The Times Advocate, 2006-03-22, Page 22
Exeter Times -Advocate
Wednesday, March 22„ 2006
Citizens' committee speaks to council
Continued from front page
needs to be decreased to
result in lower taxes.
He also spoke of the need for
an "open, honest govern-
ment." He said council meet-
ings aren't well attended
because "tough questions are
deflected or left unanswered.
Different points of view are
often met with hostility."
He added it's tough for
members of the public to get
information from administra-
tion.
Mayor Rob Morley later said,
"Nobody's keeping secrets
here," and he feels he's as
open as he can possibly be.
Coun. Pete Armstrong said
it's a positive step that the
concerned citizens have band-
ed together as a unit, instead
of acting as individuals.
Morley later told the Times -
Advocate he welcomes the
formation of the group. He
said he hopes it results in an
increase in interest in this
November's municipal elec-
tion, but hopes some members
of the association don't have
personal agendas.
Exi-Plast owner Frank
Zawalsky spoke passionately
about the state of the business
community in South Huron.
He said businesses are being
lost because of the municipali-
ty's lackadaisical attitude.
"You're not doing the com-
munity a damn bit of good
here," he said.
When asked by Morley what
he wanted council to do,
Zawalsky said he wants the
municipality to stop saying it
can't do anything to help busi-
nesses.
"I've brought millions into
this community and you're
forcing me to leave," he said,
adding it's time council got
more involved.
Concerned citizen Wally
Fydenchuk said "generally" he
thinks council is doing a good
job, but the citizens' associa-
tion has concerns and wants
to have a dialogue with coun-
cil.
"Let's communicate and
work together," he said.
Jon Dinney of Dinneys Fine
Furniture spoke of how costs
for him have gone up while
services from the municipality
have decreased over the
years. He said council needs
to speak to the businesses
about the problems they're
having.
"It's time to ask and it's time
to listen," he said, adding that
the business section is the
backbone of the community.
Dinney said visitors come
into his store and ask him
"What's wrong with Exeter?
It's a ghost town."
"Do you seem to care?"
Dinney asked council. "No."
Morley replied that agricul-
ture is as much a part of the
backbone of the community as
downtown is. "Rural Ontario
is in the toilet ... Exeter's get-
ting to be a ghost town,"
Morley said, adding that so is
every other small community
in Ontario.
Dinney responded that some
communities are doing very
well and "something has to be
addressed here."
Morley rejected the notion
that council is doing nothing
about the issue. He said the
addition of the Relouw Early
Childhood Learning Centre
has been a plus for the town,
attracting businesses and peo-
ple, and doesn't cost the
municipality anything.
Cathy Seip of Exeter said the
town needs something that
will impress people driving
into Exeter, but a $48,000
Exeter Business Association
budget isn't enough. She said
the town needs a "wow" fac-
tor.
Fydenchuk commended
council for taking part in the
lengthy discussion Monday
night, adding he'll keep
encouraging people to join the
South Huron Citizens'
Association and get involved.
Coun. Jim Dietrich said
council encourages the public
to ask questions, while Morley
noted the gallery is usually
empty during council meet-
ings.
When asked by the Times -
Advocate if there is a problem
with businesses downtown,
Morley said, "definitely," and
said he is concerned. He
added he doesn't have any
quick answers for a solution
to the problem.
Morley also added that
council represents 10,000
people in South Huron and
two thirds of them are rural.
"They are in the toilet as
much as downtown," he said.
"I represent everyone."
Holmesville meeting well attended
Continued from front page
Howard Hampton offered
Webster his parking spot.
Webster was asked if he
needed relief. He said
that he doesn't, but hopes
others will join him this
week. A fundraiser has
also begun for Webster.
The T -A tried calling
Webster March 17. His
new number is also out of
service.
Chairman of the Ontario
Corn Producers
Association Doug Eadie
attended the meeting,
saying the Risk
Management (RM) needs
to be a focus.
