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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-05-03, Page 3Wednesday, May 3, 2006 Exeter Times -Advocate 3 Wind project moves ahead after site plan approval By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF VARNA — A proposed wind turbine in Zurich is mov- ing ahead after site plan approval was given at the April 10 council meeting. Bluewater needs more regulations for future wind projects, according to Huron County planner Craig Metzger who said other municipalities have specific yard requirements for wind generators in their zoning bylaws. Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh, according to Metzger requires wind generators to be set back from any lot line a distance equal to the height of the wind genera- tor, which includes the rotor blades. The proposed 0.8 megawatt test wind turbine on Concession 13, North Part Lot 22 is approximately 76 metres in height with a rotor diameter of 48 metres Metzger said council may wish to amend its bylaw to establish a "setback equal to tower height" require- ment. The motion approving the site plan was then passed. The remainder of the April 10 meeting, which was cancelled due to a medical emergency, was completed April 18. Facilities Facilities manager Tom Dickens reported two tenders were received for replacing playground equipment at the Stanley complex after the old equipment was declared hazardous. Dickens said ABC Recreation came in with a bid of $67,395.52 and Recreation Playsystems made a tender of $48,032.45, with both bids including installation. Recreation Playsystems was selected by council with installation to be completed by May 31. Public works Public works manager Ross Fisher recommended to council that water meters be installed in all industrial, commercial and institutional establishments in the municipality. Fisher said the cost of the meters will be added to each business, allowing them five years to pay . In his report to council Fisher said the municipality uses a formula of from one to three times the residential rate for different classes of businesses and once the metres are installed the readings will be more accurate. Asked whether businesses will pay more or less using meters, Fisher said it won't be known until the meters are installed, "but it's a fair way." Fisher added installing the meters will begin with high-end users and work down to smaller ones with the work to start as soon as possible. Funds for the meters will be taken out of the water reserves. Finance A recommendation by manager of finance Terri Brandon for the municipality to buy new accounting software and a new server has been deferred back to budget discussions. Brandon said the worktech software for project cost- ing and asset management will allow council to make more informed decisions regarding infrastructure repairs and replacement. The software can be funded through the gas tax agreement funding according to Brandon who added with South Huron planning on buying the software this year, discussions have been held on shared implemen- tation training. She added Central Huron also uses the worktech soft- ware. Coun. Jim Fergusson noted the municipality spent over $100,000 on software four years ago and asked how the new package will benefit ratepayers. Brandon replied there will be more information on how individual projects and buildings, such as how much it costs to run the Bayfield arena. Brandon also said the Dell Poweredge 1400 server, which was purchased in 2000 does not have the capaci- ty to be upgraded with the latest version of the Great Plains/Diamond software and recommended buying a new main server at a cost of $10,000. It was voted to defer both items back to budget discus- sions. CBO Chief building official Brad Dietrich's building report was presented with the report saying that as of March 31 a total of 26 permits have been issued for a value of $1,308,512.60, compared to 37 as of this time last year with a value of $2,039,034.00. Eight septic permits had been issued as of March 31, 2005 compared to two this year with three demolition permits issued this year, compared to none last year. April 24 meeting The regularly scheduled council meeting was held Monday night with utilities manager Bill Stauttener rec- ommending new locks for the municipal sewage sta- tions, well houses, booster stations and office. Stauttner said the number of different keys now required is excessive and there is no way of knowing how many keys are in the hands of unauthorized users. He added some of the locks are old and easy to open with nothing more than a knife. According to Stauttner, two tenders were received for buying 14 pushbutton combination locks with quotes ranging from $2,839.19 to $3,595.39. Council voted to authorize Stauttner to replace the locks. The May 8 council meeting segment dealing with the Bayfield Meadows planning application will be held in the hall portion of the Stanley Complex. The move was suggested by Bayfield ward Coun. Dave Johnston who said a large crowd will be in attendance and it is better to move the meeting rather than lock people out. Following the Bayfield Meadows part of the agenda, the rest of the meeting will be held in the regular coun- cil chambers. Father who lost son to bullying visits Exeter Public School Guest speaker Mike Neuts, holding pictures of his son Myles visited Exeter Public School April 27 to share the story of his son's death, caused by bullying. Neuts has spoken to 75,000 students across Canada to date. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout) By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Exeter Public School students sat in silence April 27 as guest speaker Mike Neuts spoke of his son's death. Ten -year-old Myles Neuts was found Feb. 6, 1998 hanging by a coat hook at his public school in Chatham. Myles was the victim of bullying from students who thought it would be funny to pull a prank on him. In just a few moments, Myles was hung up on a coat hook in the wash- room by two boys over a $10 bet which would go terribly wrong. It was a Friday, Mike's wife Brenda called him at work and told Mike to get to the school right away. She told him that one of their sons was found choking at the school. This was just the begin- ning of what would become an intense police investigation that would lead to no charges being laid and the complete truth never being found. Although Myles was still alive when taken to the hospital, he had suffered brain damage and was not guaranteed to ever regain consciousness. When Mike saw Myles, he remembers thinking, "There's Myles, he's dead. He went to school and never came home." A family decision was made to take Myles off life support six days later. The day after making the most difficult decision of his life, Myles was taken off life support "in front of about 50 family members, including the dogs," says Mike. "I'm here to make you think today, not just today but through your whole education," said Mike to the Grade 4, 5 and 6 stu- dents. It only takes one time to get hurt by a bully and that is exactly what hap- pened to Myles, he explained. More Power. More Versatility. 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Mike spoke to the stu- dents for an hour, explaining the conse- quences of bullying he also told the students that most victims and bullies are very much the same and that most bullies "I've studied are seeking atten- tion and that just tells me way to much. "Kids don't go to school to die," he said, "to be hurt, to not come home or to be teased." Neuts read a poem writ- ten by Myles just months before his death, "What Is Peace" he also played a song for the students called "Don't Laugh At Me" and asked everyone to repeat that line out loud. e01 92 Main St., S $°U nO� '� Exeter, Ontario h1,lr° �'On$Tel:519-235-1840 O'u Fax: 519-235-3305 Email: shos@bellnet.ca SOUTH HURON OFFICE SOLUTIONS IS YOUR SOLUTION TO ALL OF YOUR OFFICE SUPPLY NEEDS. • Office Supplies & Stationery • Binding & Laminating • Office Furniture & Filing Cabinets • Wedding Stationery • Business Forms & Stationery • Business Machines • Stamps - Self -inking, pre -inked and rubber stamps • Photocopying - Black & White AND Colour • Fax Service -- Incoming/Outgoing • Printer Cartridges Store Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.