Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1984-12-19, Page 15THREE SECTIONS Ction - Pages A1-14` etion —, Pages B1.16 ctlon — Pages C1-8 M• z g the communities teas of. lis,Dublin', Hensall 'alton L UI (.;-1 41110 SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1984 — SECOND SECTION B1 -B16 — 16 PAGES Mus - m plan is turned down In a recorded eight to one vote, Seaforth council turned down a proposal by, Huron County council to reconstruct the Huron County museum. Reconstruction was esti- mated to cost more than $2.2 million. A $20,000 study revealed upgrading the museum would be the least costly of three options, But Seaforth council balked at the thought of spending $2.2 million because it meant local taxes would increase $7,500 for the next five years in addition to an increase in the county levy. The county had planned to contribute $300,000 to the project. The museum takes up 42,000 square feet of floor space and features about 1.500 county artifiacts. County council has asked all local munici- palities to consider the options, preferrably option three. The county asked for guidance and input from the public. The finance and general government committee of Seaforth council was divided on the issue, said councillor Bill Martin, "Though I'm not against the proposal to reconstruct the museum, i feel we can't afford it. With all the projects we have going on, 1 feel we can't afford a museum of that calibre, '' he said, ' We may have to go down to a Volkswagon because we can't afford a Cadillac." Cost of the project is a large sum of money, but the county needs input• (from the municipalities, said Reeve Bill Campbell. "Do we need a museum, or could it be smaller?" he asked council. "1 was trying to come up with other alternatives and all 1 could think of was a smaller building. And if we have no room for MUSEUM / ON PAGE THREE Seaforth-Norway hockey exchange is on again The Seaforth-Norway midget hockey ex- change is on again after some reconsideration by local parents. A decision made two weeks ago was abandoned on Wednesday after 18 parents, in compliance with their sons' requests, made a financial commitment of $100 each, initiating the go-ahead for the project. The parents represent 19 hockey players who will be eligible for the midget team next season. Following the financial commitment, a committee made up of all the parents and headed up by Ron Murray was formed, "Everything went pretty good," Said $ryan Peter, recreation director. "Every- body came out of this meetin feeling better than they have been feeling. TeA s still a lot of work to be done, but it;rvdooks more encouraging. "The initial response wash good but now that people have had a chance o think it over, they know that a trip like this is the best thing that could happen to their chi d. They know that they'll really get something out of it." said Mr. Murray. Although there were some harsh words said in the beginning, Mr. Murray said he expects the program will run more smoothly now that things are out in the open. "I'm all in favor of open dialogue. it's a good thing. 1 think the first meeting was important. 1t brought to the surface all the concerns that the parents had and will have about the trip. I welcome those kind of meetings. These concerns have to be brought to tight in order to be dealt with," he said. Mr. Murray added that he still expects there will be rough spots in planning the exchange. • "There are still going to be problems, like anything else. But we'll just have to steer around them and deal with them as they come," he said. Just what route the committee is going to take has not been fully decided, But Mr. Murray says the committee plans to look at things in a more positive light. "This is going to be somewhat of a learning process. We're all prepared to see it right through to the end. Everyone is willing to do their part." Otte of a number of concerns the committee will have to deal with will be the replacement of or reinstatement of coach Bill Weber, who resigned earlier. Another issue they will be addressing is how they will pick the team that eventually goes to Norway. "These are things that are still up in the air. and something we have to deal with. But we'll get a coach and we'll have a team. Just how we do that is still something that has to be decided." said Mr. Murray. The committee will meet every second Thursday in preparation for the exchange. ox • +rata rzvl If/ :ar er+i d I i . / 4L" .' , ,\ or MERRY CHRISTMAS—Their ages add up '0 100, but Itiey acted like grandla+her-grand- daughter. Trisha Jansen, a s'udent of the Seaforh Pre -School Learning Centre gave a handmade Christmas card to Oliver MacKay. 97, a resident of Kllbarchan Nursing Home (Wassink photo) Promise of public meeting to discuss landfill issue It was standing room only when about 30 concerned citizens packed the Seaforth council chambers Tuesday night to show their opposition to a proposed landfill site being located near the Seaforth lagoons. Spokesperson for the group Carolanne Doig presented a 350 name petition to Mayor Alf Ross. She said that many residents have expressed their concern over the lagoon property and that location of a landfill is a concern because of negative factors associated with this land use. "We feel that the close proximity of the chosen site to the major residential areas of our community results in many more people being negatively affected than necessary," she said. "We don't feel the site was chosen with all environmental factors in