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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-11-14, Page 22 Times -Advocate Wednesday, November 14, 2007 MOE urges caution with sweet corn waste Continued from front page Ross explained that sweet corn waste (the husks of the corn) will cause "real problems" in water. The cleanup lasted 20 days. Some of the pumped out water was spread on farm land, while some was put in a manure lagoon. In total, Ross said 16 kilometres of the creek was affected by the leak and 1.7 million gallons of water were recovered. "This can cause real havoc and you need to be careful with it," Ross said of the waste. Closer to home, Ross also spoke of a complaint he received about a pile of sweet corn waste at a farm on Kirkton Road. He said the farmer involved is still fighting the problem of leakage. Ross said he has been involved with hundreds of manure spills and a few sweet corn incidents. He said we need to learn more about the problems and learn to minimize the risks. South Huron Deputy Mayor George Robertson pointed out these problems aren't new, while Oke said there are bigger farms today, and more sweet corn means more waste and runoff. Ross said we have come a long way in dealing with such problems, but there is still a long way to go. Uncollectible taxes Council approved a recommendation from treasurer Sandy Becker to official- ly label delinquent accounts receivable totaling $3,438.44 and delinquent utility accounts totaling $1,535.92 as uncol- lectible. Becker's report stated that "staff have made every effort to collect the out- standing balances on delinquent accounts ... These accounts have been submitted to Credit Risk Management for collection. At this time they remain unpaid." Becker noted that in accounts receiv- able, over $4 million was invoiced out, with only $3,438.44 uncollectible; on the utility accounts side of things, there was over $2 4 million in revenues with only $1,535.92 uncollectible. Both Oke and Coun. Jim Dietrich noted South Huron has a high percentage of collecting its accounts. Committee to resume meeting The municipality's economic develop- ment committee will start meeting again, upon urging from Coun. Cathy Seip, who said she wanted to keep momentum going created by the Oct. 30 meeting for the Exeter Business Improvement Area (BIA). Oke said the meetings stopped because he was waiting for a new chief administrative officer to be hired and because he wasn't happy with the direc- tion of the committee. He said he wasn't getting any ideas out of the committee and the other com- mittee members were quashing the ideas he came up with. Seip said the recent meeting for the BIA gave the committee direction and there are grant programs available that the BIA needs to pursue. While Oke wanted to wait for a new CAO to be hired, other members of council, such as Robertson and Coun. Tom Tomes said the committee should meet again if there is momentum. On a motion from Coun. Pete Armstrong, council eventually decided to have the committee resume meetings, with any budget items to come back to council. On the economic development front, Oke commended Seip and planning assistant Trista Russell for organizing the Oct. 30 meeting, which he labelled a success. Oke predicted "wonderful things" will happen on Exeter's Main Street in the future. 'Jail and Bail' Council will allow Huron County Crime Stoppers to hold a 'Jail and Bail' fundraiser May 14 on the landing in front of the Olde Town Hall and Exeter Library. According to a letter from Huron County Crime Stoppers police co-ordina- tor Shawn McFalls, the `Jail and Bail' will see 30 members of the community volunteering their time and agreeing to be "arrested," and brought in front of town hall for a "court appearance." Each accused will have to collect pledges to meet bail. If they do not, they will be placed in jail and allowed to call people to raise money for their release. The event is meant to be a fun time to raise money and awareness for Crime Stoppers. OPP updates Lucan Biddulph council Continued from front page the false alarm calls. There were 39 traffic complaint calls, down from 60 calls. Mischief calls have also decreased from 17 to 14 calls. Moffatt says, "This is a downward trend in almost all municipalities." There have been three impaired driving charges, with the OPP saying this has a lot to do with setting up RIDE programs year round, an initiative from Ontario police commissioner Julian Fantino. There has been a steady decline in break and enters, from 12 calls in 2006 to seven in 2007. Assaults stayed steady with five calls in both 2007 and 2006, as well as thefts which stayed at 17 calls. But Moffatt states there has been "an overall decline" throughout the municipalities. Drug calls increased from three to four calls. The OPP also briefly touched on a couple of new pieces of equipment being used. The Intoxilyzer has replaced the breathalyzer. The Intoxilyzer features digital read-outs and is easier to transport because it has fewer parts. There are also new coloured digital mugshots being used through new software. The OPP explained to council that there are a couple of new trends being used by youth, including lighting themselves on fire. The OPP report that the "Jackass" series, featuring grown men attempting dangerous stunts is also popu- lar with the youth who are mirroring some of the stunts. The OPP say those stunts are mainly popular with boys, while the girls usually stick to internet harrass- ment. Other news from Monday's council: Lucan Flu Shot Clinic tonight A free Flu Shot Clinic is being held tonight from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Lucan Community Memorial Centre. Skate sharpening The Lucan Community Memorial Centre will offer skate sharpening on a trial basis this season. Part of the money earned will support Lucan hockey. REGIONAL WRAP UP Parkhill fire claims life PARKHILL — Beatrice Marjorie Woolvett, a 91 - year -old Parkhill woman died in a fire Nov. 2 on John Street in Parkhill. The North Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department and Middlesex OPP responded to the residence around 7:42 a.m. The first firefighter on scene saw a large amount of smoke coming from the residence. He immediately entered the residence, finding an unconscious female occupant lying on the floor. The female occupant was rescued from the resi- dence and transported by ambulance to the Strathroy General Hospital where she was pro- nounced deceased. The Ontario Fire Marshall was called in to investigate the incident. Tim Hortons donates to South Huron Hospital campaign Campaign donors $18,000 donation —The South Huron Hospital Foundation would like to thank Linda and Dennis Whaling of Exeter Tim Hortons for raising over $1,000 during the "Smile Cookie Campaign". Every smile cookie sold raised $1 for the hospital. The Whalings are very pleased to be able to make a generous donation of $18,000. With this donation the hospital will be able to buy a new heart monitor for the Emergency Dept.The Whalings realize the importance of supporting the Foundation's efforts in renovating the ER department at the hospital. Pictured above from left are John Wuerth of the Campaign Team, Dennis Whaling of Tim Hortons and Lori Baker of the Campaign Team. Benefactor • Frank Kints and Family — South Huron Leader • Heartland Credit Union — Exeter Friend • Brian and Becky Mercer — Exeter Supporter • Vincent Farm Equipment — South Huron Provider • Marlene Mathers — Exeter Ilene Rollings — Exeter Lewis and Madalene Tasko — Exeter Watch out for Lions The South Huron Hospital Foundation would like to thank the Exeter Lions Club. The Lions Club has started to go door to door in the Exeter community to inform residents of the hospital campaign. The goal of the campaign is to raise $1.6 million for new X-ray equipment and renovations to the emer- gency department.