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The Times Advocate, 2008-07-02, Page 22 Times–Advocate Wednesday, July 2, 2008 Proposed water rates raise emotions of residents Continued from front page per year on their sewage bill; with the new rates, that will drop to $208. Oke started the meeting by saying the municipality is trying to come up with fair rates for the water system and the proposed rates are "not cut in stone." He said South Huron wanted to hear comments from the public and council- lors would take them into account. "We're looking into the future long term," he said. Operations manager Don Giberson provided a brief review of the history of the various water systems in Stephen, while as in the Exeter meeting the week previously, economist Andrew Grunda presented the "Water and Wastewater Rate Study." It didn't take long for the heckling to start. When Grunda mentioned Exeter, Herb Broom of Crediton yelled out, "This is Crediton. " "I'm aware of that," Grunda replied. When he mentioned Grand Bend, Broom said, "Who cares about Grand Bend?" While Grunda was discussing the rates, another person said, "We're being shafted," while another tossed his copy of the study into the air and walked out of the building. During one question, another audience member shouted obscenities, prompting Oke to ask him to allow Grunda to speak. One matter that had a few members of the audience upset was the fact Stephen will pay five per cent of the cost of the new Lake Huron pipeline (with Exeter paying 95 per cent). The five per cent amounts to a quarterly charge of $5 per customer. The reason Stephen is on the hook for five per cent is because the pipeline will also serve Dashwood, which is part of Stephen, and has water pressure prob- lems, Giberson explained. Some of those in the crowd, though, said the Dashwood issue has nothing to do with Crediton. "Last time I checked Dashwood was still part of Stephen," Giberson said. When some still spoke out against the idea, Giberson said, "Are you going to banish Dashwood from Stephen Township?" Giberson explained that everyone in Stephen has to pay for what benefits Stephen. He added the issues surrounding the municipality's water systems and the new pipeline have been dealt with pub- licly for the last five years. With more disruptions, Oke again asked for order and for constructive questions. In response to the question why the proposed rates for South Huron are so high in comparison to other municipali- ties, Grunda said larger centres have more people to pay for their respective systems, so the costs are spread out, while other municipalities received much larger grants than the $4.3 mil- lion grant South Huron received. Giberson said many municipalities will catch up to the South Huron rates when they go through a similar process to upgrade their respective water systems. One woman in the audience asked if the closure of CanGro has any affect on the rates. Giberson responded that since CanGro bought the canning plant the company has been dropping its water consumption considerably each year. Now with the plant closed, he said it won't have a big impact on water con- sumption in South Huron. He said the new proposed rates take into account the reduced consumption at CanGro. On the sewage side, Giberson said CanGro paid very little for sewers because the plant had its own sewage treatment system. Exeter's Donuts Now owner Kevin Allman pointed out the new proposed water rate is three times as much as the current rate and called for councillors to resign. He asked how the municipality expects people to move to the area in light of the increased rates. "We can't afford it," he said, adding, "There'll be a mass exodus ... you sold the people out." He then asked what the proposed rate is for commercial properties and Giberson replied that the rate is the same as for residential properties. Giberson added that while water rates are slated to increase, sewage rates will go down. "You have to look at the entire pic- ture," he said, adding that other munici- palities will also be increasing their rates similar to those proposed in South Huron. Allman said the growth numbers and predictions in the water rate study are incorrect. South Huron chief administrative offi- cer Roy Hardy said a fmal report, taking into account the comments from both public meetings, will return to council for deliberation probably in July. He said the public will be informed when council is to discuss the new rates. Oke said it is unfair that the grant South Huron received for the water sys- tem was lower than what some other municipalities received. He said council is still working on the rates and "when we're all through, it's going to be fair." Bluewater meeting discusses ATV use on roadways Continued from front page people that don't care about the law." ABCA The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority's (ABCA) supervisor of stewardship and conservation lands Kate Monk expressed concerns related to water- shed conservation. The ABCA is concerned about "environmental dam- age" which could occur in passing a bylaw to allow ATVs on municipal roadways. "While the ABCA does not have jurisdiction over pub- lic land in the municipality of Bluewater, we have seri- ous concerns that allowing ATVs to travel on road- ways, opened or unopened, would provide easy access to ABCA land and private land where these vehicles can cause environmental damage," says Monk, adding, "In South Huron, there has been increased trespassing and property damage on ABCA lands since the munici- pality passed a bylaw to allow ATVs to travel on municipal roads." REGIONAL WRAP UP Principals pleased CLINTON — Local principals are pleased with the