter ward, Pete Armstrong (1,262) and Cathy Seip (903) will sit on the new council. Going down to defeat were Wayne DeLuca (879) and Leroy Hoffman (617). In the Usborne ward, David Frayne (491) defeated Hugh McMaster (79). Voter turnout in South Huron's municipal election was an impressive 56.5 per cent, according to figures provid- ed by municipal clerk and election returning officer Sandra Strang. As has been reported, there were concerns about the number of rejected ballots South Huron had been receiv- ing in the vote by mail election, due to improperly com- pleted declaration forms. In the end, 573 of the 4,703 ballots had to be rejected. Since council decided recently to accept ballots that included the signed declaration in the wrong envelope, Strang said the resulting number of rejected ballots was- n't as high as was originally feared. REGIONAL WRAP UP Officer dies after crash HURON — The Huron County community is mourn- ing an OPP officer who died almost one month after sustaining injuries in an on -duty car crash Oct. 14, according to The Citizen. Const. Dave Mounsey was responding to another collision when his cruiser, on a slushy road became uncontrollable, striking a hydro pole. Mounsey was airlifted to London with critical injuries. He died the morning of Nov. 13. Mounsey was an OPP officer for eight years and highly respected among his peers by both his dedica- tion as an officer and his personality. Mounsey, among many things, had served in the British Royal Air Force and was a member of the Blyth Fire Department. His funeral was Friday in Wingham. Local pilot celebrates GODERICH — A Goderich pilot was honoured recently at the monthly Canadian Owners and Pilot Association (COPA) Flight 45 meeting, according to the Goderich Signal -Star. It was an evening of celebration as many of Gus Chisholm's friends gathered in the downstairs gallery of Sky Harbour Airport and Museum to recognize his 80th birthday and 61 years of flying. He also said there was still a "Bell manhole issue" to be worked out and that he is going to "talk to them about their position." McAuley says if possi- ble he wants to pave over the manhole, as done with the other manholes on Main Street but is in the midst of work- ing with Bell on a solution, as they do not want the manhole covered. Radcliffe street names Lucan Biddulph council passed a motion Monday night to accept Radcliffe Crescent and Watson Street as new street names in the Radcliffe subdivision in Lucan. Santa Claus Parade The Lucan Santa Claus parade is Dec. 2, beginning at 6 p.m., travelling through the Main Street of Lucan. Loyens subdivision There was further discussion but no decisions made on the proposed Loyens subdivision in Lucan. Council vets leaving Continued from front page members (of council) I didn't agree with." Municipal staff also thanked the councillors for their work. Deputy clerk Laurie Dykstra said it has been a thrill to work with Morley, Urlin and Ratz. "It's been a really good experi- ence working with you guys," she said. Chief administrative officer Larry Brown complimented the outgoing council for making good decisions — "that's what it's all about," he said. "I congratulate this council and I'm sure the next council will be as astute." Clerk Sandra Strang echoed Dykstra's thoughts and wished the councillors well. Morley noted the South Huron ratepayers must have been happy with council's work because the incumbents were re-elected in last week's elec- tion. The outgoing council has one meeting left — Monday night's communications meeting, while the new council is sworn in Dec. 4. Bluewater turnout high VARNA — A total of just over 50 per cent of eligible voters in Bluewater cast their ballot in last week's municipal election, although with a total of 619 spoiled ballots, the percentage of eligible votes was 45.1 per cent. A total of 4,771 ballots were received out of a total of 9,205 electors in Bluewater with 619 ballots spoiled. Of the spoiled bal- lots, said clerk -administrator Janisse Zimmerman, 496 were rejected because of declarations not being returned. Another 66 were received with declarations not being signed and 35 were received from Canada Post Nov. 14 that Zimmerman said appeared to have been mailed Nov. 9. Commendation — Outgoing South Huron Deputy Mayor Dave Urlin, left, received a surprise at Monday night's council meeting as Ray Hurd, right, the past chairperson of Road Watch Huron, paid tribute to Urlin for being with Road Watch since its inception.Work on Road Watch started in 2001 and was officially launched in 2002, promoting road safe- ty through education, awareness and enforcement. Hurd complimented Urlin for his "untiring efforts" at the municipal and county levels."Our applause goes to you," Hurd said, adding Urlin will be receiving a letter of commendation."You've done a marvellous job for us." (photo/Scott Nixon) Crediton property owner gets another chance By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — As one of its final acts Monday night, the outgo- ing South Huron council, spear- headed by Deputy Mayor Dave Urlin, showed some heart. The municipality was about to declare surplus a Crediton property at 4 Victoria Ave. E., and put it up for auction after the former owner, Danny Thomas fell into tax arrears for three years and lost the proper- ty. The property fell into the munic- ipality's hands after it wasn't sold during a recent tax sale process. Thomas owed $5,894.10 in prop- erty taxes on the site, the former Bank of Montreal in Crediton. While the municipality was pre- pared to go ahead and sell the property by public auction, a plea by Thomas, supported by Urlin, convinced council to give him three weeks to pay his taxes to regain his property. Thomas said he paid $700 of his taxes in January, but wasn't aware his property was up for a tax sale because the municipality sent a notice to an address in London he hadn't used in 10 years. He asked if he could pay the money he owed to keep his property. "I'd be happy to pay it," he said. "I wasn't properly notified ... I do apologize for being in tax arrears." South Huron Mayor Rob Morley explained that once tax arrears go beyond the three years, the full amount has to be paid, not a por- tion. He and chief administrative officer Larry Brown said they weren't aware of any alternatives for Thomas. "The process didn't work in your favour," Morley said, "That's the Municipal Act of Ontario." But when Urlin asked Thomas how long it would take him to pay back the nearly $6,000 he owes, Thomas said he has three quarters of the amount now and could get a loan to cover the rest. Urlin then proposed giving Thomas until Dec. 11 to pay. "It is Christmas. Let's do some- thing right here and let the gentle- man keep his property." Council supported Urlin's motion and withdrew an earlier motion to proceed with the public auction. Thomas thanked council for giv- ing him another chance. "That's more than fair," he said. Other council notes: Huron Park project Council officially authorized the 40 - year debenturing of the $6.9 million infrastructure project in Huron Park. Brown said the project was well run and came in under budget. The $6 9 million project will be paid back by the current owner of the residential side of the park, Parkbridge Lifestyle Communities, and the new owners of the former McCurdy Public School. Also, as Parkbridge is allowing residents to buy their homes, homeowners in the park will pay back the debt as part of their prop- erty taxes. The interest rate of the debenture is 4.87 per cent.