He says he is disap-
pointed that nothing has
been done with the pro-
gram over the past year.
"The program is well
thought out," says Eadie.
He also spoke of his
frustration with the gov-
ernment both provincially
and federally.
Eadie believes a political
will needs to take leader-
ship.
Mark Kennedy, branch
manager of the Hensall
and Ailsa Craig
Thompsons and Earl
Wagner of the Hensall
Co-op also spoke, offering
Paul Steckle took the podium March 16 at the Grass
Roots Income Crisis Meeting in Holmesville. He was
one of several speakers. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout)
their support during this
difficult income crisis.
Steckle and Shipley both
took the podium, offering
support as well.
Both were met with
some tough questions.
Steckle commented on
Webster, saying he has
courage but did not feel
that the politicians had a
lack of information as
earlier suggested in the
meeting.
Steckle says farmers
should think about edu-
cating others on how little
a farmer makes on each
item, like a box of corn-
flakes.
He also suggested possi-
bly instating a food tax
but not raising taxes.
Both comments were
met with some criticism.
Shipley spoke on not
needing band aids to
cover the agriculture
income crisis but rather a
solution to fix this ongo-
ing situation.
Ontario Federation of
Agriculture vice-president
Paul Mistele also took the
podium speaking of the
importance of a unified
voice and how it is a
right step in the direction
of conquering the income
crisis.
"Work with a united
voice; it will work," says
Mistele.
A secret ballot was also
recorded.
The majority of the
audience voted to contin-
ue holding rallies and
blocking roads legally.
Consultant Mery Erb of
Brucefield was the last
speaker, presenting infor-
mation and statistics on
different areas of agricul-
ture.
With a rally held March
17, an audience member
asked if Steckle would be
attending.
No comment was made
by Steckle.
Hayter fire
update
DASHWOOD — Firefighters
returned to Hayter's Turkey
Products in Dashwood on the
weekend in response to a fire
which continues to smoulder
almost a week after a suspicious
fire destroyed a straw storage shed
at the business.
Owner Tom Hayter said the fire
is being caused by straw under the
destroyed structure. "I think it will
be an ongoing thing until we get it
cleaned up."
He added the damage is estimat-
ed at between $600,000 and
$700,000, lower than the previous-
ly estimated $1 million.
Hayter said the company is wait-
ing for insurance quotes before the
cleanup can begin and the cause
has not been determined. He said
one of the tractors destroyed in the
fire has been impounded and an
engineer will be looking at it.
The fire has affected operations
at the business since Hayter's has
had to look elsewhere for its straw.
"It's extra work to handle it and
get it in the right form," said
Hayter. "But it could have been
worse."
REGIONAL WRAP UP •
Volunteer awarded
SEAFORTH — Don Dodds has received the Arbour
Award from the Ontario 4-H Council after 46 years
of service with the club, according to The Huron
Expositor.
Dodds has been a leader of 4-H swine clubs since
1960 and has also been involved with the Huron
County 4-H executive.
Dodds went from director to president.
He has also taught 4-H judging and worked with
the 4-H Go for the Gold competition.
Olympian visits YCW
GODERICH — A two-time Olympic gold medalist
was in Goderich recently for Young Canada Week
(YCW), according to the Goderich Signal -Star.
Becky Kellar, a defence player for the national
women's hockey team met with seven-year-old
Becky Gibbs who was taken to the hospital with
croup.
The visit was arranged by hospital staff after see-
ing how upset Gibbs was when she couldn't meet
Kellar.
After contacting the Maitland Recreation Centre,
Kellar agreed to visit Gibbs after the breakfast and
autograph signing.
"It was very nice," says Lynn Gibbs, Becky's moth-
er.
Firemen win challenge
VANASTRA — The firefighters of the Municipality
of Central Huron won a Corporate Challenge
fundraiser at the Vanastra Recreation Centre
recently, according to the Clinton News -Record.
The firefighters raised nearly $1,500.
A $730 donation will go to a non-profit organiza-
tion of their choice.
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