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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1984-08-22, Page 10. z rving' the communities and areas of ussels, Dublin, Hensall and Walton 50c a copy SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 1e84 ,- 20 PAGES �rents protest possible move of classes for deo ,very Sunday afternoon during the school year approximately 10 deaf children in t`)tion County get on a bus bound for the pbarts School Regional Centre for the Hearing Handicapped in London. And, every Friday, they come home after a two hour (sometimes three hour in the winter) ride from school. The possibility that the ride could become even longer if secondary school classes are moved to the Ernest Drury School in Milton has local parents voicing loud opposition to the Ministry of Education. "We, as parents, feel ' that hearing children have a hard enough time coping with new environments. How do they thinly' handicapped children will do?" says Sharon McClure of Winthrop, whose two youngest children aged 11 and 12 go to Robarts. She and other parents have joined together to oppose the possible shift since they learned of the proposal in late June in a school bulletin. -... Mrs. McClure's eldest daughter, Connie comes home every night from Seaforth Public School and keeps her mother informed about school, With Mrs, Mc- Clure's other two, Mark and Sandra, she has to work harder at sfaying involved in their lives. "1'11 take a day off and gp down to London when they have swim meets, drama nights or Christmas parties or to talk to teachers. But, if they drove to Milton, I don't d.Ove on the 401 and I won't be able to do thq," she says. Although her children have a coupl ' years to go before they reach high school; Mrs. McClure is fighting the move now. ijr1f we After receiving compt lots ab. j the controlled burning at thea Seaforth ':ndfill site, reeve Bill Campbell a mitted to r.uncil that the landfill site w an emency •situation. "February '83 was thy; beginnin .f an extended period started of Environment due to the fact we have no new landfill site. You could say it could be closed tomorrow if we continue to have complaints so that we can't burn anymore. I'd say we do have an emergency." he said. don't act on it now, what's the point of acting on it next year when it's already through?" Marlene Taylor, of Hensall, who has a son in grade three at Robarts, wants the concerns of parents to be heard on 'a committee which will be formed in Septem- ber to study the dwindling enrolment at the school for the deaf. "The Ministry hasn't presented the parents with any notice except for a notice in the school bulletin, We want representation on the committee and we want more time to come up with a report," she says. Paul Carroll, superintendent of special education for the Huron County Board of Education, sent a letter of inquiry to the Ministry of Education in June when he learned of the possible move of- secondary school classes. "I'm pretty sure that parents will be represented on the committee," he says. ' Mrs. Taylor says a move of secondary school classes even further away from home could make it even tougher for deaf children to deal with their handicap. •"Students in high school still need the support of their family. It's one thing to find out your child is handicapped but it's another thing to find out he has to deal with it miles and miles away from home." - Like Mrs. McClure, Mrs. Taylor also travels to London frequently to visit the school. A trip to Milton will mean more expense, It's going to cost us more money to keep the family unit together," she says. Instead of busing their deaf children to school, many parents opt to move to London to be'closer. And, the cost of a move to Milton would be an even greater expense. Because deaf children are in the minority, Mrs. Taylor says the children and their parents will need the support . of the community to have their concerns heard. "i like to believe people will support us. Who's to say your next child or next grandchild won't be deaf; we'll never know why we had a deaf child, You should be aware of where your child would have to go if he were deaf," she says. David Geddes, of Seaforth will be going into grade 10 this September at Robarts. He says he doesn't like the idea of going to Milton because the bus ride to London}j;; boring enough -•Milton, .would be worse. Pavid says he looks forward to coml hofie on the weekends. He's been to Milton for swim meets but It's too far away to, go. thereto school all the time, But, if secondary__ school courses were moved to Milton, David says he would go to school rather than qult. If the Ministry decides to move the classes to Milton, deaf students will have few options other than going, along with the decision if they want to continue their. education. Education for the deaf is not offered in Huron County in the first place because it is too costly; so, a translator for deaf students in the local high schools would not be an answer, says Mrs. McClure, A private tutor would also be too expensive. "There are excellent facilities in London. Even if deaf children did have a tutor, l don't know if the quality of education would be as good," she says. "We're happy with the sybtem in London. Why does tt have to be moved?" - causes complaints The Seaforth Golf and Country Club corpplained to Public Works abo it the codtrolled burning at the site. The burning of brush and cardboard is done to reduce the volume of garbage to be buried. John Forrest, public works superintendent told the 'Transportation and Envirodi nt Committee that no controlled burning could be done until late fall which could create problems with the site's limited capacity. After the last meeting of the landfill committee about three weeks ago, the HANGING AROUND—Seven-year-old Law- rence Flannagan shows his skill on the monkey bare at the Dublin ball park. He participated In the Summer Fun program there this summer. (Hundertmark photo) co mittee is waiting for a meeting with the Ho mesville Landfill Committee. said town clerk Jim Crocker. 