mind. specific- ally factors related either directly or indirectly with the nearby populated areas of Seaforth. Harpurhey and Egmondville." Miss Doig felt there was too much emphasis put on technical data while social. cultural and economic consequences were minimized. And because the lagoon site is in the middle of a populated area, she felt further testing would prove that technically. the site is not good. Leachate is a major concern of the concerned citizens group. And their first thought k contamination of drinking water caused from leachate. And because prevail- ing winds are westerly. and the site is west of Seaforth, Miss Doig expressed concern of smoke caused by burning garbage and that garbage odor could contaminate the air RABIES PROBLEM "Seaforth. Egmondville and Harpurhey are in a direct line to the site. it's in the worst possible location concerning prevail- ing winds. And if there's no burning. the landfill will attract rodents. Everyone is well aware of the rabies problem in Huron County. And such scavengers will be attracted to an area close to homes and schools" And if there is no burning. Miss Doig asked council in which direction the landfill would be expanded in 10-15 years. Or would the municipalities be searching for another site, she asked? "The landfill committee was formed to ensure an optimum landfill solution is reached and the solution is in the best interests of the residents. We feel the proposed site doesn't meet the necessary requirements. "...putting all our eggs in one basket..." With so much money lost by putting all our eggs in one basket at the McLlwain site. we feel that the only attraction of the lagoon property is its availability to he purchased from the ministry of the Environment,' said Miss Doig. Many people are interested in going back to phase one, she said. The landfill committee is presently in phase three. She said alternate methods of waste disposal should be reviewed, particularly incinera• tion. "Ten years ago we knew the problem of waste disposal would not go away. Yet here we are with our present dump overloaded. And 10 years ago, the people of Seaforth were already considering incineration as a method of waste disposal." HAVE PUBLIC MEETING The landfill committee held a meeting on Nov. 28. said Reeve Bill Campbell, The committee decided to withhold further study at the lagoon site until seven other sites are investigated more fully. "1 suggest that Seaforth recommend that a further public meeting be held in the near future to view what has been done to date and to allow public input. This could include discussion of the alternatives of the u.Se of other existing landfill sites, or the develov- ment of a new site, with or without incineration," he said. Meeting could be early in the new year Though he was unsure of when the public meeting will be held. Mr. Campbell speculated it could be early in the new year. possibly early January. Following the meeting. Miss Doig said she was pleased with the recommendation made by Mr. Campbell. "I was mostly pleased of the fact that there will be a public meeting and that there is a possibility of incineration because 1 was told that door (incineration) had been closed," she said CHRISTMAS ART in thls Issue was supplied by area school students. This nativity scene was drawn by Steven Machan of Seaforth Public School_„ PUC back in rental business The Seaforth Public Utilities Commis• sion (PUC) voted recently to get back into Ontario Hydro's water heater rental pro- gram. The program. which the PUC abandoned in 1974, provides electric water heaters to the public on a rental basis, installation and maintenance is looked after by the PUC. "I don't know why we ever got out of the program. but the big phos is that we're back into it. Now we'll be offering a service we weren't able to in past years." said Tom Phillips, PUC manager. Mr. Phillips said because of the PUC's earlier decision to opt out of the program. anyone wanting electric heaters was forced to purchase their own and look after their own repairs. Some turned to gas heaters. The PUC continued to honor water heaters rented before the 1974 decision. In 1980, figures indicate there were 177 electric heaters in service in Seaforth. In 1984 that number dropped to 145. Of the 32 heaters that were lost Mr. Phillips said approximately two-thirds converted to gas. "it's been hald in the past when a customer calls up for a water heater and there's nothing we can do. We have to tell them no because we can't supply the customers. When we're back in the service we'll be able to supply them, and that service will be readily available," he said. With the push on now to sell kilowatt hours, Mr. Philips said that water heaters are important items. He estimates that once P people realize the PUC is back into the program. at least 10 heaters could be installed yearly, Mr. Phillips is looking into what type of a program the PUC could go with and hopes to have it set up early in January. "The important thing now is we've decided to get back into the program. We're still looking into the program and we're going to look at all avenues, We don't want to jeopardize the position of the contractors. They provided a service in the few years we haven't been able to and we want to be fair to all concerned," he said. INDEX Births /86 Brussels /C3 Classified /810, 11, 12, 13 Dublin news /84, 5 Entetfsinlnenf /08 Family /86, 7 Farm /07 Hensal/ news /873 The Junction /C5,'6 Legion /08 Oblluerie F$7 People /B' Sorts t1, 2 * Wit 1'04 i