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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-02-06, Page 22 Times -Advocate Wednesday, February 6, 2008 South Huron seeks grant for bridge project By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — The municipality is looking for a $479,000 grant to cover 90 per cent of the costs to a bridge replacement project. South Huron will apply to the province for a Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative grant, a $300 million provincial program that allows municipalities to apply for grants for construction -ready infrastructure projects. Chief administrative officer Roy Hardy presented three pos- sible projects to council that could be eligible for such a grant: the $531,000 bridge replacement project, a $1.5 million project to install a Thames Road West feeder watermain, or the $1.8 million construction of Ann and Albert streets. Council agreed with Hardy's recommendation to choose the bridge project for the grant request. That project will see the replacement of "co -located" bridges on Corbett Line, Shipka Line and Huron Road. Construction could start by the end of May. Other council notes: Objecting to lead ban Council has officially objected to a proposed federal amend- ment to the Gasoline Regulations of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act that would see leaded fuel in competitive cars banned. Council is objecting to the proposed ban because of the negative effect it will have on the Grand Bend Motorplex. Hardy's report to council stated the Motorplex would be nega- tively impacted by such a ban, hurting attendance and tourism dollars spent in the municipali- ty. "The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA), the sanc- tioning body that brings drag racing to Canada, will no longer participate if the proposed ban takes effect in 2009," Hardy's report states. Hardy pointed out there are spinoff benefits to the area by the events at the Motorplex. "The major IHRA race at Grand bend over a long week- end represents direct expendi- tures of $7.4 million dollars, with a four -times multiplier effect representing $29.6 mil- lion in spinoff economic activi- ty." He went on to say those num- bers don't include the regular race schedule at the Motorplex and, if tourism dollars go down due to a decrease in atten- dance, tax revenues would be reduced. Hardy's report states the Motorplex is a major tourism attraction and impacts the economies of Huron, Middlesex and Lambton counties. In addition to objecting to the proposed lead ban, the munici- pality will ask neighbouring municipalities to make similar objections. Honda rezoning The proposed Exeter Honda dealership took another step closer to reality Monday night when council passed third and fmal reading of a zoning bylaw amendment. First and second reading were earlier approved, but council waited for Huron County council to approve the severance before fmal reading. Planner Claire Dodds said the project is progressing "in the right way." Port Blake update After being unable to find any- body to help pay for a proposed $30,000 study on the future of Port Blake Park, South Huron has decided to request that its agreement with the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System to operate the park be extended for another two years, during which the municipality can con- sider Catholic board seeks exemption By Stew Slater SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE DUBLIN — Faced with the prospect of just one of five trustees being allowed to vote on employee contracts, the Huron -Perth Catholic District School Board has made a judicial application for an exemption under Ontario's Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. "A number of our trustees have conflicts as a result of a spouse or a child being employed with the board," explained business superintendent Gerry Thuss after a regular meeting Jan. 28. As a result, provincial legislation dictates they aren't allowed to vote on contracts with the employee groups in which those family members work. Indeed, only one of the board's five trustees would be able to vote under the law. So the board filed an application in court for an exemption under the Act. Thuss expects the exemption will be granted, but the judge instructed the board to publish the application on its website, located at www.hpcdsb.edu.on.ca, to ensure the public is aware of the situation. "He wanted to make sure that it was out there in the open," Thuss said. The superintendent added that concerns about conflict of interest shouldn't come up "as long as the vote isn't relating specifically to the person about whom there's a conflict" — such as a vote about giving a particular employee a leave of absence. RCMP Ride planned for September Continued from front page the Ag. Building. The show will take place at the rodeo ring, with additional seating brought in. A youth show for students and teachers is slated for Sept. 11 at 1:45 p.m., with the final show later that