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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-11-05, Page 22 Times -Advocate Wednesday, November 5, 2008 Exeter lead testing shows improvement By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON The second round of mandatory lead testing in Exeter showed considerable improvement over the first round, according to the municipality s operations manager. Don Giberson presented the results of the "Community Lead Testing Program" at Monday night s council meeting. The tests are required by provincial legisla- tion. Under the regulations, which came into effect in July 2007, South Huron was required to sample lead levels in drinking water in 40 residential, four non-residential and eight distribution samples in Exeter; 20 residential, two non-res- idential and four distribution sam- ples in Stephen; and 20 residential, two non-residential and four dis- tribution samples in Huron Park. The sampling was done between June 15 and Oct. 15 and is to be done twice a year. "It never stops," Giberson said, explaining that finding enough homes to volunteer for the pro- gram was a challenge. In Exeter, 4.5 per cent of the sam- ples exceeded the regulatory limit of 10 micrograms per litre. No Ste- phen samples exceeded the limit, while 18 per cent of the Huron Park samples exceeded the limit. All samples in excess of the limits were reported to the Huron Coun- ty Health Unit, which followed up with the affected resident. Giberson s report stated that "the results in Exeter were expected, as the locations with exceedances have a lead water service on pri- vate property." He said the Huron Park results were surprising, but "samples were taken from vacant homes where water had been sitting for a long time in the household plumb- ing, which allowed lead from old fittings to leach into the water." Giberson said that will be changed so a more representative sample from Huron Park can be taken. Giberson said results in Exeter improved over the first round be- cause of ph levels being adjusted at the Port Blake water treatment plant. He added 34 properties in south- west Exeter have been identified as having a lead water service on private property. Those proper- ties have been made offers to have their lead services replaced for about $1,000, but only nine prop- erty owners so far have agreed to that. Other council notes: Inspection results "ex- cellent" Giberson also reported on the results of the Ministry of the Envi- ronment s Drinking Water System Inspection Reports for the Exeter system. Overall, Giberson said inspection results "were excellent and are an indication of a well run water system." There was one non- compliance issue that amounted to "a misinterpretation of a fairly obscure and confusing section of the regulation." Giberson said that situation is no longer an issue as Exeter is now on pipeline water. Treasury department renos Council accepted a tender from Tru Trough for $19,136.25 to do renovation work on the town hall treasury department. The bid from Tru Trough was the lone quote the municipality received. South Huron had bud- geted $20,000 for the project. Power scrubber A low bid of $6,794.69 from Easy -Way Cleaning Products for a new power scrubber for the Ste- phen Twp. Arena was accepted by council. Upon questioning from Coun. David Frayne, chief admin- istrative officer Roy Hardy said the power scrubber is used consis- tently because of the high amount of use of the arena. Both arenas in the municipality require a power scrubber, Hardy said. Victoria Park wash- room deferred Tender submissions for a Vic- toria Park washroom and utility room were refused and the matter deferred to budget talks when ten- ders came in over budget. Three quotes on the work ranged be- tween about $35,000 and $90,000 for a project budgeted at $30,000. The municipality will revisit the matter during budget delibera- tions. Phone savings The municipality will save about $5,500 per year on its cellphone bills by entering into a three-year corporate account with Bell Mo- bility. Until now, the municipality had 20 cellphones, four different plans and over 11 different expiry dates. Efficiencies were realized by amalgamating the plans and will provide South Huron with better rates and 4,000 to 5,000 free min- utes in a pool available to all us- ers. New Zurich library wanted by end of 2009 By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF VARNA We ve been in the basement too long. It s time to move forward, said Coun. Marg Deich- ert Monday night in Varna following a presentation of the Friends of the Zurich Library to Bluewater council. Speaking to council from the group were Mary Earle and Patti Down, who said they would like to see a different facility for the library ready by the end of 2009, which is the 90th anniversary of the Zu- rich Library. Earle said the library isn t accessible and as of Jan. 2010, by law all provincial buildings have to be wheelchair accessible. We ask for your help to make the dream come true, said Earle. Down said the library has 118 users per week but is subject to floods that cause mould and damage. The numbers can increase if we increase the space, said Down. Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson said he was im- pressed by the numbers and wondered how many more people would use the library if it was more ac- cessible. Coun. Jim Fergusson said the libraries in Hensall, Zurich and Bayfield were the busiest class -two in the county. There are a number of issues that can t be dealt with in that building, said Fergusson. Dowson added there is legislation on the books of Huron County that if enforced would force the mu- nicipality to move fast. In other business, a motion was passed on the pay- ment options for Hensall residents on the Hensall waterline charges. Finance manager Terri Brandon said the capital payment options would be mailed out yesterday (Tuesday) with a return due date of Jan. 31. In the report to council, Brandon said the options included a one-time full prepayment of $8,840; par- tial cash prepayment or minimum required cash prepayment. Coun. Kay Wise asked whether questions raised by residents at a previous public meeting would be answered at another meeting. Chief administrative officer (CAO) Lori Taylor said the questions could be answered at a council meet- ing with residents invited to attend. Coun. Bill MacDougall noted that it would be a good idea if a representative of Greenfield Ethanol was in attendance to answer questions also. Taylor said the meeting would be held at the Nov. 17 council meeting and a GreenField representative would be asked to attend. Leaf pickup Coun. John Becker said he has had several calls from residents in Brucefield, Varna and Dashwood asking why they are not having their leaves picked up such as in other communities in Bluewater. They want the same service, said Becker. They pay taxes too. Dowson agreed and said it was necessary to sit down with South Huron to work out agreements on services for divided communities such as Dash- wood. Everyone needs to be treated equally, said Dow - son. County council Dowson told the council that all the county mayors had been invited to Kincardine on Friday by Huron - Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell for a presentation on the provincial uploading. Dowson said Huron County will get $6.6 million over nine years which will be spent at the county level. Dowson said with Bluewater paying 20 per cent of the county budget, the $1 million a year would give it some relief. Dowson added that with the province also taking over court security costs, it would save the town of Goderich $300,000 a year. It s a good move, said Dowson, who also briefed council on the Oct. 24 meeting of the Warden s Eco- nomic Development Task Force. No hope for Imeson EXETER Convicted triple murderer Jesse Imeson will not get out in 15 years on the Faint Hope clause, despite what de- fence lawyer Don Crawford said following the court case Oct. 27. Imeson was sentenced last week to 25 years in the mur- ders of Bill and Helene Regier of Mount Carmel and given 15 years for the murder of Carlos Rivera of Windsor. During the case, Justice Roland Haines and crown attorney Bob Morris said due to the series of murders, the Faint Hope clause didn t apply. Following the case, Crawford said the issue of whether Ime- son could apply for the clause would have to interpreted in 15 years. Following the statements, law professors disagreed with Crawford. It's not on the table, said Queen's University law profes- sor Allan Manson. The reason, said Manson, is because of an amendment to the law in 1997, widely known as the Clifford Olson Amendment, named after the serial killer who applied for early parole. The law was changed to pre- clude any multiple murderer from using the clause. Accessibilty legislation may cost municipalities By Ben Forrest TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF GRANTON Pending chang- es to accessibility requirements in Ontario may have significant budgetary impacts locally, accord- ing to Lucan Biddulph clerk -ad- ministrator Ron Reymer. By January 2010, all municipali- ties in Ontario will be required to conform to the Accessibility Stan- dards for Customer Service por- tion of the Accessibility for On- tarians with Disabilities Act, passed in 2005. The regu- lation es- tablishes accessibility standards for customer Scout/ Guide hall in Lucan as a building that may need to be up- dated. He said agencies such as the March of Dimes could be consult- ed, and could complete an audit on all of Lucan Biddulph s facili- ties. That would likely be our first move, to get a company like that to come in and tell us where we need improvement, and then start planning from there, he said. He added that the municipal- ity now knows By January 2010, all municipali- ties in Ontario will be required to conform to the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service portion of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, passed in 2005. service, and will apply to many other provid- ers of goods and services starting in 2012. The regulation may result in changes to a number of the mu- nicipally -owned facilities in Lu - can Biddulph. Reymer noted that the munici- pality s office in Lucan does not have power -operated doors to benefit those with wheelchairs, and that the building s basement is not handicapped -accessible. The doors may cost $2,000, Reymer said not a big deal in his mind, but something that may not make sense if further renova- tions to the municipal office are made down the road. Once you spend the $2,000, it s like putting new tires on an old car that s only going to last another six months, he said. It doesn t make a whole lot of sense. Other build- ings, such as the Lucan arena complex are likely up to code, but some are probably not, Reymer said. He cited the the end date at which compli- ance must be achieved: now we have to work backwards. Reymer said he could prob- ably count on one hand the number of times someone has needed help getting in the front door at the municipal office in Lucan. We certainly jump out of our chair to make sure the person can get in, so it s never been an issue, he said. But certainly it could be a potential problem. The new Donnelly museum, however is already up to code. Any new building we build now, there s handicapped -acces- sibility standards we go by, he said. Any new building, it s cov- ered under that legislation. It s just the older ones. se MUNICIPALITY OF BLUEWATER - Il- IVO-E,SN.L.MANLEY . ZURICH �= 2001 Planning Information Meeting Monday, November 10, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. Stanley Complex, 38594B Mill Road, Varna. Proposed By-law to license, regulate and govern accessory guest rooms, bend and breakfast establishments and guest homes. Purpose: to hear from operators and the public regarding the proposed by-law. Final Committee consideration of Commercial Scale Wind Engery Facilities Hay & Stanley Zoning By-laws. Information is available at the Municipal Office in Zurich.