111've asked the engineers to look into an emergency site. To get temporary permission to.,ppse another existing site, there has to he a 'h Sling. The Holtnesvilte site (2.1 kitonierres' from Seaforth), would be large enough for Seaforth's garbage but that's something we'd have to pursue at the meeting," he said. Although the town would like to stop using the existing landfill site as soon as possible, the site could continue to be used until next spring if necessary, said Mr. Crocker. Meanwhile the burning interferes with business at the Seaforth Golf and Country Club. "The burning is not regular but it's a problem when it happens. It stinks. it's smoky and they always seem to light it on Wednesdays and Saturdays when we have the most golfers." says Carolanne Doig. of the golf club. Because the garbage isn't always buried right away, Ms. Doig says garbage blows against the fence by the golf course and ashes and smoke blow all over the course on windy days. A lot of people who golf out here see it and a couple of members have complained. The dump is not a pleasing site but it wouldn't be so bad if they controlled it. It's no wonder people don't want a dump next door. This is one of the prettiest spots in town and we'll be glad to see the dump moved." she says, Since the proposed McLiwain she north of Seaforth was discovered to be unsuitable for landfilling by the Ministry of Environment, 17 new sites have been investigated. Of the new sites, on; owned by the Ministry near the Se forth lagoons has been deemed suitable for ndfilling but more investigation must he do before a site is chosen. 'This is the first of any complaints. We try and do controlled burnings of brush." said Mr. Crocker. "Finding another site is an ongoing concern." CUTTING THE RIBBON—Brussels Reeve Cal Kreuter and Huron County Warden Tom Cunningham exchange a look of pride after they cut the ribbon on Brussels' main street. driving in Brussels for the first time In five The recently paved street will make smooth years, (i-(undertmark photo) Bumps gone in Brusse1-s, Close to 70 residents gathered on Brussels' main street on 'Thursday morning for a' ribbon -cutting ceremony commemora- ting the newly -paved road. "There's no excuse for driving around Brussels anymore," said Huron -Bruce MP Murray Cardiff. "i've been as guilty as anyone but 1 paid for it. The first time I Med avoiding Brussels, 1 got my windshield cracked on a sideroad.' The $350,000 project repairs the road that had been in rough shape for about five years. After a sewer system was installed in 1979, construction had to wait for another three years until the 27 foot deep trenches settled. "We were aware of the fact Brussels was suffering. 1t was tough on the businessmen. it wasn t a small prbject but 1 hope the people of Brussels have a good street for many years to come," said Warden Tom Cunningham. Brussels Reeve Cal Kreuter saidnthearoad , has been in terrible Shape -for as long as he's been reeve of Brussels, "When the street was torn up, you could hear every truck that went over it all over town and there was a dust problem too. 1 hope everyone takes advantage of the new road except for the speeders," he said. Murray Elston, MPP for Huron -Bruce congratulated the people of Brussels for waiting so long for their new Main St. "if patience is a virtue, the people of Brussels are quite virtuous indeed." Mr. Cardiff agreed. "We've often won- dered when this great event would happen. We sometimes have to take hardships for progress; when the sewers went in we knew we would be going to have rough roads for awhile," Mill St. to get sidewalk Seaforth council decided at its Aug. 14 meeting to build 560 feet of sidewalk on North Mill Street in addition to the 1984 sidewalk schedule instead of buying a chipper after received a petition signed by close to 20 ratepayers. "The state of sone of the sidewalks in this town is deplorable. I think that sidewalks should be high on our priority list and equipment should be low. it's almost impossible for the elderly to walk on some of our streets." said councillor Wayne Ellis, The petition from residents of Mill Stsays the poor condition of the road and the lack of sidewalks make the street unsafe for the growing number of young children and noisier from large trucks and trailers hitting the ruts in the road. It urges council to consider immediate improvements such as full scale reconstruction of the street with sidewalks. Based on a five year street plan. Mill St. is not scheduled for construction until 1988 -when there will be a surface lift of asphalt. Council agreed to build a sidewalk to the future road grade to he completed hs Oct, 15. 