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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-05-03, Page 1W��0:: � c, o DEERE HURON TRACTOR (519)235-1115 www.hurontractor.com i Aa MORTGAGE INTELLIGENCE A GMAC Company 519.238.HOME SvnCoast.c& Secure on-line mortgage application TIMES -ADVOCATE Exeter, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, May 3, 2006 1.25 (includes GST) The sold outAusable Bayfield Conservation Foundation and Exeter Lions Club Conservation Dinner last Thursday raised a record $44,000 that will go towards barrier - free trails, stocking of fish at the Morrison Reservoir, conservation education programs and the South Huron Trail.The emcee for the evening was Exeter native and well-known Montreal sports broadcaster RandyTieman.Tieman, above right, brought several pieces of sports memorabilia to be auctioned off.Above,Tieman and dinner chairman Ernie Miatello wear specially -designed hockey sweaters for those who can't decide if they're fans of the Montreal Canadiens or the Toronto Maple Leafs. The sweaters sold for $600 each. See story and additional photos on page 32 (photo/Jim Beckett) Small tax increase in South Huron By Scott Nixon Other council notes: TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — The municipality's 2006 budget means a less than one per cent impact on total property taxes. Council adopted the budget Monday night. The municipality's general tax levy is $3.8 million, a nearly three per cent increase over last year's levy, but one that will impact total property taxes less than one per cent, chief administrative officer Larry Brown said. South Huron ended up with a surplus of $453,611 from 2005. As the municipality had budgeted for a $100,000 surplus, the differ- ence will be transferred to working capital reserves. Pumping station It was an expensive evening for the munici- pality as it awarded a contract of $586,360 to low bidder K&L Construction for the con- struction of the Oakwood Area Sanitary Sewage Pumping Station and Forcemain. As part of an agreement to service the Spruce Crossings Development on Highway 21 north of Grand Bend, the municipality agreed to construct a sanitary sewage pump- ing station and a forcemain southerly along Highway 21. The engineer's estimate for the project was $482,000 and when Coun. Ken Oke asked if See DEVON page 2 Residents sound off on sewer project By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — The Ministry of the Environment (MOE) and the Huron County Health Unit are giving South Huron until the end of 2007 to complete the nearly $6 million Crediton and Centralia sewer project. As previously reported, the proposed sewer project for the two villages hit a major stumbling block last week when the municipality was denied a two thirds grant from the Canada -Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF). It was the second time South Huron has been denied a COMRIF grant and the municipality doesn't think it would be successful should a third opportunity arise to apply to COMRIF. The municipality wasn't told why it was rejected a grant. As sewer and water projects are typically funded on a user pay basis, this means the residents of Crediton and Centralia would be responsible for paying the entire cost of the $5.8 million project, which amounts to an average $17,285 per property. Costs for households to hook up to the sewer line would be above that figure. As South Huron chief administrative officer Larry Brown told the Times - Advocate last week, the municipality wouldn't force the project on resi- dents unless they were ordered to by the MOE and the Health Unit. Mayor Rob Morley revealed at Monday night's council meeting he met Monday morning with Chris Hutt of the MOE and Dr. Beth Henning and Don Huila of the Health Unit. He said all parties agreed the septic problems in the villages are a potentially substantial health issue. The agreement that came out of that meeting was that South Huron has until December 2007 to complete the project. If the project isn't completed by then, Morley said the municipality will be "written up" and forced to do it and eventually, some houses that have septic problems could have signs posted on them and residents could be forced out of their homes. Morley needs council to back him up on the agreement and he said after Monday night's meeting that decision will be made at a future meeting. As was described at Monday night's meeting, septic problems in Crediton and Centralia have gone on for years. Tests have found high E. Coli levels in storm drains and ditches, while sewage ponding has been found on properties and there has been off site discharge of sewage and greywater. Concerned Crediton and Centralia residents over -filled the council chambers Monday night. While many admitted both villages need sewers, they say they can't afford the project. Crediton's Drew Robertson spoke first, explaining that each household should be canvassed to get residents' opinions on the project. He said resi- dents need information so they can make a wise decision for today and for the future. Henning, the county's medical officer of health, said the issues in Crediton and Centralia have been ongoing for 10 years and the Health Unit has been working with the municipality to find solutions such as installing a sewer system with government grants. She said while the grants haven't been successful, the problems remain. Hutt said the septic systems in both villages are "worn out" and don't meet the proper standards. He said the problems won't go away unless they are properly fixed. Brown said residents would have the option of paying the entire average amount of $17,285 up front, or by paying it off over 20 or 40 years. 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