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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-01-09, Page 22 Times—Advocate Wednesday, January 9, 2008 Honda to negotiate with landowners amid property concerns Continued from front page Dodds said there are also concerns from the munici- pality's road superintendent and the municipal engi- neer about allowing the proposed dealership to have direct access to Highway 4. It was suggested a sideroad be built to allow access to the dealership, something Honda representatives at Monday night's meeting said won't happen. Dodds said the municipal engineer suggested Honda move its proposed location north (still on the McBride land) to avoid the overland drainage route. As a result of the floodwater concerns raised, Penny Wilson, who will co-own Exeter Honda with her hus- band Richard, will negotiate with the McBrides on buying a different parcel of land at the south end of town. However, Wilson is working on a tight timeline and she told council Monday night if things don't work out with South Huron, she will move the dealership to an east London location. "I would rather be in Exeter," said the Komoka resi- dent. "We want to be here," but she said she and her husband can't afford to put hi a road off Highway 4 and she pointed out her company has already done every survey and study it has been asked to do (for example, a traffic study). If South Huron doesn't allow Honda direct access to Highway 4, Wilson will not bring the dealership here. "Without access to the highway, I will not build," she said, adding she will not pay for a road. She said she is willing to move the dealership to a northern portion of the McBride property if she can reach a deal. She said she's already six months behind schedule and if things move beyond August, "we're dead in the water." After much discussion, council agreed to have staff work alongside Honda and the McBrides and report back to council to help the proposal move ahead in time. Regarding the question of whether or not to allow the Honda dealership direct access to Highway 4, CAO for South Huron Continued from front page Centre, Hardy was the deputy CAO for Middlesex County. Prior to that, Hardy worked in social services in London and Middlesex and in human resources for the federal and provincial governments, working with youth and helping them with employment skills. Hardy started working for South Huron Jan. 2 and has been busy ever since getting to know the municipality, the staff and South Huron's facilities. Monday night was Hardy's first council meeting with South Huron, although he earlier attended a communications meeting with council. Hardy says his new job will be challenging and excit- ing and he describes South Huron as an interesting area with development happening. He says his role is to help council and the community shape their vision for the municipality. Hardy says economic development can be done at two or three levels, first coming up with a vision, then working at the industrial and commercial levels. He said business retention is also important and the municipality needs to involve the Exeter Business Association and the South Huron Chamber of Commerce. "Let's help each other and find out our roles," he said. Hardy said South Huron is in "a great position" for future expansion because the municipality has made investments into sewers and water. Hardy said he is looking forward to getting to know the community and helping council move in the direc- tion it wants to. Now living in London, Hardy said he is looking to move to the area. FREE Group Professional Resume Development Interview Preparation & Job Seekers & Coaching Club Call your local Centre For Employment & Learning Office 519-235-0471 "Employment Ontario Programs are funded in part by the Government of Canada" Coun. Tom Tomes pointed out HMP has four entrances to Highway 4. "What's good for the goose ..." he said. Dodds said the issue of the entrance still needs to be decided and that there is a desire to limit entrances on Highway 4 that can instead be put on municipal sideroads. She pointed out HMP was developed at a different time. Deputy Mayor George Robertson said he doesn't understand why having a Highway 4 entranceway for Honda is a concern when all the other highway busi- nesses have access. "Why does this one have to have a roadway?" he asked. Regarding concerns of flooding on the proposed property, Coun. Pete Armstrong said he visited the site Sunday and Monday, amid a major thaw, and there was no water on the property. "I'11 not put this proposal at risk when I see dry land," he said. Coun. Jim Dietrich disagreed, saying there has been a lot of flooding in Exeter and, "I don't think Honda wants to be in the middle of a river." Robertson later pointed out that the large flood water retention pond built by the municipality a couple of years ago takes care of a lot of the water that used to flow onto that land. Jay McGuffin, a planner hired by Honda and the McBrides, said the new concerns about flooding and Highway 4 access were just brought to his and Honda's attention Jan. 3. He said a traffic study sup - Linda Reaume Design Consultant Bob Smyth Design Consultant Wut Coast k i t c h e n s... And Much More • Kitchens • CustomVanities • Entertainment Units • Home Offices PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATIONS CUSTOM DESIGNS & COUNTERTOPS Visit Our Showroom! 50 West St. Goderich 519-440-0352 • 1-866-440-0352 Goderich & District Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year Award 2006 Email: westcoastkit@cabletv.on.ca ports Honda's proposal for Highway 4 access. The study states the proposed dealership "will have no sig- nificant impact on traffic operations on London Road South" and that no left turning lane is required. He said he doesn't agree with forcing Honda to build a road to provide access to the dealership. He also pointed out HMP has four entrances and Honda is only asking for one. Westgate Honda chief financial officer Joe Haslinger said Honda has imposed deadlines on the proposed dealership and "it either goes here or east London." He pointed out the dealership will hire 15-20 people and will be significant for the municipality's tax base. He repeated to the T -A after the discussion that Honda will not build a road, but will negotiate with the McBrides to move the property north to address flood- water concerns. Dietrich pointed out council can call a special meet- ing if needed to help Exeter Honda meet its deadlines. Voluntary Lead Testing Sites for Drinking Water Systems Exeter & Stephen Ward In order to comply with new Ministry of Environment regulations with respect to lead sampling in drinking water we are required to sample residences in the Municipality that are suspected of having lead plumbing or built prior to 1990. This sampling would be done on a voluntary basis and would commence after December 15,2007 and would continue every 6 months after that. Please note that these samples would only be taken on a voluntary basis. Therefore we would ask that you consider being a participant in this sampling program. If you would like to take part, please contact Ange Ditchfield at the Municipal office at 519-235-0310 ext. 230 to receive a consent form and information package. All results obtained from sampling will be posted on the Municipality of South Huron's website at www.town.southhuron.on.ca and will become public information. For more information on health issues related to lead and drinking water please contact the Huron County Health Unit at 519-482-3416 or visit their website at www.huroncounty.ca/health/ "they treat me like an adult" Radney Pritchard, FAT CAT® Account Member A better way to bank Radney's parents are members of Heartland Credit Union, and he's been a member since 2004. When asked what he likes most about Heartland Radney says "they treat me like an adult, and they've helped me learn about investing, not spending all my money at once." Heartland Credit Union is close to his home and 'Radney finds it easy to stop by often and deposit the money he makes on his paper route. HEARTLAN D CREDIT UNION a division of UNFTED COMMUNITIES CREDIT UNION LIMITED Contact us today to learn more about our no -fee FAT CAT® Account Clinton Exeter Listowel 519.482.3466 519.235.0640 519.291.6189 www.h ea rtla n dcom m un ityc u. on. ca