recently released results of the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), says the Clinton News -Record. The test was taken in March and St. Anne's Catholic Secondary School had a pass rate of 91 per cent, which is seven per cent higher than the provincial average. St. Anne's principal Chris Roehrig says the results can be attributed to the dedication of both students and staff. Town hall moving GODERICH — Goderich town hall staff are on the move, says the Goderich Signal -Star. The town is shifting its operations to the Goderich Hydro building next door to accommo- date construction of the new extension of town hall. Goderich Clerk -Administrator Larry McCabe said other locations were looked at but the move to the hydro building will be the easiest for town resi- dents. $95,000 raised GODERICH — The sixth annual Canadian Cancer Society's Relay for Life raised $95,000 June 20, breaking the goal of $80,000, says the Goderich Signal Star. The relay had 36 teams for the 12 -hour walk and all funds raised will support the society's pro- grams of research, advocacy and service. Maitland ATV Club The Maitland ATV Club says since their club started in 2005, a "huge effort has been made to make trails work and sustainable," according to Richard Wilts. "If we pass a bylaw, it can be modified," says Wilts, explaining he is willing to co-operate. "We just need a bigger trail network," says Wilts, explaining that although they have come a long way in just a few years, "We're still 20 to 25 years behind the snowmobilers." Huron County Highway Department Mike Alcock from the Huron County Highway Department says his department has had a long debate on ATVs traveling on municipal roadways. Alcock says what it comes down to is "trying to mini- mize the impact it has on the people involved," adding, "We don't want to cause any problems." Alcock says there needs to be specific guidelines as to where the riders can travel. Alcock says in his recent experience with other municipalities, there haven't been any problems that he's found, explaining one club even offered to help clean up the roadways if there is access dirt. Bayfield Ratepayers Association The Bayfield Ratepayers Association (BRA) presented 10 points of concern at the meeting. Their biggest concern is whether or not to allow ATVs on public beaches. The BRA would like a prohibition on public beaches. They are also concerned about the Bayfield Settlement Area. BRA president Bill Rowat says during their discus- sion the group kept going back to that point. The BRA is in favour of ATVers driving on their own property, unless "the area is the Bluewater Official Plan as Natural Habitat." Bluewater Shoreline Residents' Association The main issue for the Bluewater Shoreline Residents' Association (BSRA), as outlined by Jan Purvis is, "The use of ATVs on municipal properties and the beaches." Purvis says the BSRA is concerned with people dri- ving "irresponsibly," explaining that the safety of the children and other people using the ATVs is always a factor. The noise is also an irritant, as well as concerns about environmental damage in respect to the dunes or beach vegetation. "We don't think that the ATVs should be allowed on the beaches, period," says Purvis. Renovated community centre planned Continued from front page winner receive $100 a week of gas for a full year. Second place is $1,000 in cash, while third is $250 in cash. Tickets are $10 each and are available by calling fundraising chairperson Leigh Robinson at 234- 6334. Slaght said the committee would like to raise between $5,000 and $7,000 with the raffle. The draw will be made Dec. 27. Another idea the committee is considering as a fundraiser is hold- ing a community fun day in late August or early September. Slaght said after amalgamation South Huron council decided the old hall in Crediton needed exten- sive repairs and needed to be made wheelchair accessible. It was even- tually decided to close the hall by the end of this year and "move into the future" by renovating the for- mer Stephen municipal building at the park. The newly -renovated building will be wheelchair accessi- ble and will have capacity for 135 people and will include cooking facilities. The building's floor will be lev- Crediton fundraiser — Fundraising has started for a newly -renovated Crediton Community Centre.The commit- tee's first fundraising project is a raffle that will see the winner receive $100 a week of gas for a full year.Above, Crediton's Doug Lightfoot buys the first raffle ticket from fundraising committee chair- person Leigh Robinson. (photo/Scott Nixon) eled, while the inside will be gutted to make a large common area and improvements will be made to the roofline. Slaght said the goal is to create an accessible facility for families to use. "So far we've had incredible sup- port," Slaght said, adding that the old hall in Crediton and the former municipal building are often used for various functions. Robinson said that with the recent infrastructure improvements in Crediton along with proposed development, a newly -renovated facility will be well used. While there's no overall fundrais- ing goal yet, Slaght said the com- mittee is expected to raise about half the project total. "We hope to look to the future and help South Huron grow," he said, adding the committee appre- ciates the support it has received from the municipality. For questions or to make a dona- tion, contact Robinson at 234-6334. Donations can be sent to Robinson at 38617 Huron St., RR2, Crediton, Ont., NOM 1MO. Cheques should be made out to the Municipality of South Huron and should be ear- marked to the Crediton Community Centre Improvement Fund. Donations are tax refundable.