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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-11-21, Page 1616 Times -Advocate Wednesday, November 21, 2007 Council approves raises for staff By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — Council approved a recommendation to increase municipal staff salaries by three per cent in 2008 and 2009. The motion was passed Monday night at a regular South Huron council meeting on a recommenda- tion from the employee relations committee. Acting chief administra- tive officer Don Giberson said a con- siderable amount of research was undertaken by the committee and the three per cent raise is compara- ble to what municipal staff in neigh- bouring municipalities will receive. Council needed to make a decision on salary increases because its cur- rent policy expires at the end of 2007. The increase also takes into account cost of living. Other council notes: Port Blake's future Reacting to an April 2007 letter from Andrew Henry, the manager of regional water supply for the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System (LHPWSS), council has decided to seek a review of Port Blake Park to determine the park's future. Port Blake, located beside the water treatment plant on Highway 21, is owned by the City of London but operated by South Huron. In a report to council, Giberson said there have been suggestions that the park could eventually close. He said that if the park closes, pub- lic beach access issues will spill over into Lambton Shores and Bluewater. "A study will assist in identifying the issues and provide viable solu- tions, so that a mutually beneficial long range plan for the park can be developed," Giberson's report states. The study is budgeted for $30,000, with South Huron picking up $15,000, and the LHPWSS, Lambton Shores and Bluewater splitting the remaining equally. While South Huron approved going ahead with the study and authorizing staff to seek proposals for the work for additional council consideration, the matter also has to go before Bluewater and Lambton Shores councils before the project is finally approved. In his letter, Henry said, "Although it has never been the intention of the LHPWSS to entirely close this park in the future, I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize that this portion of the water treatment plant property will be required, in part, in the immediate and long- term future for various projects and facilities including a residue treat- ment facility and associated equal- ization tanks within a few years, as well as additional treatment processes and infrastructure in the future." Mayor Ken Oke said he thinks South Huron should only pay $10,000 towards the study, while the LHPWSS should pay $10,000, and Bluewater and Lambton Shores should pay $5,000 each. Giberson said the LHPWSS says it gets no benefit from the park and would just as soon see it close. He also explained that Lambton Shores doesn't want Port Blake to close because there is a shortage of family public beach access in that municipality. While Port Blake used to lose money annually, Giberson said it now breaks even. He said additional investments need to be made into the park. He said there are a number of issues with the park that the study will recommend solutions for, such as parking. Coun. Jim Dietrich said he was concerned about spending money on land that South Huron doesn't even own. Giberson said the proposals for the study will come back to council for final approval. He added South Huron can promote Port Blake to help with economic development in the municipality. Upon a suggestion from Coun. Pete Armstrong, council will send a letter to Huron County asking for financial assistance with the cost of the study. McDonald's expanding Council entered into an agreement with McDonald's in a proposal that will see the Main Street restaurant expand by 797 square feet at the rear of the existing building. Expanding the building will push back the drive through and remove some parking spaces, leaving 19, a number that planning assistant Trista Russell said is the minimum requirement. The restaurant will move its garbage container to the rear of the addition to help create a couple more parking spaces. Daryl Conly, a McDonald's re- imaging manager, said McDonald's is looking to acquire more land for parking and has an agreement in principle with the Masonic Lodge which he hopes will be finalized in the next six months. He said the restaurant is also working on a stormwater manage- ment plan. Deputy Mayor George Robertson said he is glad McDonald's is seek- ing more parking spaces because 19 isn't enough. "We have every intention of increasing parking," Conly said, adding the Exeter McDonald's has overachieved and needs to expand to meet customer demand. Sign bylaw meeting No one from the public attended a public meeting Monday night or offered comments to the municipali- ty concerning South Huron's pro- posed new sign bylaw. Building inspector Jason Dykstra spoke to council Monday night about the new bylaw, explaining that it is necessary because the old bylaw was too restrictive when it came to the size of signs permitted. He said the new bylaw increases the permit- ted sizes for signs in most categories by 20 to 50 per cent. Council will vote on the bylaw at a future meeting. Services offered at Adult Day EXETER — South Huron Hospital Auxiliary held a meeting on Nov. 13 at 2 p.m. President Elaine Skinner opened the meeting with the singing of 0 Canada, followed by a poem. Guest speaker, Tammy Antaya, Program Co-ordinator for Exeter Branch, Midwestern Adult Day Services, informed of the services they provide. Bonnie Bedard, H.A.A.O. Region 2 Chairperson brought greetings to the members. As requested by the Auxiliary, Susan Oke from library services, made a presentation for supplies. Alma Ballantyne displayed some grab bags made from material salvaged from the rummage sale. Public washrooms proceed in Bayfield By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF VARNA — Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson clarified com- ments he made at a council meeting Nov. 5 Monday in regards to the policy of Bluewater regarding in camera sessions. In the Nov. 5 meeting, following council's decision to use the Ontario ombudsman to ensure the municipality is following provincial regulations on in camera meet- ings, Dowson said the council will have to be stricter in terms of its in camera meetings. Monday night, Deputy Mayor Dave Johnston said he had been asked by ratepayers about Dowson's state- ments and whether the municipality had been having too many in camera meetings. Dowson explained he had meant council will have to be careful not to drift off topic while in camera. Johnston agreed, saying he feels Bluewater is a leader when it comes to transparency. Coun. Peter Walden said he has been asked by resi- dents if councillors hold private meetings while they are in camera and noted "we don't do that." In other business, work on public washrooms in Bayfield will move ahead after a motion was passed to start design and budget work. Facilities manager Tom Dickens told council that the washroom committee had recently met and recom- mended that engineering designs be proceeded with and that the committee be involved in the design process. Johnston said he wanted the process to move ahead as quickly as possible but hadn't been able to find any record that the Canada Post building had been officially chosen as the building to house the washrooms. Dowson agreed that the building hadn't been officially picked and said the reason was that it wasn't known if it was feasible. Dickens said all the municipality has now is a proposed floor plan and that the building will require work on the facade, exterior lighting, doors and sidewalks and there will have to be a balance between lighting for exterior security and neighbourhood concerns. Coun. Tyler Hessel said the committee is interested in participating because the building will be a focal point of the downtown. Dowson said the process will happen unless it is bogged down by bureaucracy. Hessel replied that the committee isn't there to bog the process down. Dowson asked Dickens how long it will take to remove post office boxes to a temporary location which Dickens said he couldn't answer. A motion was then passed instructing Dickens to obtain working drawings and a budget that will be taken out of $10,000 budgeted for the work in the 2007 bud- get. Road work Coun. Kay Wise asked roads and property manager John Graham about complaints received by Hensall resi- dents concerning construction work being done on Brock Street. Graham said he has spoken to the owner of the com- pany doing the work, which Wise described as "not very professional." Santa parade this weekend EXETER — Christmas season gets into full swing this weekend with the official lighting of MacNaughton Park and the Annual Santa Claus Parade. The Exeter Lioness Annual Lighting of MacNaughton Park takes place Friday at 6:45 p.m., including carolling with the Hartmans. Refreshments will be provided. The Santa Claus Parade kicks off Saturday at noon. The Lioness will collect toys and non-perish- able food for the Huron County Christmas Bureau during the parade. At 1:30 p.m., the Lions Christmas Party will take place at the downtown Parkette. The party includes n a charity barbecue, featur- ing Santa and his Elves. South Huron Rec Centre will host free skating from 1 to 3 p.m. ERE COMES SANS I3LAUSI Events planned in Varna By Joan Beierling VARNA CORRESPONDENT VARNA - Varna crokinole met last Tuesday evening for singles play. There were 19 members playing. Abe Leitch got high with 57 points. Joe Fulop with a close second with 55, David Turner 3rd with 51, Charles Reid with 47 and Bob Russell with 40. Club will meet Nov. 27/07 at 8 p.m. at the church. John McNeily led the worship service held in Goshen United Church on Sunday. John's message was on "Finding Your Purpose". A speedy recovery is wished to Marg Hayter following her surgery. Gerald Hayter announced there would be a board meeting on Wed., Nov. 28 in Goshen at 8 p.m. Gloria Willibe from Walton will be leading worship this Sun., Nov. 25 in Goshen. Bill Taylor has amarylis bulbs for sale. Help support the Huntingtons Disease and buy one from Bill for $12. The Stan Lee Club meet for its Christmas dinner at the complex catered to by the Varna UCW on Dec. 5. Contact Bill as soon as possible if you haven't already. Goshen UCW Christmas supper and meeting at Goshen Church Thurs., Dec. 13. More details to follow. Everyone is welcome to the upcoming Country Christmas Tea and Bake Sale on Dec. 1 from 1-3 held at St. Andrews Church in Kippen. The Huron County Christmas Bureau Box will be at the Varna Corner Store for anyone wishing to donate new clothing and or toys . You can drop it off anytime soon please. VARNA NEWS POLICE BRIEF Pig barn break-in SOUTH HURON — Numerous tools were stolen from a Kirkton Road pig barn in South Huron some- time during the night of Nov. 10-11. The value of the tools is estimated at $1,000. A sliding steel door was forced open. The pig barn is located in a secluded area. Huron Park group official HURON PARK — Huron Park's businesses have now officially formed the "Huron Park Industrial Park Association." Frank Zawalsky and Marianne Benson, both of Exi- Plast Custom Moulding, will serve as acting president and acting secretary, respectively. Zawalsky told the Times -Advocate recently he's hop- ing to call another meeting for the group by the end of the month and can see the association meeting month- ly in the future, with a probable summer break. He said the association wants to improve the look of Huron Park and "clean it up properly" to make it more appealing for the employees. Zawalsky said he believes all businesses will be part of the association and members will vote on various issues that arise at meetings. Other issues Zawalsky says the association will look at in Huron Park include improving streetlights on Airport Line and signage. The group is now official with an Ontario Corporation Number and a bank account.