night at 7:30 p.m. Different booths and venues will be set up throughout the day and those in attendance will have a chance to visit with the horses and meet the RCMP offi- cers Sept. 10-12. Sunday morning Sgt. Godue informed the committee of what kind of details they needed to look after, such as providing bedding and food for the horses. He said attendance at the Musical Ride varies, but small towns can see crowds of up to 3,000. "If you do your publicity right," Godue said, "there's a good chance you'll get a good crowd." The show runs rain or shine and lasts 30 minutes. Godue said there will be opportunities for the public to interact with the horses and RCMP officers. He also informed the commit- tee of ways to raise money by selling licensed RCMP memora- bilia. While the RCMP doesn't charge for the Ride, the host community pays for setup, food and bedding for the horses. Finch said he's looking at ticket prices of $3 each for children and $10 for the evening show. RCMP will also be available to visit local schools. Since the shows will take place Sept. 11, Finch said 9-11 will be commemorated by declaring it "Canadians in Uniform Day." Finch said the municipality, fire department, OPP and military are all in support of the Musical Ride in Exeter and he hopes the event shows that Exeter can host a "world-class event." Any service clubs interested in participating can call Finch at 235-2099 or Jo -Anne Fields at the Rec Centre at 235-2833. RCMP event — Committee members met Sunday morning with RCMP Musical Ride co-ordinator Sgt. Marc Godue to discuss a proposal to bring the Ride to Exeter in September. Confirmation is expected this week. Pictured in front from left are Bob Gehan,Tom Hartai, Cathy Seip, Godue, Karen Brown, George Finch and Jo- Anne Fields; in back from left are Bill Waddell, Bill Crump, Dave MacLeod, Pete Armstrong, Larry Smith and Paul Scott. (photo/Scott Nixon) studying the park's future. As earlier reported, South Huron had proposed to pay $15,000 to a study if Lambton Shores, Bluewater and the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply each kicked in $5,000. Both Bluewater and Lambton Shores said no, while the Water Supply has not responded. The Port Blake property, south of the water treatment plant on Highway 21, is owned by the City of London but oper- ated by South Huron. Correction EXETER — In the story on page 31 about the United Way "Notes!" CD in last week's Times -Advocate, the names of singers Marlene Mathers and Monica Joy were mistakenly attributed to each other's com- ments. The T -A apologizes for the error. Business study ready Continued from front page He said the study took a long time and included many hours of interviews and added he thinks council will be pleased with the report, which will be presented at the meeting by the various members of the task force who worked on the study. Mayor Ken Oke said he was in favour of the study from the start and is glad it was done. "I think it's going to be a good thing for the future," he said, thanking McMaster and the Chamber for their work. The Feb. 27 meeting at the Exeter Legion kicks off with a luncheon at 6 p.m., followed by the presentation of the study. There will be a cash bar and the evening should wrap up at about 9 p.m. REGIONAL WRAP UP Imeson's double court date GODERICH — Triple -murder suspect Jesse Imeson is scheduled to appear again in Windsor Court Feb. 29, the same day he is to appear by video link in Goderich Court. The request for the delay was made Jan. 29 by Imeson's lawyer. There is still no date scheduled for a preliminary hearing in either case. Imeson is charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the strangling death of 25 -year-old Carlos Rivera of Windsor and the shooting deaths of 72 -year- old Bill and 73 -year-old Helene Regier of Mount Carmel. Imeson was found July 31 in Quebec near Ottawa after a two -week-old national manhunt. Fire fatality identified HURON EAST — A 46 -year-old Huron East woman died in a fire on St. Michael's Road Jan. 29. Tamara Hermeston died as a result of smoke inhala- tion from a residential house fire shortly before 10 p.m. Hermeston lived alone in the residence and foul play is not suspected. The Grey Township Fire Department and the Huron OPP were called to the scene. The cause of the fire, is being investigated by the Officer of the Ontario Fire Marshall and was unknown as the T -A was going to print. HCPPA meets SEAFORTH — The Huron County Pork Producer's Association held its 59th Annual Meeting at the Seaforth Agriplex recently. The meeting was a brainstorming session, focussing on how to secure a sustainable future in the farming industry. Recently $60 million was given to the pork community from the province. The farmers agreed that while this will help, it's not necessarily a long-term solution. Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell, who was at the meeting, says, "We understand that your industry is larger than many of the provinces across Canada, so we have much work to do."