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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-05-17, Page 2M&M chairman speaks Continued from front page luck, including an impaired driver who crashed into the back of the store and a freezer which broke down resulting in $20,000 worth of product being given away for free. What they did have was a vision, a vision to sell food like it had never been sold before — restau- rant style. This was unheard of in 1980, according to Voisin. They also focused on optimism. Their goal was to run a business which offered customers high quality restaurant style food and allowed them a comfortable and convenient atmosphere. They also used catchy, "creative ideas to get people in the store." In 2006 M&M Meat Shops opens about 20 to 30 shops a year and carries 300 to 400 products per store. Voisin credits this to several the- ories he follows including thinking and acting big, sticking to what you know, surrounding yourself with positive people, treating your employees as number one, persis- tence, selling products and great service, "those businesses will survive and thrive"and communi- ty involvement and fundraising efforts. M&M Meat Shops is not only a top food and franchise industry in Canada, they also raise millions of dollars for charities across Canada, like the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of Canada, which is their corporate charity. The South Huron Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting Monday night at the Ironwood Clubhouse. M&M Meat Shops chairman Mac Voisin was the keynote speaker, presenting insight on staying com- petitive, retail sales in a small community and his story of his personal business struggles and experience. From left are Exeter M&M Meat Shops co-owners Ron Howson and Odette Pelletier,Voisin and presi- dent of the South Huron Chamber of Commerce Tony DeBoer. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout) SAFETY RECALL ELEGANT ORTHO HEATED SEAT CUSHION Elegant USA is recalling the Ortho Heated Seat Cushion (Canadian Tire product number 32-1425) due to a potential safety concern. It has been determined that a number of units may have a manufacturing defect that can lead to overheating, causing the seat cushion to smoke. To date, there have been 28 reported safety incidents in which the unit overheated, as well as two incidents of injury as a result of this defect. Elegant USA is asking customers to discontinue the use of this product immediately and to return the product to Canadian Tire for a refund. How the unit can be identified: • Affected units were sold on or after December 1, 2005 and are the Ortho brand only. Seat cushions purchased prior to this date are not affected. • The Ortho Heated Seat Cushion has a waffle design in the centre of the cushion and a unique remote control. • It also features a tag that identifies Elegant USA as the manufacturer. • The cushion is powered by a 12V cigarette adapter only. J 0 CaII 1-800-883-9919 for more information 2 Exeter Times—Advocate Wednesday, May 17, 2006 Community Centre packed By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF CREDITON — Residents of Crediton and Centralia over- whelmingly want South Huron to keep searching for grant money to fund the pro- posed $6.2 million sewer project for those two villages. (There have been new developments since last week's meeting. See front page story for council's deci- sion to go ahead with the project.) A petition stating the pub- lic's desire for grant money has been signed by virtually every household in Crediton and Centralia and was pre- sented at Monday night's council meeting. Residents also packed the Crediton Community Centre for a pub- lic meeting May 10. Last week's meeting was a chance to provide informa- tion to the public as well as allow residents to express their concerns about the pro- ject, which at the time of the meeting was said to cost an estimated $17,285 per prop- erty (since the meeting, that estimate has been raised to $19,300 per property). In addition to that figure, resi- dents would face an addition- al fee to have the sewer line connected to their homes and to decommission their septic systems. As has been previously reported, the municipality was denied a grant from the Canada -Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF), which would have paid two thirds of the pro- ject's cost. Without the grant, Crediton and Centralia resi- dents are on the hook for the user pay project, which the Ministry of the Environment and the Huron County Health Unit wants finished by the end of 2007. Problems in the villages include high E. Coli levels in storm drains and ditches, sewage ponding and off site discharge of sewage and greywater. Last week's meeting was mediated by Crediton resi- dent John Greig, who began by giving residents some background on the project. He said there were three reasons for the meeting — to learn more about the project, to come together as a com- munity and to turn their con- cern and anger into some- thing constructive. South Huron councillors and administration were also in attendance. Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle sent a repre- sentative for him, while MPP Carol Mitchell sent a letter stating she is "working dili- gently" to find more informa- tion on the Crediton and Centralia situation. She urged the municipality to re -apply for the third round of COMRIF (South Huron has stated a desire to instead use the third round of COMRIF to apply for the proposed approximately $12 million Lake Huron water pipeline). Greig explained sewage has been a problem in Crediton for many years. He said there was bad planning in the town many years ago and the heavy clay in the village prevents sewage from mov- ing through it. Also, some lots aren't big enough to han- dle septic systems. Other sys- tems are old and would cost close to $20,000 to repair. Greig said residents have been trying to find out why South Huron was denied a COMRIF grant during the first two rounds, but they're not getting the answers. To make matters worse, 80 per cent of the COMRIF money has already been granted, leaving only 20 per cent for the third round. South Huron Mayor Rob Morley said he recently spoke to provincial Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Leona Dombrowsky about the pro- ject. She asked him if the grant request was "just for pipes in the ground." Morley said after thinking about Dombrowsky's com- ments, he realized he doesn't think COMRIF was ever intended to fund projects for "pipes in the ground." He added the criteria for round three of COMRIF has- n't been announced yet, but recreation projects could be preferred for grants. The announcement on the COM - RIF criteria should be announced in June. Noting South Huron council represents the entire munici- pality, Morley said the municipality is getting close to being forced to proceed with the $12 million Lake Huron water pipeline. A Centralia woman said she has a young family and the sewer costs will almost triple residents' taxes. She wondered how council will help young families, seniors and those on fixed incomes who can't afford the costs. Mel Winger of Centralia asked council to delay a deci- sion on the sewer project until all funding avenues have been exhausted. "We're here representing you the best way we know," Morley said He noted both Steckle and Mitchell aren't happy with COMRIF. Cheryl MacLeod of Crediton said she doesn't believe the septic systems in the village can't be fixed. She said she has researched the issue and there have been many advances in septic systems over the years. She said some of the new types of sys- tems are reasonably priced and less than what a sewer system would cost. "I believe this can be fixed with- out a sewer system," MacLeod said. Residential side sold Continued from front page company's website says it is Canada's largest owner and opera- tor of land lease communities and RV resorts. The company owns and manages 47 properties in Ontario and Alberta with over 10,000 sites. Mayor Rob Morley said the province hasn't released much information about the sale, but he said he sees some concerns and some positives with the purchase. One of his concerns is that, with the park now in private hands, the owners could appeal their property assessment, which could affect the rest of South Huron's taxpayers. Parkbridge is taking over the costs of the $7 million infrastruc- ture project in Huron Park, which sees new water lines, sewers, roads, curbs, gutters and side- walks. Deyarmond said negotiations are continuing between the ORC and tenants on the industrial side for the sale of those properties. Council approves project Continued from front page their system over a 20 years or longer debenture like has been pro- posed with the Crediton/Centralia sewer project. Winchester said some existing septic systems may work now, but they will fail eventually. After much discussion, council voted to proceed with the project with a completion date of Dec. 31, 2007, and with a pledge to exhaust all avenues of government grants. Coun. Ken Oke said the quicker the project moves forward, the cheaper it will be. South Huron resident Crystal Varley later asked council if the public would be allowed to start a fundraising venture for the project and if it would compromise a COM - RIF grant. Both Morley and chief administrative officer Larry Brown said they didn't think it would. Varley mentioned the possibility of holding a concert fundraiser and said a noise bylaw exemption might be needed.