1984. "I think a lot of the ratepayers find the street is in poor condition and a e're not going to do anything until 19g8 That's a pretty sad situation down there. We should do some• SEE SIDEWALK/ ON PAGE 3 Tender accepted for roof Seaforth council agreed to go Ncith its first decision of hiring Gordon Dale Roofing to replace the roof over the PUC truck hay and the police station at its Aug. 14 meeting despite a different recommendation by the PUC. After receiving three quotations including Exeter Roofing and Sheet Metal Co. ltd. at $4,850, Gordon Dale Roofing at 53.942 and Smith Peat Roofing and Sheet Metal l td. at 54,865, the council decided on the cheapest price. "They all included a two year guarantee so price was the big thing." said rnunciltor Henry Mero. "It's only speculation saying one is better than the rest." The PUC recommended council accept the Smith -Peat quotation because it included the application of stone and ten test. While comparing the quotations, the commission felt the Dale quotation was not comparable t n 'the other two, "1t was the feeling of the commission that fiberboard was necessary and that gravel was money well spent. That was what was on the old roof and they still put it on," said Mayor Alf Ross. "It's my understanding that stone on the roof only increased the weight on the structure," said Reeve Bill Campbell. "Stone was discussed but it was the general feeling that there is no great advantage to having stone put on," added councillor Wayne Ellis. Councillor Henry Mero said ten test is not necessary because the roof is already insulated. "1f they (the commission) want to go on a 50/50 split and pay the difference. well go along with it. But. we put sufficient thought into our decision and we're prepared to stand behind it." he said. "I think the PUC would live with what this council decides,", said Mayor Ross. A request from Reeve Campbell that consideration be giver/ to making East William St. a through street was referred to the Protection of Persons and Property Com mittee. "I feel it's a nuisance to the public to have to stop at the four way stop. With the traffic coming out of the arena and everyone obeying the law at the stop sign. you're creating a nuisance," said the reeve. Councillor Wayne Ellis said there was a very good reason for the four way stop. "The traffic coming from the arena and the high school is just the reason for the four way stop. it's a straight run on the street without the stop and you could get up to 70 miles per hour very quickly on that nicely paved street. The whole idea was to get people to slow down instead of roaring up the street." Vacant sites offered for sale by the Huron -Perth County Roman Catholic Sep- arate School Board were released by council. The sites included Lots, 1, 2 and part of 3 on Goderieh St. E. together with a right-of-way over the northerly 30 feet of Lot 89, Plan 391, County of Huron and part of Block A, plan 393, County of Huron at the corner of Goderich St. E. and Coleman St, "I don't think the town's in any position to buy real estate," said councillor Bill Martin. Correspondence from Attorncv-General Roy McMurtry cncouragtng Seaforth council to establish a drinking and dri' ing committee which would determine ways to decrease the number of lives lost re drunk drivers locally was referred to the Protection of Persons and Property Committee. "we don't have anyone who drinks and drives in Seaforth do el -1" councillor Bill Bennett joked. A free, 8 to 10 fool white pine will he ordered from the Ausahte Bavfield Conserva- tion Authority to commemorate Ontario's Bicentennial. "A tree like this could go into Victoria Park where there's some protec• tion," said clerk Jim ('rocker. Council did not decide whether a ceremom would accom- pany the planting. . Council approved the working drass rags for the Town Hall Entrance Porch done by architects Nick Hill. A Heritage Buildings Capital Grant Application will he sent to the Ontario Heritage Foundation to see what type and amount of funds would be available for the project and consideration will he given for the amount of money to he budgeted in council's 1985 budget. Tax arrears totalling $35.845. 52 per cent of the Jan. 1 total, have been collected. McLean Home Improvements has been tendered for the supply and installation of storm windows. A tender of $1.249 was accepted from MacLean Home improvements, of Egmond- ville for the supply and installation of 17 storm windows in the Seaforth Library Council had budgeted 51300 for thr, i' h • Morris reeve, Bill Elston said he hoped the newly -paved road would help the Brussels bgslr s$gs. "We need these small towns to seerr'vvtice the farm area, 1 like to see these towns grow." Although he joked that the bad .road had been good for the car business, Jack McCutcheon, of J.L. McCutcheon Chev-Olds said he was glad to see the road repaired. "We can finally run out on the street in sock feet if we want to. And, we haven't been able to do that for a long time." �INSIDE- Egmondville boy back from Quebec/ A3 Dublin kids participate in Summer Fun/ A5 . Manor residents go on safari/ A8 Series on Seaforth buildings continue/ A19 Births 1A20 Brussels /Al2 Classified /A14, 15, 16 Dublin news /A4, 5 Entertainment /A19, 20 Family /A6, 7 Farm 1,416, 17 Hensall newt /A18 Kids /A9 Obituaries /A6 People /A20 Sports 1,410, 11 Walton /A13 4